University Construction Testing Laboratory
The laboratory is equipped with modern technical equipment and a qualified staff, which allows for a wide range of testing according to current national and European standards or non-standardized methods of a broad variety of construction products.
Currently, the laboratory consists of two sectors:
- "Construction Materials and Isolations" headed by Prof. Ivan Rostovsky, PhD Eng., who is also the Head of USTELL;
- "Soil and Rock Mechanics" headed by Prof. Miroslav Todorov, PhD Eng.
The University Construction Testing Laboratory (USTELL) is accredited by the Executive Agency "Bulgarian Accreditation Service" (EA BAS) with Accreditation Certificate № 239LI and is one of the few accredited university laboratories in Bulgaria.
The scope of USTELL's accreditation includes a wide range of standardized tests of construction products and ground bases. The laboratory can perform objective analysis and evaluation of the results and provide valuable advice for their improvement, if necessary.
USTELL is a traditional participant in teams engaged in solving significant scientific and practical tasks, such as inspection of building structures and facilities, development of compositions for concrete and shotcrete, complex geotechnical research, and other similar activities.
USTELL traditionally participates actively in the curriculum for the specialties SSS, TE, HE, WS, and Architecture by providing samples and performing demonstration tests, thereby increasing the quality of the educational process.
The laboratory staff assists in the experimental work of PhD students from various departments and faculties of the University, as well as work on projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Science or the CNIP at UACEG.
Another main activity of USTELL is supporting the expert activity of the CNIP at UACEG, related to establishing the current parameters of materials used in construction sites - concrete, reinforcement, presence of corrosion processes, etc., in already built and exploited structures of buildings and facilities throughout the country with a view to their reliability and load-bearing capacity. It also serves as an independent, authoritative, and impartial arbiter in resolving disputes between external organizations regarding the quality of various construction materials. It can be said without exaggeration that currently there is no significant construction site in the country where USTELL employees have not participated in one form or another.