ASTM E329-08

Standard Specification for Agencies Engaged in Construction Inspection and/or Testing

ABSTRACT
This specification defines the minimum requirements for inspection agency personnel or testing agency laboratory personnel, or both, and the minimum technical requirements for equipment and procedures utilized in the testing and inspection of construction and materials used in construction. Criteria provided herein shall be used for evaluating the capability of the agency to properly perform designated tests on construction materials, as well as establishing essential characteristics pertaining to the organization, personnel, facilities, and quality systems of the agency.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The testing and inspection of construction materials is an important element in obtaining quality construction. A testing and inspection agency must be selected with care after a comprehensive evaluation of its competency to perform the work properly.
This standard provides basic minimum criteria for use in evaluating the qualifications of technically oriented testing or inspection agencies, or both. The criteria may be supplemented by more specific criteria and requirements for particular classes of testing or types of inspection agencies. An individual user can also use it to judge the competency of an agency. The existence of a formal accrediting authority such as a federal, state, or independent agency is not necessary for the use of this specification, but the specification can be used as a basis for accreditation, if desired.
The intent of this standard is to provide a consensus system standardized basis for requirements for a technically oriented testing or inspection agency, with respect to the agency's capability to objectively and competently provide the specific services needed by the user without prejudice.
Typically, evaluating an agency involves the following three essential sequential phases:
Submittal of basic information in accordance with the criteria of this specification to the evaluator by an agency desiring to be qualified to this standard,
Evaluation of the agency-submitted information, and
On-site verification of the agency-submitted information by the user or a qualified national authority.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification defines the minimum requirements for inspection agency personnel or testing agency laboratory personnel, or both, and the minimum technical requirements for equipment and procedures utilized in the testing and inspection of construction and materials used in construction.
1.2 Criteria is provided for evaluating the capability of agency to properly perform designated tests on construction materials, and establishes essential characteristics pertaining to the organization, personnel, facilities, and quality systems of the agency. This specification may be supplemented by more specific criteria and requirements for particular projects.
1.3 This specification can be used as a basis to evaluate an agency and is intended for use in qualifying and/or accrediting agencies, public or private, engaged in the testing and inspection of construction and materials. Building officials can use Specification E 329 as a tool in the qualification and establishment of competency of inspection and testing agencies in the fields covered by Specification E 329.
1.4 A certificate of accreditation, including the scope of accreditation, is required to comply with this standard.
1.5 The users of an accredited agency must review the agency's scope of accreditation to ensure the agency has been accredited for its technical competence to perform the specific tests or inspections requested by the user.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2008
• ICS: 91.100.01 - Construction materials in general
• Technical Committee: E36 - Accreditation & Certification
• Drafting Committee: E36.70 - Agencies Performing Construction Inspection, Testing and Special Inspection

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E329-09 - Standard Specification for Agencies Engaged in Construction Inspection and/or Testing
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
An American National Standard
Designation: E329 – 08
Standard Specification for
Agencies Engaged in Construction Inspection and/or
1
Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E329; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
3
1. Scope* spection of Steel, Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys
C1077 Practice for Laboratories Testing Concrete and Con-
1.1 Thisspecificationdefinestheminimumrequirementsfor
crete Aggregates for Use in Construction and Criteria for
inspection agency personnel or testing agency laboratory
Laboratory Evaluation
personnel, or both, and the minimum technical requirements
C1093 Practice for Accreditation of Testing Agencies for
for equipment and procedures utilized in the testing and
Masonry
inspection of construction and materials used in construction.
D3666 Specification for Minimum Requirements forAgen-
1.2 Criteria is provided for evaluating the capability of
cies Testing and Inspecting Road and Paving Materials
agency to properly perform designated tests on construction
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
materials, and establishes essential characteristics pertaining to
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
the organization, personnel, facilities, and quality systems of
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
the agency. This specification may be supplemented by more
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
specific criteria and requirements for particular projects.
E543 Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestruc-
1.3 This specification can be used as a basis to evaluate an
tive Testing
agency and is intended for use in qualifying and/or accrediting
E605 Test Methods for Thickness and Density of Sprayed
agencies, public or private, engaged in the testing and inspec-
Fire-Resistive Material (SFRM) Applied to Structural
tion of construction and materials. Building officials can use
Members
Specification E329 as a tool in the qualification and establish-
E736 Test Method for Cohesion/Adhesion of Sprayed Fire-
ment of competency of inspection and testing agencies in the
Resistive Materials Applied to Structural Members
fields covered by Specification E329.
E994 Guide for Calibration and Testing Laboratory Ac-
1.4 A certificate of accreditation, including the scope of
creditation Systems General Requirements for Operation
accreditation, is required to comply with this standard.
3
and Recognition
1.5 The users of an accredited agency must review the
E1513 Practice for Application of Sprayed Fire-Resistive
agency’s scope of accreditation to ensure the agency has been
Materials (SFRMs)
accredited for its technical competence to perform the specific
E2174 Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Fire
tests or inspections requested by the user.
Stops
2. Referenced Documents E2393 Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Fire
2
Resistive Joint Systems and Perimeter Fire Barriers
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2.2 AASHTO Standard:
A880 Practice for Criteria for Use in Evaluation of Testing
R18 Standard Recommended Practice for Establishing and
Laboratories and Organizations for Examination and In-
Implementing a Quality System for Construction Materi-
4
als Testing Laboratories
2.3 ANSI/ISO/IEC Standard:
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E36 on
17020 General Criteria for the Operation of Various Types
Laboratory and Inspection Agency Accreditation and is the direct responsibility of
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of Bodies Performing Inspection
Subcommittee E36.70 on Construction and Building Testing/Inspection Agencies.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2008. Published September 2008. Originally
´1
approved in 1967. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E329 – 07a . DOI:
10.1520/E0329-08.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM on www.astm.org.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American Association of State Highway and Transportation
the ASTM website. Officials (AASHTO), 444 N. Capitol St., NW, Suite 249, Washington, DC 20001.
5
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1 rue de
Varembé, Case postale 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
´1
Designation:E329–07a Designation: E 329 – 08
Standard Specification for
Agencies Engaged in Construction Inspection and/or
1
Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 329; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1
´ NOTE—6.2.2, 6.2.3, and 6.2.4 were revised and Appendix X1 was removed editorially in June 2008.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification defines the minimum requirements for inspection agency personnel or testing agency laboratory
personnel, or both, and the minimum technical requirements for equipment and procedures utilized in the testing and inspection
of construction and materials used in construction.
1.2 Criteria is provided for evaluating the capability of agency to properly perform designated tests on construction materials,
and establishes essential characteristics pertaining to the organization, personnel, facilities, and quality systems of the agency.This
specification may be supplemented by more specific criteria and requirements for particular projects.
1.3 This specification can be used as a basis to evaluate an agency and is intended for use in qualifying and/or accrediting
agencies, public or private, engaged in the testing and inspection of construction and materials. Building officials can use
Specification E 329 as a tool in the qualification and establishment of competency of inspection and testing agencies in the fields
covered by Specification E 329.
1.4A1.4 A certificate of accreditation, including the scope of accreditation, is required to comply with this standard.
1.5The1.5 The users of an accredited agency must review the agency’s scope of accreditation to ensure the agency has been
accredited for its technical competence to perform the specific tests or inspections requested by the user.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A 880 Practice for Criteria for Use in Evaluation of Testing Laboratories and Organizations for Examination and Inspection of
Steel, Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys
C 1077 PracticeforLaboratoriesTestingConcreteandConcreteAggregatesforUseinConstructionandCriteriaforLaboratory
Evaluation
C 1093 Practice for Accreditation of Testing Agencies for Masonry
D 3666 Specification for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Testing and Inspecting Road and Paving Materials
D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in
Engineering Design and Construction
E 4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
E 543 Specification for Agencies Performing Nondestructive Testing
E 605 Test Methods for Thickness and Density of Sprayed Fire-Resistive Material (SFRM) Applied to Structural Members
E 736 Test Method for Cohesion/Adhesion of Sprayed Fire-Resistive Materials Applied to Structural Members
E 994 Guide for Calibration and Testing Laboratory Accreditation Systems General Requirements for Operation and
Recognition
E 1513 Practice for Application of Sprayed Fire-Resistive Materials (SFRMs)
E 2174 Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Fire Stops
E 2393 Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Fire Resistive Joint Systems and Perimeter Fire Barriers
2.2 AASHTO Standard:
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E36 on Laboratory and InspectionAgencyAccreditation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
E36.70 on Construction and Building Testing/Inspection Agencies.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2007. Published December 2007. Originally approved in 1967. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E329–07.
´1
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2008. Published September 2008. Originally approved in 1967. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E 329 – 07a .
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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