Increasing
requirements for certified quality aggregates has led industry association,
Aspasa, to introduce its own guidelines and auditing systems to ensure testing
of aggregates and crushed granular materials complies with South African National
Standards (SANS) 3001 AG and GR series test methods.
In future quarries
belonging to Aspasa will have an option to participate in an annual audit
designed to measure compliance of testing facilities, including their apparatus
calibration and personnel competence against an abridged ISO 17025 format, to
assist in ensuring the correct classification of products. Over time, as their systems improve, they can
opt to obtain accreditation through South African National
Accreditation System (SANAS) for ISO/IEC 17025 – General requirements
for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
According to
Barry Pearce, chairman of Aspasa’s technical committee, the audits complement
the association’s well established environmental, and health and safety audit systems,
which have contributed to the association’s recognition internationally as a
leader in these fields.
“The idea is
to help Aspasa’s members to produce better graded products that are tested consistently
to meet the specifications of their clients as well as national standards –
where required. It entails the inspection of the laboratory including the testing
apparatus and the verification of procedures.
“The audits will
be simple but thorough and will leave the quarry in no doubt as to what is
required. With this in place producers can confidently supply their products
without fear of material rejections in future, provided that the necessary
procedures are followed.
“It will also
be tailored to the requirements of individual quarries which may range in size
from a small family-owned quarry to large multi-national concerns producing
aggregates and crushed granular material for multiple uses in different
markets,” says Pearce.
He adds it is
a fallacy that only large quarries can afford in-house laboratories. At the cost of a set of sieves, a flakiness gauge
plate, some scales, a drying oven and containers, any quarry can setup the
required tests to meet ISO 17025 requirements. Management systems can then be introduced at
varying levels of detail depending on quarry’s requirements.
Pearce says
the construction and civils industries have been working towards a more
accurate system of materials procurement and the new Aspasa audits will assist
in meeting and exceeding these industries’ requirements as well as improving
the image of Aspasa and its members. The
introduction of the technical audits is expected to reduce the rate of material
rejection once delivered to site which is expected to easily offset the cost of
compliance.
He added the
association would also look at participating in the National Laboratory
Association – South Africa (NLA-SA) National Proficiency Testing Scheme (PTS)
to assist in comparing results between the commercial facilities and Aspasa
members to further reduce the disparities in the results and material
rejections.
More
information from Aspasa, Tel: (011) 791 3327, email: [email protected],
www.aspasa.co.za
