HDPE - Construction Quality Assurance Plan

3. PARTIES TO CONSTRUCTION QUALITY ASSURANCE

3.1 Description of the Parties

These descriptions should be modified to suit the specific project organization. Insert individual or company names where indicated.

3.1.1 Owner

The Owner owns, and is responsible for, the facility. The Owner is ________________.

3.1.2 Operator

The Operator is responsible to the Owner for the operation of the facility. The Operator may be the Owner. The Operator is __________________.

3.1.3 Project Manager

The Project Manager is the official representative of the Owner or Operator. In this CQA Plan, the term "Project Manager" will apply equally to "Construction Coordinator" or "Owner's Representative", i.e. the individual in charge of field activities. The Project Manager is __________.

3.1.4 Design Engineer (Engineer)

The Engineer is responsible for the design, drawings, plans, and specifications for the HDPE geomembrane and related geosynthetics. In this CQA Plan, the term "Engineer" will refer specifically to the Engineer responsible for the design. The Engineer is __________.

3.1.5 General Contractor/Earthwork Contractor

The General Contractor (or the Earthwork Contractor) is responsible for the preparation of the soils relating to the lining system. The General Contractor prepares the subgrade on which the geosynthetics are placed, and the trench in which the geomembrane is anchored. He places the soil cover on top of the geosynthetics, and may place geosynthetics other than the geomembrane. The General Contractor is __________.

3.1.6 Resin Supplier

The Resin Supplier produces the raw resin for the Geomembrane Manufacturer. The Resin Supplier is __________.

3.1.7 Geomembrane Manufacturer (Manufacturer)

The Geomembrane Manufacturer, or Manufacturer, is responsible for the production of the geomembrane, and, maybe, some prefabricated appurtenance components. The Manufacturer is __________.

3.1.8 Transporter

The Transporter transports the geomembrane rolls between the Manufacturer and the site.

3.1.9 Land Surveyor

The Land Surveyor performs site surveys to produce the data on which the record drawings are based. The Land Surveyor is __________.

3.1.10 Geomembrane Installer (Installer)

The Geomembrane Installer (Installer) is responsible for field handling, storing, placing, seaming, ballasting (loading against wind), and other aspects of the geomembrane (and, perhaps, other geosynthetics) installation. The Installer may also be responsible for transportation of these materials to the site and for the preparation and completion of anchor trenches. The Installer may be a division of the Manufacturer, or a licensed Installer of the Manufacturer's products. The Installer is __________.

The Installer's Project Manager is __________.
The Installer's Site Supervisor is __________.
The Installer's Quality Control Representative is __________.

3.1.11 Construction Quality Assurance Consultant

The CQA Consultant is a party, independent from the Owner, Operator, Manufacturer, Installer, and General Contractor, that is responsible for observing and documenting activities, and providing advice related to the CQA of the production, installation, testing, repair, and covering of the geomembrane lining system. The CQA Consultant is also responsible for issuing a final CQA report. The geosynthetics CQA Consultant is __________.

The CQA Project Manager is __________.
The CQA Site Superintendent is __________.

3.1.12 Construction Quality Assurance Laboratory

The CQA Laboratory is a party, independent from the Owner, Operator, Manufacturer, Installer, and General Contractor, that is responsible for conducting tests on samples of geomembrane taken from the Manufacturer's plant or from the site and on seam samples taken from the site. The CQA Laboratory may be a division of the CQA Consultant. The CQA Laboratory is __________.

3.2 Qualifications of the Parties

All parties should be qualified to perform their responsibilities and have extensive geosynthetics experience. Specific qualifications will be defined in the Project Specifications.

Notwithstanding the Project Specifications, the minimum qualifications of those parties directly associated with the geomembrane will be as follows:

These qualifications may have to be modified to suit local requirements and capabilities.

3.2.1 Geomembrane Manufacturer

The Manufacturer shall be able to provide sufficient production capacity and qualified personnel to meet the demands of the project.

The Manufacturer shall be pre-qualified and approved by the Engineer and the Owner. The qualifications presented by the Manufacturer will, as a minimum, include:

Corporate background and information

Manufacturing capabilities:

information on plant size, equipment, number of shifts per day, and capacity per shift,

quality control manual for manufacturing, and

list of material (resin and geomembrane) properties, including certified test results, together with geomembrane and seam samples.

A list of at least 10 completed projects totalling a minimum area of 2,000,000 m2, for which the Manufacturer has manufactured HDPE geomembrane materials from the same type of HDPE resin as that proposed to be used for this project. For each facility, the following information will be provided:

purpose of installation, its location, and start/finish dates

name of facility owner, project manager, and engineer, and

type, thickness, and surface area of the installed
geomembrane.

3.2.2 Geomembrane Installer

The Installer will be trained and qualified to install HDPE geomembranes.

The Installer will be approved and/or licensed by the Manufacturer. A copy of the approval letter or license will be submitted by the Installer to the Project Manager.

Prior to confirmation of any contractual agreements, the Geomembrane Installer will provide the Project Manager with the following written information:

Corporate background and information

Installation capabilities:

information on equipment and personnel,
anticipated daily production,
quality control manual for installation,
samples of field seams and certified test results, and
written confirmation (see Appendix A) that all design features, Project Specifications, and requirements of the CQA Plan can be complied with.

A list of at least 10 completed facilities totalling a minimum area of 1,000,000 m², for which the Installer has installed HDPE geomembrane. For each installation, the following information will be provided:

purpose of installation, its location, and start/finish dates,
name of facility owner, project manager, and engineer,
type, thickness, and surface area of the installed
geomembrane, and
type of seaming apparatus used.

All personnel performing seaming operations will be qualified by experience. At least one seamer per crew will have experience seaming a minimum of 50,000 m of seams using the same method of seaming proposed for use on this project. The most experienced seamer, the "Master Seamer", will provide direct supervision, as required, over less experienced seamers. The Master Seamer, or his designate with equivalent experience, will be on site whenever seaming is being performed.

At least two weeks prior to the start of installation the Installer will provide the Project Manager with a list of proposed seaming personnel and their professional records. This document will be reviewed by the Project Manager and the CQA Consultant. Any proposed seaming personnel deemed insufficiently experienced will not be accepted by the Project Manager or will be requested to pass a seaming test.

The Installer will designate one representative as his Site Supervisor who will represent the Installer at all site meetings and be responsible for acting as the Installer's spokesman on site. The Supervisor will be qualified by experience. The Supervisor must have supervised the installation of a minimum of 300,000 m2 of HDPE geomembrane. He will also exhibit good management and communications skills. His appointment will be approved by the Project Manager.

The Installer will also designate one representative with responsibility for Quality Control and signing all QC documents.

3.2.3 Transporter

All personnel responsible for the loading, transporting, and unloading of the HDPE geomembranes must be fully aware of the consequences of damage to the materials, and must be familiar with handling and transportation constraints required by the Manufacturer. The Transporter will ensure that all rolls of geomembrane are shipped on trailers that can be accessed from the side for safe unloading. The deck of the trailer shall be visually inspected for exposed nails by the Manufacturer before loading. Any such nails shall be removed.

3.2.4 Construction Quality Assurance Consultant

The CQA Consultant will be experienced with HDPE geomembranes and be knowledgeable of HDPE geomembrane and seam performance characteristics. The CQA Consultant will be experienced in the preparation of CQA documentation including CQA manuals, forms, reports, and certifications.

The CQA Consultant will provide the following, in writing, to the Owner:

Corporate background and information.

A summary of the firm's experience in CQA of HDPE geomembranes, including a list of at least 10 completed facilities totalling a minimum of 1,000,000 m2 in area, for which the CQA Consultant has provided CQA services. For each facility, the following information will be provided:

Owner, purpose of facility, area, contact person.

A summary of CQA documentation and methods used by the firm, including sample CQA forms prepared by the firm,

Quality control manual or a summary of quality control practices.

A list of 5 completed facilities on which the proposed CQA Manager has worked.

The CQA Manager, responsible for the overall CQA project management, will be a registered professional engineer (Polymer/Materials (preferred), Civil, Geotechnical (acceptable)) holding at least an M.S. degree in the related discipline, or be an individual with adequate field experience. The CQA Manager shall have been responsible for geosynthetics CQA on over 500,000 m² of geomembrane lining systems. Proof of qualifications for the engineer to be designated CQA Manager, or proof of adequate field experience, must be provided.

The name of the CQA Site Superintendent proposed for the project, and a list of 5 HDPE projects on which the Site Superintendent has previously worked, including 2 as Site Supervisor. The Site Supervisor must have excellent technical communication skills. Appointment of the Site Supervisor must be approved by the Project Manager.

The CQA Site Superintendent, responsible for on-site activities, will be specifically familiar with the installation of HDPE geomembranes and must have been trained and certified in the duties of a CQA Site Superintendent. The CQA Site Superintendent shall have CQA experience with over 300,000 m2 of HDPE geomembrane.

Resumes of personnel to be involved in the project, including CQA Manager, CQA Site Superintendent, and CQA Monitors. CQA Monitors will be CQA personnel who have been specifically trained in CQA of HDPE geomembranes.

3.2.8 Construction Quality Assurance Laboratory

The CQA Laboratory will have experience in testing HDPE geomembranes and seams and be familiar with ASTM, NSF, FTMS (include other standards organizations as necessary) and other applicable test standards. The CQA Laboratory will be capable of providing test results within 6 hours of receipt of seam samples and will maintain that standard throughout the project. Copies of valid calibration certificates for all test equipment will be required. The laboratory shall be accredited by ______________________________________________ for those tests included in the Project Specifications and this CQA Plan. The CQA Laboratory shall be approved by the CQA Consultant and the Owner/Project Manager.

Insert own local or national requirements. For instance, in the US the lab should be accredited within the Geosynthetics Accreditation Institute - Laboratory Accreditation Program {GAI-LAP}. In the UK you may need UKAS (ex-NAMAS) certification. In Hong Kong you may need HOKLAS certification. However, ensure that these certifications are for geosynthetics testing and not for other testing procedures.

3.3 Duties of Construction Quality Assurance Personnel

The personnel of the CQA Consultant include:

The CQA Manager, who operates from the office of the CQA Consultant and visits the site as required;

The CQA Site Superintendent, who is located at the site; and

The CQA Monitor(s), who is (are) located at the site.

The duties of the CQA Personnel are discussed in the following subsections.

3.3.1 CQA Manager

The CQA Manager:

reviews all designs, plans, specifications, QC programs, and the CQA Plan;

reviews all other site-specific documentation, including bid documents, proposed panel layouts, and the geomembrane manufacturer and installer literature, for correctness, constructibility, level of quality and potential conflicts.

attends the preconstruction meeting;

ensures that the Manufacturer and Installer have reviewed, and can comply with, the Project Specifications and the CQA Plan. The Installer will sign the Compliance Agreement attached as Appendix A.

administers the CQA program, i.e., assigns and manages all CQA personnel, reviews all field reports, and provides engineering review of all CQA-related issues;

provides quality control of the CQA personnel, including making site visits;

reviews all changes to the design, plans, specifications, and installation procedures;

proactively recommends quality improvements to the Project Manager within project budget constraints; and

with the CQA Site Superintendent, reviews the record drawings and prepares the final report.

3.3.2 CQA Site Superintendent

The CQA Site Superintendent:

acts as the on-site (resident) representative of the CQA Consultant;

familiarizes all CQA Monitors with the site, the CQA requirements, and health and safety requirements for the project;

manages the daily activities of the CQA Monitor(s);

attends all CQA-related meetings (e.g., Resolution, Preconstruction, daily, weekly);

verifies the calibration and condition of on-site testing equipment;

reviews all CQA Monitors' daily reports and logs;

reports to the Project Manager, and logs in his daily report, any relevant observations reported to him by the CQA Monitors;

prepares his/her own daily report;

ssigns locations for testing and sampling;

oversees the collection and shipping of all laboratory test samples;

reviews results of laboratory testing and makes appropriate recommendations;
reports any unresolved deviations from the CQA Plan to the Project Manager;

prepares or oversees the ongoing preparation of the Record Drawings; and

assists with the preparation of the final report.

The CQA Site Superintendent also:

reviews all Supplier, Manufacturer, and Installer certifications and documentation, and makes appropriate recommendations;

reviews the Installer's personnel qualifications for conformance with those pre-approved for work on-site;

ensures that the Manufacturer and Installer have reviewed and can comply with the Project Specifications and the CQA Plan.

notes, and reports to the Project Manager, any on-site activities that could result in damage to the geomembranes and other geosynthetics.

makes recommendations for improvements in the liner quality; and

contributes to the solution of all geosynthetic problems.

3.3.3 CQA Monitors

The duties of the CQA Monitors include, as assigned by the CQA Site Superintendent, monitoring and documenting all appropriate operations.

The operations to be monitored by the CQA Monitors include:

material delivery and unloading;

on-site transport and storage;

all deployment operations;

condition of panels as placed; including making spot checks of geomembrane thickness;

all joining and/or seaming operations;

sampling for conformance testing by the CQA Laboratory;

marking samples for conformance testing; and

repair operations.

The seaming operations to be monitored include:

trial seaming;

preparation for seaming;

all production seaming;

nondestructive seam testing;

sampling for destructive testing;

field tensiometer testing;

laboratory sample marking; and

repair operations.

In addition to these specific duties, all CQA Monitors will take note of any on-site activities that could result in damage to the soils or geomembrane. All such observations will be reported immediately to the CQA Site Superintendent.