NPCA Staff Report
Clarification on changes to the NPCA Quality Control Manual for 2017.
Each year, the NPCA Quality Assurance Committee looks to both members and specifiers to determine ways to improve the NPCA Plant Certification Program. The 12th Edition of the NPCA Quality Control Manual for program year 2017 includes a number of changes, additions and several updates, along with editorial changes that reflect this effort for the precast concrete plant certification program.
The following sections of the manual have been changed:
- 4.5 Concrete Curing – Completely rewritten and commentary expanded
- 6.3.3.1 Absorption Testing – Now a critical requirement under “Round Manhole Requirements”
- 6.4.1 Absorption Testing – Now a critical requirement under “Box Culvert Requirements”
- 6.5 Septic Tank Requirements
- 6.6 Grease Interceptor Requirements – New section
- Plant Terms and Conditions – New section added under 7.2.13.4
These changes ensure the highest quality manufacturing processes from NPCA certified plants and provide assurance to customers regarding quality.
“The NPCA certified plant program is constantly evolving while maintaining a direct focus on continuous improvement for our industry as a whole,” said Frank Bowen, plant manager of Piedmont Precast and chair of the NPCA Quality Assurance Committee. “Now ANSI certified, our program has made significant improvements that promote NPCA certified plants to a greater spectrum of clients with special interest to regional specifiers and state DOTs. We want to make the audit process simple, yet conclusive.
“Any new policy introduced or any improvements made to the Quality Control Manual are crafted or edited with efficiency and accountability in mind for the plants and clients who take advantage of our certified program.”
One of the many benefits of a strong and continuously improving program is the involvement of specifiers and the resulting reliance on the program, which includes 41 state DOTs and many other entities that require NPCA certification.
“The willingness to evolve and continue making necessary changes defines NPCA as a first-class organization,” said Jason Tucker, P.E., TxDOT, and a member of the NPCA Quality Assurance Committee. “The hard-working and dedicated committee, which is responsible for many of the changes to the ever-evolving NPCA Quality Control Manual, is a testament to this. Anyone who wants to help make a difference, I encourage you to join one of the many NPCA committees.”
For a complete list of changes or to download the most up-to-date NPCA Quality Control Manual for Precast Concrete Plants, visit precast.org/qcmanual.
If you have questions about our precast concrete plant certification program, contact Phil Cutler, NPCA’s director of quality assurance programs, at [email protected] or (317) 571-9500.
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