About Us
Basalt Ridge Testing Laboratory LLC specializes in providing fast and accurate thermal resistivity testing & thermal conductivity testing for the material manufacturing, power, and geotechnical engineering communities since 2006.
Basalt Ridge is located in the beautiful Palouse region of Eastern Washington.
Key Advantages
Superior Accuracy
Our thermal dryout curves are the most accurate in the industry, and we provide the data to back up that claim. Our methodology is transparent, and relevant testing data are always included in the report. We’re also happy to provide any additional data, all the way to the raw measurements and calculations upon request. You can absolutely rely on our testing for you or your clients to design optimal installations.
Faster Turnaround Time
At Basalt Ridge Testing Laboratory LLC, we understand that your clients always want results yesterday, which is why our services are the fastest in the industry. Samples are tested as quickly as possible in the order they are received unless an expedite is requested.
We guarantee that expedited samples will begin processing no later than the day after receipt, and typically on the same day they arrive.
Faster turnaround means reduced project delays and quicker communication of any nonconforming materials.
Proven Experience
We have served the power and geotechnical engineering communities for over 15 years, providing thermal testing results to ensure safety and reliability in underground power transmission installations. We are the official thermal testing partner for METER Group Inc. and East 30 Sensors.
Our staff have been involved in thermal properties research and measurement for over 20 years, and have a strong theoretical understanding of thermal properties of porous media as well as extensive practical testing experience.
Meet our President
Dr. Doug Cobos, has authored and co-authored multiple research papers on soil thermal properties, and has extensive experience developing thermal properties testing instrumentation as Director of Instrument Development at METER Group, Inc. (formerly Decagon Devices). He was also the lead engineer on the Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP), that was designed and developed by Decagon and tested the thermal properties of the Martian surface as part of NASA’s 2007 Phoenix Mars Lander mission. Dr. Cobos has also served clients as a thermal properties consultant and expert witness in litigation involving buried cable and duct bank installation design.
Basalt Ridge Case Studies
Accurate Testing You Can Rely On
Case Study: Mix Qualification & Identifying Non-Conforming Materials
Project Overview: Basalt Ridge provided thermal resistivity testing of concrete material for a large data center project. The precision of our testing identified a distinct increase in Rho values just 1 week after sample receipt. Our quick turnaround allowed the client to halt encasement of duct banks, thus limiting risk to one-week of potentially nonconforming material vs 3+ weeks waiting on other labs.
Findings: The cause of the nonconforming material was traced to a combination of the supplier using an alternate aggregate material in the concrete and the on-site addition of water to increase slump.
Solution: Basalt Ridge performed requalification testing, enabling the supplier to adjust the mix design and bring the Rho values back within specifications.
Case Study 2: Mix Qualification & Identifying Non-Conforming Suppliers
Project Overview: Basalt Ridge provided thermal resistivity testing of concrete material for a solar project. We noticed early in the project that the thermal resistivity of the samples exhibited a bimodal distribution with one population of samples exhibiting significantly higher Rho than the rest.
Findings: Further investigation showed that one concrete supplier’s material consistently exhibited significantly higher Rho values, despite using the same mix design as other suppliers. This indicated a persistent quality issue unique to that source.
Solution: The non-conforming supplier was disqualified less than 3 weeks into a 6-month project. This swift action minimized risk, preventing potential catastrophic failures during project operation.