User Guide – 5.6 Technical Sections

6.0 Technical Requirements

6.1.1 – Inventory List of Equipment

6.2 – General Equipment Procedures

6.2.1 – General procedure for ensuring the calibration, standardization, check, and maintenance are performed for all required equipment and measurement standards at the specified intervals.

6.5 – Equipment Records

6.5.1 – Cal/Check/Standard Procedure Records

6.5.2.2 – Provide Calibration Certificates – Establish the traceability of measurement standards or in-house equipment used for calibrations, standardizations, and checks.

6.6 – Sample management

6.6.1 – Procedure for storage, retention, and disposal of test samples.

6.6.2 – Procedure for identifying samples

6.7 – Test Records and Reports

6.7.1 – Methods used to produce test records and to prepare, check, and amend test reports.

6.7.2 – Procedure for amending test reports

6.8 – Subcontracting

6.8.1 – Documentation describing policies followed by the laboratory relative to subcontracting and its procedure for selecting subcontractors and reporting of results

6.9 – Assuring Quality Results

6.9.1 – Provide a written procedure that describes how your laboratory monitors the quality and validity of test results. Monitoring must be a planned event by one of the following;

6.9.1.1 – External non-bias assessment programs that may include but not limited to the AASHTO Accreditation Program (AAP), Concrete and Cement Reference Laboratory (CCRL), conduct on-site assessments, . In this section, provide the programs your laboratory is involved in, specific details.

6.9.1.2 – Proficiency Sample Program (PSP) your laboratory participates in; 

• Program: AASHTO PSP Program (example)
• Performance Graded Asphalt Binder
• Viscosity Graded Asphalt Cement
• Emulsified Asphalt
• Coarse Aggregate
• Fine Aggregate
• Hot Mix Asphalt Gyratory
• Hot Mix Asphalt Solvent Extraction

6.9.1.3 – Retesting of retained items

Example:

Binder Samples

• All sample are retained for one year after they are tested

maintained in a climate controlled area at ambient temperature, Re-testing as required.

Mixtures Samples

• HMA and aggregate are also stored in the same warehouse that is climate controlled at ambient temperature
• Mixture samples are retained for indefinite periods of time unless the customer or engineer in charge of a testing  program decides to dispose of materials.
• All retesting is done at the request of the customer or to verify test results due to equipment malfunction, all retesting at the direction of the laboratory manager.

6.9.2  – Records of monitoring Activities

6.9.2.1 – Record for onsite/remote Assessments; this record is created by clicking QMS Reports Tab, or the Reports Tab along the top. The records will automatically appear in this section of your Quality Manual.

6.9.2.2 – Records for Proficiency Sample Programs or Interlaboratory Comparison Testing Records; this record is created by clicking QMS Reports Tab, or the Reports Tab along the top. Records will automatically appear in this section of your Quality Manual.

6.9.2.3 – Retesting of Retained Items Records