NPCA regularly receives questions regarding the manufacture and installation of precast concrete products by phone and email. Select questions and answers are included in each issue of Precast Inc. magazine. Occasionally, these questions lead to articles or blog posts, and such is the case with a recent inquiry requesting clarification on the requirements for welding of reinforcing steel in the manufacture of cages for precast concrete products. Specifically, the question asked if the NPCA Plant Certification program requires welders to be certified.
NPCA file photo.
The requirements for “Welding of Reinforcing Steel” can be found in Section 4.2.2 of the current NPCA Quality Control Manual for Precast Concrete Plants. There is an additional requirement in Section 4.2.5.2, “Plant Requirements,” for welding of ASTM A615 reinforcing steel.
According to the NPCA Plant Certification program, welders do not have to be certified to weld reinforcing steel for cage fabrication. However, plants are required to perform carbon equivalence calculations for ASTM A615 material. Plants are also required to maintain proper welding procedures that are documented and available for review.
The requirements stated in the NPCA Quality Control Manual for Precast Concrete Plants represent the minimum necessary to become an NPCA Certified Plant. Under the NPCA Plant Certification program, if more stringent requirements are set forth according to the project specifications or by the authority having jurisdiction, those requirements shall apply.
We’ve written extensively on welding of reinforcing steel in Precast Inc. magazine. Please read these stories for more information, or send any additional questions to Phillip Cutler, P.E., NPCA’s director of quality assurance programs.
I wonder if you could go into detail about “the authority having jurisdiction”, who would that be?
Thank you for your comment Johnny. Phil Cutler, P.E., director of quality assurance programs, provided the following explanation.
When we speak of “the authority having jurisdiction” this could be an owner, stake holder, engineer of record, specifier, or the agency that is in responsible charge or owner of the project.
The context for this example: The NPCA Quality Control Manual for Precast Concrete Plants documents the minimum requirements for NPCA Plant Certification. There are instances where project specifications and/or the requirements of the owner, stake holder, engineer of record, specifier or agency are more stringent. In those cases, NPCA Certified Plants shall abide by the more stringent requirement or specification.
Good Information. I am a quality control professional. I am new to this field. Does precast magazine have an online version.
Thank you for your comment, Thomas. Welcome to the precast industry! All magazines and articles are available online at precast.org/publications/magazines/. Please check out our blogs as well for the latest industry information and additional case studies. If you do have any questions, feel free to contact us at (800) 366-7731.