Training as a building materials tester

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Man at a machineImage: Studio Blåfield

What does a building materials tester do at the University of Kassel?

Before anything can be built on a plot of land or an open area, the building materials inspector must take samples on site and check the soil. If the soil is very loose and collapses easily, a house weighing several tons cannot be built on it. The soil is therefore tested to see how dense it is, how good its load-bearing capacity is and how well it can absorb water.
Building materials such as mortar, concrete or asphalt are tested by building materials inspectors, who decide whether the material in question is suitable for construction. What good is a cheap and good-looking road surface if it expands in the heat? The road would then suddenly become undulating and difficult to drive on.

At the University of Kassel, the focus is on mortar and concrete technology . This means that you will mainly deal with the building materials concrete and mortar. You will take samples from buildings or building products and examine them in the laboratory for their consistency and density, for example.

As a building materials tester, you generally proceed in three steps: You take samples of soil and building materials, examine the samples for their suitability for use and finally you evaluate the results. As you can see, the work as a building materials tester is very varied and takes place in different locations. You take samples outside on the construction site, examine them in the laboratory and finally process the data on the computer.

Building material testers at the University of Kassel are involved in the development of new, innovative building materials. They also support students in the laboratory activities for the preparation of their results for their Bachelor's and Master's theses.

When does training as a building materials tester start at the University of Kassel and where does it take place?

Training to become a building materials tester begins in September of each year and takes place in the Department of Civil Engineering, specializing in construction materials, at the Official Materials Testing Institute for the Construction Industry at the Holländischer Platz site of the University of Kassel.
The vocational school takes place in block lessons at the state vocational school center in Selb (Upper Palatinate).

At the start of the apprenticeship, you should have a secondary school leaving certificate (Realschulabschluss). Your grades in mathematics, physics and chemistry should be at least "satisfactory" or better. Manual dexterity is also an advantage.at the time of starting the apprenticeship, you should have a secondary school leaving certificate (Realschulabschluss). Your grades in mathematics, physics and chemistry should be at least "satisfactory" or better. Manual skills are also an advantage.

The working time is 40 hours per week and there are fixed working hours. These are from 7:45 am to 4:15 pm.

Training to become a building materials tester takes 3 years. The responsible vocational school is the State Vocational Training Center for Product Design and Testing Technology (BPP) in Selb (Upper Palatinate). Lessons there take place in blocks.

  • Plan and prepare building material tests
  • Determine the physical properties of building materials
  • Determine the chemical properties of building materials
  • Test inorganic binders
  • Testing bitumen and bituminous binders
  • Determine and classify rocks and soils
  • Determine the properties and possible uses of aggregates
  • Create concrete formulations
  • Examine natural and artificial building materials, mortars, screeds and plasters
  • Determine soil properties and determine soil parameters
  • Create asphalt formulations
  • Testing asphalt
  • Testing fresh and hardened concrete

A monthly training allowance is paid in accordance with Section 8 (1) of the collective agreement for trainees in the state of Hesse (TVA-H BBiG). This currently amounts to

EUR 1,126.85 in the 1st year of training

EUR 1,181.43 in the 2nd year of training

EUR 1,231.51 in the 3rd year of training

You should be interested in and skilled in manual work, be communicative and a team player.

Application period

An application is possible at a later date. We look forward to seeing you again at a later date!

How do I apply?

Tips and hints

How do I apply?: Application portal of the University of Kassel

Ask yourself beforehand whether you ...

  • are prepared to take on responsibility.
  • can work very carefully.
  • like to analyze things.

Or whether you ...

  • are not so flexible.
  • don't like to get dirty.
  • are not particularly talented with your hands.

 

Do you have any questions?

Then contact:
FB 14 - Official Materials Testing Institute for the Building Industry
Dominik Hübenthal
Tel. +49561 804 2612

Go-Link of this page: https://www.uni-kassel.de/go/ausbildung-baustoffpruefer