Special Inspections IBC Precast fabrication 2

[lrhg]

According to IBC, in-plant special inspections are required for shop fabricated load bearing members. For load-bearing prestressed precast concrete, PCI Certification generally allows exemption from independant special inspections in-plant.

Is there any other quality certification that would exempt a precaster from the in-plant special inspections required by IBC Ch 17? How does ISO 9001 or NAPC certification compare to PCI certification?

 

[DonPhillips]

From the 2007 Ohio Building Code (Based on the 2006 IBC)

"1704.1 General. Where application is made for construction as described in this section, the owner or the registered design professional in responsible charge acting as the owner’s agent shall employ one or more special inspectors to provide inspections during construction on the types of work listed under Section 1704 . The special inspector shall be a qualified person who shall demonstrate competence, to the satisfaction of the building official, for inspection of the particular type of construction or operation requiring special inspection. These inspections are in addition to the inspections specified in Section 109.
Exceptions:
1. Special inspections are not required for work of a minor nature or as warranted by conditions in the jurisdiction as approved by the building official.
2. Special inspections are not required for building components unless the design involves the practice of professional engineering or architecture as defined by applicable state statutes and regulations governing the professional registration and certification of engineers or architects.
3. Deleted."

"1704.2.2 Fabricator approval. Special inspections required by this code are not required where the work is done on the premises of a fabricator registered and approved to perform such work without special inspection. Approval shall be based upon review of the fabricator’s written procedural and quality control manuals and periodic auditing of fabrication practices by an approved independent special inspection or quality assurance agency. Such agency shall be accredited by a national evaluation and accreditation service approved by the board . At completion of fabrication, the approved fabricator shall submit a certificate of compliance to the building official stating that the work was performed in accordance with the approved construction documents.
Special inspections required by this code are not required for work done on the premises of a fabricator authorized by the board as an industrialized unit manufacturer pursuant to Section 117."

I think you need to call the building official to discuss what will be required in that jurisdiction.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[Teguci]

I think I would be asking why a precast company that wants to provide structural building elements doesn't have a PCI certification (a pending certification maybe a consideration).

As the engineer, I would be very suspicious of a precaster that did not have their PCI certification.

As for ISO 9001, I didn't see anything there that would specifically apply to precast construction.

Too often we approach inspections from a "What can we get passed the permit reviewer." For something as complex as precast concrete with embedded connections, tendons, reinforcement, concrete quality, etc... ask yourself what level of trust should I have/need with a company that could hide a significant problem with their product.

 

[lrhg]

Teguci - I was very suspicious of the precaster. He actually summitted a PCI certificate. Based on the quality of the submittals we called PCI to verify and found out that they are not certified. I, too, don't think ISO 9001 requires a QC projram to address the expertise required in prestress concrete. I think you just need "a" QC program. If anyone knows more about how ISO 9001 can really cerify a prestress plant, I would like to know.

Don - In general, I agree that the code offical has the call on special inspections, but in this case the project is in a small town and I am not certain they understand the differences in these certifications.

I think I am in a lose-lose situation. If I insist on the certification the owner bought, the precaster may walk. If I insist on in-plant inspections, who pays? If I put this in the hands of the code official, we may have more (worse?) problems later.

 

[Teguci]

Not only does PCI review the precaster's Quality program, they have suprise inspections.

Insist on a full review of the plants quality control program. And, have an independent inspector review each piece based on approved shop drawings. You will need to review his procedures.

As for payment, just make sure you , the engineer, are not the one paying in the long run.

Just to clarify, the precaster submitted a PCI cert he didn't have? This is not reassuring.

 

[lrhg]

To clarify - the precaster indeed submitted PCI certification he did not have (used to have, but was not renewed - don't know why)

In light of the situtation, regardless of what the code official requires, we have asked the owner to provide in-plant special inspections. (I hope he back-charges the contractor for his expense) If he chooses not to, we at least have our recommnendation in writing. The code official said that they don't try to impose requirements that are not specifically required by the code. Therefore, he said that ISO 9001 would meet the Chapter 17 requirements for an "approved" quality control program and waive in-plant inspections for prestressing.

After going through this, I think those that write the code should SPECIFICALLY address the certification that waives in-plant inspections for structural building components and reconsider the generic language ..."fabricator registered and approved"

 

[DonPhillips]

Even with specific language, Chapter 1 allows for alternate methods of compliance.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com