8 Offices: Omaha & Grand Island, NE; Wichita, Kansas City, Salina, Manhattan, KS;Des Moines, IA; Ft. Collins, COGeotechnical ● Environmental ● Material Testing

Geotechnical Services, Inc. ● 9312 G Court, Omaha, Nebraska 68127 ● 402.339.6104 ● www.gsinetwork.com

Quality: Construction Materials Engineering (CME) Testing and Observations

Nicholas P. Wolff, P.E., Senior Engineer

“Geotechnical Services, Inc.” is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

Copyright Materials

This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws. Reproduction,

distribution, display and use of the presentation without written permission of the speaker is

prohibited.

© Geotechnical Services, Inc. 2010

Learning Objectives

At the end of this program, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the aspects of a proactive construction testing scope of services on

the review quiz.

2. Identify the five functions of a CME firm on a project site on the review quiz.

3. Identify qualities of project sites with a high appreciation of quality on the

review quiz.

4. Differentiate between Quality Control and Quality Assurance on the review

quiz.

Outline Discuss Quality as it Pertains to Construction Define Function of Construction Testing Discuss Value of Construction Testing Services Typical Services of Construction Materials

Engineering (CME) Firms with Considerations for Each

Quality in Construction

Two Types of Construction Sites High Appreciation of Quality

Testing Viewed as Necessary to Achieve Good Work

Good Flow of Communication Testing Program Developed to Address Key

Concerns Welcomed as a Partner

Low Appreciation of Quality Testing as Method of Assigning

Liability/Responsibility Often Plagued with Communication Problems Frequency of Testing Based on other Criteria Adversarial Welcome

What is the Role of the CME Firm?

The Construction Police!

You are only at 93%

Compaction! Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect

$200

Roles Owner – This is What We Want Done Designer – This is How it Should Look When

it’s Done General Contractor – This is When it Needs to

be Done Contractor – This is How I can Get it Done CME Engineer – I Help to Make sure it Gets

Done Well!

We are all Partners in Construction.

Function of Construction Testing Quality Program Risk Reduction Program Communication Mechanism Field Engineering Presence Verification and Documentation Program

Advantages of Construction Testing Proactively and/or Quickly Address Problems Eyes on the Scene Manage the Quality Program Expedite Project Increase Peace of Mind Disinterested Party Document for Future

Two Flavors Quality Control

Internal quality program of the contractor

Quality Assurance External verification of contractor’s program

Or Independent quality program if No QC

QC vs. QA – Similar But Not the Same Quality Control

I am accountable to the contractor Keep him out of trouble Contractor related pressures Effectiveness proportional to contractor

commitment

Quality Assurance I am accountable to owner and design team Other pressures Keep project “on track” Effectiveness proportional to team’s commitment

CME - Difficult Role Not manufactured materials Competing concerns

Economy Time Limited sampling Uncertainty Laboratory vs. In-Situ

Engineering Judgment

What is Engineering Judgment?

“The art of providing recommendations with huge

repercussions, based on limited and sometimes contradictory information, under a number of pressures and in

real time.”

“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.”

~Aristotle

This isn’t a production process. There is only one

opportunity to get it right.

How Much Testing is Enough? Quality is an overhead expense (until it isn’t) When problems occur, quality control can be

invaluable in the resolution Performing testing concurrently is inexpensive Testing afterward is:

Expensive Difficult to perform (if not impossible) Time critical

How Much Testing is Enough?

Less Sampling

More Sampling

How do you Develop a Testing Scope of Services?

How Much Testing is Enough?Common Criteria - Reactive Based on Arbitrary Budget What Firms Usually Do Previous Problems Code Requirements

How Much Testing is Enough?Better Criteria - Proactive In Proportion to Owner’s Appetite for Risk In Proportion to Consequence of Failure In Proportion to Cost of Corrective Action Based on Industry Acknowledged Concerns

Typical Construction Testing Services & Concerns

Stripping Why: Organic material settles as it

decomposes – Long term settlement Considerations:

Black isn’t Necessarily Bad Thickness Limits Stockpiling

Earthwork Why: Risk of settlement decreases in

proportion to degree of compaction Considerations:

Cuts and Fills Moisture Content Equipment Used When to Use Vibratory Compacted Fill Settles

Utility Trench Backfill Why: Large risk of excessive differential

settlement Considerations:

Backfilling is “incidental” Lift Thickness Control Excavation Safe for Testing Appropriate Compaction Tools

Proofrolling Why: Quickly evaluate large area under worse

case load Considerations:

After Cut, Before Fill or Covering Truck vs. Roller Rutting vs. Pumping Is it loaded? How is it loaded? Couple with Shallow Probes Need Machine Access

Foundations Why: Movements Due to Poor Bearing Soils

Can Compromise Structure Considerations:

Loads are Larger and Effects Extend Deeper Corrective Action is Expensive Frost Action Shallow Probe Holes

Bolted and Welded Connections Why: Failure of Structural Steel Connections

Results in Catastrophic Failure Considerations:

Always Check Contractor Certifications Most Evaluations are Visual Ultrasonic, Dye Penetrant, Mag Particle

Reinforced Concrete Why: To evaluate strength and durability of

cured concrete Considerations:

Shop drawings vs. plans Immediate results

Air-content Slump Temperature

Deferred results Compressive strength

Masonry Why: Track record of quality issues Considerations

Geometry Most Important Grout Strength is Important Masonry Prisms Mortar Cubes for Consistency

Asphalt Why: Longevity of pavement is mix and

installation dependent Considerations

Max Density Rolling Pattern Field Tests

Density Temperature Thickness

Laboratory Cores Mix

Roof Installation Why: A leaky roof is one of the most costly

problems Considerations

Careful Review Installer Recommendations Ballasted Verify Slope ThermaScan in Warranty Period

Fireproofing Why: Life Safety Issue During Life of Structure

(Sleep Soundly) Considerations:

Thickness – Average Plus Minimum Density Adhesion

Other Semi-Common Testing Floor Flatness/Levelness Anchor Bolt Pullout Post Tensioning Pre Stressed Vibration Monitoring Settlement Monitoring Load Testing Pile Integrity Testing EIFS Let’s Get Creative

Summary Discussed Quality and the Function of

Construction Testing Services Promote High Appreciation of Quality Manage Risk as Collaboratively Agreed Develop a Testing Scope Based on Project’s

Concerns Most Economical Scope to Realize Risk Tolerance

Discuss Value Construction Testing Adds

Provided Overview of Common Testing Services

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten!”

~Leon M. Cautillo

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Questions