The expertise on the Research Department is recognized on the national and European level in the field of certification and standardization. The project leaders take part in many national and international technical committees and working groups, in particular within CEN/TC 51 (Cements and Building Lime) and CEN/TC 104 (concrete) of the European Committee for Standardization or Rilem. The researchers moreover are trained to carry out Audits of quality.
The principal activity of the Research Department of CRIC-OCCN is however to carry out Researches known as “Collectives”. It is about work whose results are at the disposal of the companies which fall within the competence of the CRIC-OCCN, generally via their federations (Febelcem - cement and FSBP – ready mixed concrete).
Some research projects are directly financed by cement industry; others are subsidized by the federal State (prenormative research), by the Regions or the European Community.
The Research Department carries out expertises or tests for various industries and companies within its fields of competence. Let us quote, for example:
- determination of the quantity of cement in hardened concrete;
- the research of the origin of degradations on concrete pavement;
- structural punching mechanical tests on fibre concrete floors;
- tests of durability …
Une autre mission du Service est d’assurer une veille technologique dans son domaine d’expertise.
The Department also carries out technical assistance on site.