Examples of Quality Control and Quality Assurance During Construction Prepared by the Construction Practices Subcommittee Of APWA’s UPROW Committee Introduction The UPROW Committee requested that the Construction Practices Subcommittee research and evaluate the existing available documents related to Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) during construction. The request initiated from the report Recommendations to Establish a New Professional / Educational / Technical Committee for Utility and Public Right-of-Way Issues, prepared by the Utility and Right-of-Way Task Force, and dated April 13, 1998. The following report documents the process that the subcommittee followed in gathering, assessing, evaluating and reporting the data and the results. Data Collection The Subcommittee chair requested that each member search for examples of specifications, guidelines, manuals, programs or other written information, which outlined methods or requirements of QA/QC during construction. The members of the subcommittee were located in various regions across the entire country, from governmental (local, state and federal), industrial, commercial and private consulting backgrounds. A total of nine documents were received and reviewed. While the number of documents was not expansive, it was the opinion of the subcommittee that the sources of these documents have extensive background in construction quality control and therefore these documents cover the topic adequately. It is likely that other agencies have very good examples of standards but the subcommittee was unable to obtain other documents in their search. Analysis and Evaluation Prior to review the documents, members of the subcommittee developed a list of criteria to allow a subjective evaluation of the sample documents. These criteria included the following factors: · Quality Control Organization Items considered: The classifications of the employees included within the structure of the organization. The tasks performed by each of the classifications. The level of detail performed by each of the classifications. Defining of the rules and requirements. · Material Testing requirements Items considered: Detail of the testing Items tested · Technician Certification requirements for the people reviewing the construction Items considered: Length of the certification program Items covered in the certification Organization that provided the certification training apwaQAQC12_final.doc 9/24/2001 · Installation and Testing program Items considered: Level of detail and items included in the testing procedures Level of detail and items included in the Installation procedures · Documentation Forms for documenting Quality Control Items considered: Level of detail of information on the forms Clarity Items to be documented · Referenced Technical specifications Items considered: Clarity when cross-referencing Appropriate cross-referencing Detail of Technical specifications · Length of the overall specification Item considered: Generally, the subcommittee felt like the specifications should be long enough to adequately cover the necessary elements in a good Quality Control Manual, but not too lengthy that it is difficult follow. Evaluation Matrix The members of the subcommittee analyzed the data and scored each of the criteria on a scale of 0 to 5. 5 being the “best” and 1 being “poor”, and 0 for being “not at all”. Document Comments Number(s) cifications Q.C. Organization (Rules) Material Testing Technician Certification Requirements Installation/ Testing Program Documentation (Forms) Reference Technical Spe Length of Specification 1,2,3,4. U.S. Excellent Army Corps 5 4 3 4 4 3 4 Organization and of Eng. Installation/Testing Procedures 5. Oregon Excellent Training D.O.T. 5 4 5 3 3 3 4 Procedures and Material Testing Procedures 6. Clark Excellent Forms and County, 3 3 3 3 5 4 4 Detailed References Nevada 7. Quality Good Resource for Management 5 2 2 2 2 2 4 organizational Guidelines methods 8. Public Excellent resource for Works 1 5 0 5 5 3 5 seasoned inspectors; Inspectors’ excellent training aid Manual for new inspectors 9. Introduction 4 3 3 5 5 3 4 Excellent general to Construction review of Inspection, construction APWA, 1999 inspection fundamentals Note; 5 = Good 1 = Poor apwaQAQC12_final.doc 9/24/2001 Results Of the nine submittals, four were from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and were evaluated as one document. As shown above, each example had specific strengths in the area of Quality Assurance and Quality Control during construction. The documents submitted and evaluated are listed below. List of Submittals 1. Construction Quality Management, (Regulation No. 1180-1-6), by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, dated September 1995. 12 pages. This publication provides the general policy and general guidelines for establishing the Quality Management procedures in the execution of construction contracts. It is intended primarily for Corps of Engineers’ projects. 2. Contactor Quality Control – Section 01451, A Guide Specification for Construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, dated Aril, 1997. 14 pages. This publication is a guide specification for the contractor to provide a construction Quality Control. This specification requires that the contractor provide a Quality Control Plan and a Quality Control Manager. 3. Excavation, Trenching and Backfilling for Utilities Systems, A Guide Specification for Construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, dated November 1997. 15 pages. This specification provides the requirements for trench backfill material and compaction techniques. 4. Quality Assurance Representative’s Guide- General Information and Sitework, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Volume 1 dated January 1992. 54 pages. This publication gives both general and specific guidelines for a Quality Control Manager to follow during the construction of a project. It is a long guideline and likewise very complete. 5. Quality Assurance Program, by the Oregon Department of Transportation, dated October 2000. 48 pages. This publication focuses mainly on the certification procedures and requirements of the laboratory and technicians that will be overseeing the construction. Because this publication is provided by a state highway department, it is primarily geared toward the quality assurance and quality control of the materials and placement of road related construction. 6. Quality Control Program Manual for Contractor, Source, and Production Organizations, by the Clark County Department of Public Works- Construction Management Division- Quality Assurance Section & Materials Testing Laboratory, Clark County, Nevada, Version 1.02. 49 pages. This publication outlines the requirements for acceptance of materials for public works projects. It provides the specific procedures for their staff to follow in order to provide the required Quality Assurance/Quality Control of the public works projects. 7. Quality Management Guidelines, by Construction Management Association of America. 2000 Edition, 39 pages. This publication provides the guidelines for a Construction Manager to use in implementing Quality Management procedures from the pre-design phase to the post-construction phase. 8. Public Works Inspectors’ Manual, by Silas B. Birch, Jr. 5th Edition dated 1996, 711 pages. The Public Works Inspectors’ Manual (Blue Book) functions as a resource for the seasoned inspector and a training guide for the new inspector. Information within this publication is presented in both reference and text book format. The Blue Book is divided into three sections, General Information, Construction Materials and Materials Control Procedures, and Inspection Procedures. The following is a summary of each section Highlights of the General Section · Stresses the importance of well-informed and conscientious inspectors. · Provides a project inspectors check-off list of duties. · Emphasizes the importance of clear and concise written and verbal communication. · Provides a project inspectors daily report check-off list. · Stresses the importance of foreign utility protection and relocation, so as to minimize the possibility of loss of life and property. · Identifies the need for utility pre-construction meetings, where participants include representatives from the agency, contractor, and utilities. apwaQAQC12_final.doc 9/24/2001 Highlights of the Construction Materials and Materials Control Procedures Section · Describes what needs to be sampled, when it needs to be sampled, and who needs to sample it. · Contains an extensive section on concrete and hot mix asphalt, including a definition of terms. · Briefly alludes to engineered fabrics and rehabilitation methods. Highlights of the Inspection Procedures Section · Addresses the level of inspection required · Illustrates the elements of earth work construction such as: - Soil properties - Excavation inspection check-off list - Compaction methods · Describes in detail hot mix asphalt and concrete construction. · Briefly covers methods of pipe installation. · Emphasizes the importance of protecting foreign utilities and or substructures. The Public Works Inspectors’ Manual is an excellent general reference manual for public works construction projects. It serves as a reference manual for the more experienced inspector and a training guide for the new inspector. However, in many instances, it is too general in nature for complicated projects. The publication is available for purchase on the APWA web site. To order a copy, visit the following web site: http://www.apwa.net/shop/asp/product.asp?product=199.