MANUFACTURING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE - Prestressed Concrete Transmission Pole Structures - page 81

To establish evidence of proper manufacture and quality of precast
concrete products, a system of records is to be used in each plant. The
system shall provide full information regarding the testing of materials,
tensioning, concrete proportioning, placement, curing, sweep, member
dimensions, concrete strength, and the fi nished product. Generally, pole
manufacturing inspections occur before, during, and after concrete place-
ment into the form, after form release, as a completed product, and prior
to shipment.
Concrete Cylinder Tests
Testing is to be an integral part of the total quality control (QC) program.
Testing for quality control of the precast unit is to follow the Manufac-
turer's standards, unless otherwise specifi ed.
If the plant has contracted for quality control to be performed by an
outside independent laboratory, the lab is to be accredited by the Cement
and Concrete Reference Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology. The lab is to conform to the requirements of ASTM E329
(ASTM 2011a), and the plant or independent lab is to meet the concrete
inspection testing section requirements of ASTM C1077 (ASTM 2011b).
For the control of concrete, testing, and mixes, each plant is to be
adequately equipped with the certifi ed testing equipment and staffed
with personnel trained in its proper use. A system of records is to be
maintained to provide full information on material tests, mix designs,
concrete tests, and any other necessary information (see Fig. 7-4).
Inspection of Poles During the Manufacturing Process
Certain QC inspections and records of inspections are important to the
process review and manufacturing traceability for all poles produced. A
review should be made and agreement reached on all quality control
procedures. Rejection criteria should be established and agreed upon
prior to the start of any fabrication. All structures ready for shipment
should have complete and proper identifi cation to avoid confusion at the
delivery point. The markings should coincide with the type, length,
strength, weight, and identifi cation number required by the customer and
approved on the shop drawings. The following inspections and records
are required as a minimum:
QC Library, Files, and Equipment
• manual of standard QC practices;
• QC records; and
• equipment calibrations.