Texas Council of Engineering Laboratories

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Purpose & History

A  gyratory  compactor
in a member firm's
construction materials
engineering laboratory
is  used  for HVEEM
analysis of asphalt.

TCEL's Purpose
In keeping with Article IV of TCEL's Constitution, the goals of this non-profit  organization are several fold:

1. To foster, encourage and promote, in highest ethical ways, the profession and practice of  providing engineering testing and inspection services.

2. To facilitate the making of such services available to the public (as this web site endeavors to do in its Technical Services section).

3. To develop high stand-ards of performance in the science of engineering testing.

4. To promote and advance knowledge and learning in the science and practice of such testing.

5. To promote and maintain a high standard of integrity and ethical practices in the realm of engineering testing and inspection.

6.  To promote and encourage legislation, administrative and judicial decisions favorable to this profession and practice, as well as to promote the practice and services of engineering testing laboratories.

Taking a nuclear
density test of
compacted soil.

A Brief History
Early in 1972, leaders from close to a dozen Texas construction materials and geotechnical engineering firms gathered together in Austin at a meeting set up by Grover Williams, P.E., of Trinity Engineering Testing Corporation (now Trinity/Kleinfelder).  Their purpose was to consider actually forming a Texas Council of Engineering Laboratories, modeled somewhat after the American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL).
   The idea of a Texas State organization whose goal would be to foster and maintain excellence and professionality in the construction materials and geotechnical engineering disciplines was not entirely new.  Most of the people at the Austin meeting were members of ACIL's Southern Division, and had discussed this subject for several years when at ACIL meetings.  Their joint conclusion had been that such an organization not only would be of service to the construction industry and to the public, but to its member firms as well.  The meeting produced a unanimous agreement. TCEL came into being that very day. 
    TCEL now has grown to include more than twenty-five member firms. Many of them have branch offices across the State;  you'll find them included on this web site's Technical Services page.  Over the years, the Council has influenced legislative decisions,  and it has brought forth useful publications related to its disciplines (samples are provided in the Position Papers & Publications pages).  And each year, usually in January, it has a day of  seminars open to all interested parties.