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 vacant lot, the building materials inspector must take samples on site and test the soil. If the soil is very loose and easily collapses, a house weighing tons cannot be built on it, of course. So the soil is 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 material testers, who decide whether the material in question is suitable for construction. What good is a cheap and good-looking road surface if it expands when it gets hot? The road would then suddenly become corrugated and difficult to drive on.

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

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 at different locations. You take samples outside on the construction site, they are examined in the laboratory and finally you process the data on the computer.

Building materials testers at the University of Kassel are involved in the development of new, innovative building materials. They also support students in their laboratory activities to prepare their results for their bachelor's and master's theses.

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

Training as a building materials tester begins in September of each year and takes place in the Department of Civil Engineering, Materials of Construction, and there in 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 instruction at the State Vocational School Center in Selb (Upper Palatinate).

At the time you start your training, 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 you start your training, you should have a secondary school diploma (Realschulabschluss). Your grades in mathematics, physics and chemistry should be at least "satisfactory" or better. Craftsmanship is also an advantage.

The working hours are 40 hours per week and there are fixed working hours. These are from 7:45 to 16:15.

Training as 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). Classes there take place as block instruction.

  • Plan and prepare building material tests
  • determine physical properties of building materials
  • determine chemical properties of building materials
  • test inorganic binders
  • test bitumen and bituminous binders
  • Determine and classify rocks and soils
  • Determine properties and possible applications of aggregates
  • Create concrete formulations
  • Examine natural and artificial building materials, mortars, screeds and plasters
  • Determine soil properties and determine soil properties
  • 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 of the State of Hesse (TVA-H BBiG). This currently amounts to

1,126.85 EUR in the 1st year of training

1,181.43 EUR in the 2nd year of training

1,231.51 EUR in the 3rd year of training

You should have an interest and skill in craftsmanship, be communicative and a team player.

Application period

Unfortunately, the current application deadline has passed.

How do I apply?

Tips and hints

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

Ask yourself beforehand if you ...

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

Or if you are ...

  • are not so flexible.
  • don't like to get dirty.
  • are not particularly talented at handicrafts.

 

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