- Author
-
Pielert, J. H.
- Title
- Laboratory Accreditation and the Quality of Testing of Construction Materials Used in Transportation Systems.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- Quality Assurance: A National Commitment Conference. Proceedings. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). October 1997,
Reston, VA,
71-80 p.,
1997
- Keywords
-
construction materials
|
transportation
- Abstract
- An important contribution to the quality of a constructed facility is accurate testing of materials which go into the project. In recognition of this fact, laboratory accrediation programs are being used to a greater extent in the United States to ensure that materials used in highways and other transportation projects are being tested in conformance with appropriate standards and specifications. The largest of these programs in the United States is the AASHTO Accreditation Program (AAP) which was established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1988. It provides a mechanism for formally recognizing the competency of testing laboratories to perform specific tests on asphalt binders, hot-mix asphalt, aggregates, hydraulic cement, and portland cement concrete. AAP utilizes the laboratory inspection and proficiency sample programs of the AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL) and the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL) to accredit laboratories. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is requiring that certain state and private laboratories which test materials used in Federal transportation projects be accredited by AAP. This paper provides an overview of AMRL and CCRL programs, and discusses how the approach to laboratory accreditation used by AAP assists FHWA in promoting the quality of laboratory testing of highway construction materials.