Development and Application of a Quality System Standard for Construction Materials Testing Laboratories.
Development and Application of a Quality System Standard
for Construction Materials Testing Laboratories.
(493 K)
Spellerberg, P. A.; Trimm, W. L.; Pielert, J. H.
American Society for Testing and Materials. Laboratory
Operation and Accreditation, 3rd Symposium.
Proceedings. December 9, 1993, Dallas/Fort Worth
Airport, TX, 1993.
Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Vol. 24, No. 1,
49-55, January 1996.
Keywords:
accreditation; construction materials; laboratory;
quality; standards; testing
Abstract:
The American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Accreditation program
(AAP) was initiated by AASHTO in 1988 as a tool for
promoting the quality of testing in construction
materials laboratories. The program currently has
around 120 laboratories accredited for testing of
various construction materials. In the program it
became apparent that there was a need to provide
specific guidance to laboratories in preparing and
implementing a quality system. In response, AASHTO
prepared Recommended Practice R18-92I, "Establishing and
Implementing a Quality System for Construction Materials
Testing Laboratories." While generally based on
existing ASTM and International Standards Organization
(ISO) standards, Practice R18 is much more definitive in
regard to evaluation criteria for construction materials
laboratories. It includes an appendix that provides
illustrated examples of documents, forms, and standard
operating procedures, which may be used by the
laboratory in preparing a quality manual. Practice R18
has been adopted for use in the AASHTO Materials
Reference Laboratory (AMRL) Laboratory Inspection
Program, and became mandatory for laboratories
participating in the AASHTO Accreditation program in
April 1994. This paper presents an overview of Practice
R18 and its use in the AMRL Laboratory Inspection
program and the AASHTO Accreditation Program.
