[b]Inspection/Testing Personnel[/b]

[engcom]

Is it better to have two separate persons provide inspection and construction testing services, or to have one person do both.

 

[cvg]

inspection and testing of what?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

For construction of an electric generating station, we tried using separate firms for material testing (soil properties, concrete cylinder breaks, rebar tensile strength, etc.) and inspection (soil compaction, concrete placement, structural steel erection, etc.).

There was too, much potential overlap in responsibility. On the next plant went back to one firm for both testing and inspection.

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[Ron]

Having one firm do both is much more efficient, presuming of course, that their personnel are qualified for both.

 

[bimr]

Inspection is basically observation and documentation of the ongoing construction.

Construction testing is specialized materials testing that require some type of equipment to do the testing. Some of this test work is done in the field (slump test) and some in a laboratory (concrete testing).

It is customary to have different people do this work. The typical field inspector does not have the capability or equipment to do the materials testing.

 

[engcom]

This is for a paving project with numerous underground utilities.

 

[HSIII]

I would say a singular NICET qualified person (Level I or level II) should be able to handle the field responsibilities.

Most of the time the firm also has the laboratory capabilities for the project, so one firm should be able to handle both ends of the spectrum for a paving project like this.

Is it a roadway project? If it is, and FHWA has even the slightest hand in it, you may want to try and find a firm whose laboratory is AASHTO accredited. You can find oout which labs in your area are AASHTO accredited through the AASHTO AMRL website.

 

[msucog]

testing and evaluation would be best to come together from one firm. if additional layers of oversight are necessary, have another firm review the testing/evaluation program.