12 - TXDOT LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECTS QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM

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SECTION 3 - INDEPENDENT ASSURANCE PROGRAM 3.1 Overview The Independent Assurance (IA) program evaluates all sampling and testing procedures, personnel, and equipment used as part of an acceptance decision. The IA program evaluates the qualified sampling and testing personnel and testing equipment and is established using the system approach. The system approach bases frequency of IA activities on time regardless of the number of tests, quantities of materials, or numbers of projects tested by the individual being evaluated. 3.2 Sampling and Testing Frequency Perform IA sampling and testing at the frequency established in 'Required Frequencies and Activities.' NOTE: Testing procedures performed at the Construction Division, Materials & Pavements Section (CST /M &P) central laboratory are not subject to the IA program. 3.3 Testing Equipment CST /M &P will qualify district laboratory testing equipment used for IA sampling and testing, according to the "Laboratory Qualification Program." The district laboratory will qualify all other department testing equipment and AASHTO accredited commercial laboratory equipment used for IA sampling and testing. (Note: Any commercial laboratory used for IA sampling and testing must be AASHTO accredited.) Qualify testing equipment according to these guidelines: A. Frequency for qualifying IA sampling and testing equipment will not exceed one year. B. Calibration /verification is required whenever the laboratory or equipment is moved. C. IA equipment shall be other than that used for performing verification or quality control (QC) testing. Any equipment used to perform verification and /or QC sampling and testing in making an acceptance decision will be evaluated by IA sampling and testing personnel. This evaluation includes calibration checks and split or proficiency sample tests. The requirements for, and frequency of, equipment calibrations are shown in TxDOT's test procedures, as referenced in 'Calibration Standards and Frequencies for Laboratory Equipment.' Acceptable tolerance limits for the comparison of test results from split or proficiency samples are shown in "Acceptable Tolerance Limits for Independent Assurance."