Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions has signed new strategic supplier frameworks with two of the country’s leading materials testing companies.

The new deals, with PTS and 1st Intervention, gives Balfour Beatty access to sophisticated UKAS material testing laboratories to undertake coring and testing of its reinstatement materials.

The testing is a key part of the company’s commitment to ensuring streetworks activities are conducted ‘right first time’ – eliminating the need for repeat repairs, cutting spoil waste and costs and reducing the disruption caused to road users.

When materials are not properly tested and their quality verified, road surfaces can deteriorate quickly and potholes appear, leading to more costly repairs for utilities, contractors and councils.

The quality of repair materials is a major focus of the new Best Practice Guide to Structured Coring Programs, recently issued by the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC). The paper sets out consistent standards for the testing of reinstatements through coring to be used across the industry, as well as measuring compliance and being a driver of positive change.

It was written by an industry-wide working group chaired by Tom Lambert, General Manager for Streetworks at Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions and Chris Hodgson of Devon County Council.

Tom Lambert said:

“The new best practice guide will provide real benefits to the utilities industry. It will help to ensure that all organisations involved in reinstating the public highway are working to the same high standards, cutting down on wasted effort and costs, as well as frustration for road users.

“Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions will continue to ensure it is leading industry best practice in all areas of its streetworks activities. Our new strategic supplier frameworks with PTS and 1st Intervention give us access to some of the best testing facilities in the country, showing our commitment to providing our clients and the industry with right first time solutions.”