The best practices model for any rehabilitation project begins with a thorough Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program. As the name implies, such a program will help ensure that a rehabilitation project is completed with the highest standards, minimizing risk for all parties involved.
In many ways a QA/QC program is a like a checks and balances system, ensuring that work is sourced, performed and reviewed to meet a stringent set of industry standards.
One of many standards in an effective QA/QC program is NASSCO’s Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP), the industry standard for the evaluation, coding and management of sewer pipes. With PACP, a comprehensive and reliable reservoir of data is created to describe the sewer pipe. That information then can be used to help prioritize and plan renovation of wastewater collection systems.
In addition to PACP, NASSCO offers assessment certification for manholes (MACP) and laterals (LACP), providing to the industry a standard for the entire collection system. In addition, the Inspector Training and Certification Program for cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) was added last year and is growing in interest.
This training program will continue to expand to include other technologies for pipe rehabilitation. Pipe bursting will be the subject of the next Inspector Training and Certification Program. It will be followed by a program on manhole rehabilitation.
Over the years, NASSCO certifications have grown to be recognized as industry seals of approval, verifying that a certified professional has the knowledge and skills to perform high-quality inspection work. It is a level of quality control that is necessary for our industry to ensure that rehabilitation of underground utilities is conducted effectively and with long-lasting results.
An effective Quality Assurance/Quality Control program should address, at a minimum:
• Are the installation and inspection team members fully educated, trained, experienced and certified in the technology to be installed?
• Have the teams been trained in other aspects of a project, including terminology and customer relations?
• Have the teams been trained in project evaluation, and are they able to assess the best technology applications?
• Are the teams trained in all aspects of safety for the specific project, including confined-space entry and OSHA requirements?
• Are the teams certified to recognize and verify the key elements of a rehabilitation project that will ensure that the final installation meets the contract requirements?
These questions are just a sample of what a thorough QA/ QC program should include. NASSCO offers a wealth of information on establishing an effective QA/QC program. To learn more, visit www.nassco.org. F
Irvin Gemora is executive director of NASSCO. He can be reached at director@nassco.org. The NASSCO headquarters is at 11521 Cronridge Dr., Suite J, Owings Mills, MD 21117.
