The Canadian Precast Concrete Quality Assurance (CPCQA) certification program is continuing to audit precast concrete manufacturing facilities across Canada amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Owners and AEC professionals can rest assured that their risk management and product quality assurance is being maintained throughout this pandemic.
To ensure the health and safety of all workers and the Canadian public, the audits have been moved to a virtual, interactive platform, unless an in-person COVID-19 SAFE audit would be absolutely necessary.
The CPCQA program ensures architects, engineers, specifiers, developer/owners, will be assured of high-quality precast concrete building products.
The national and provincial building codes require conformance to the CSA standards for precast concrete materials and construction when it comes to architectural, structural and drainage precast concrete products.
CPCQA is a nationally recognized and accepted certification program that provides an independent third-party certification of conformance to the CSA and United States MNL standards.
To have a program truly based on the highest level of industry best practices, you need to draw on the representative body of knowledge from across the construction industry.
CPCQA’s Quality Assurance Council is a clear example of an expert industry cross-section.
Program content is designed by and vetted through a multi-stakeholder council. The current 23-member council, its makeup of architects, engineers, provincial government officials, ACO’s and six precast concrete producers emphasizes its strength and independence.
The CPCQA certification program is committed to delivering safe and cost-effective infrastructure products to support Canada’s growing infrastructure demands.
To meet these demands the Canadian Precast Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI) and the Canadian Concrete Pipe and Precast Association (CCPPA), along with our North American partners the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute and the National Precast Concrete Association are involved in many robust and aggressive research and technology programs to preserve the aging and deteriorating North American infrastructure and advance the use of new technologies for designing resilient, extended-life infrastructure products to keep Canadians safe.
The CPCQA certification program requires precast concrete manufacturers to meet the requirements of the latest editions of CSA Standards for structural, architectural and drainage products and the PCI Quality Control Manuals MNL-116 and 117 (U.S. equivalent) for structural, architectural with the more stringent requirements being the governing criteria.
Certified plants are audited annually with at least two unannounced audits.
Strict compliance with published standards is necessary to maintain certification.
Certification confirms a manufacturer’s capability to produce quality products and systems.
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) recognizes the CPCQA program as the most stringent precast concrete certification program in North America and encourages RAIC members to review and educate themselves on the attributes and benefits of the CPCQA certification program.
At present the CPCQA certifies over 80 per cent of the precast concrete production in Canada. The CPCQA is endorsed by CPCI and CCPPA.
It is the only certification program in Canada that has an official Quality Assurance Reporting Program and Quality Conflict Resolution Mechanism.
For more information, visit http://z.cpci.ca/?d=v8t6n9x8t
Bill LeBlanc, P.Eng., B.Sc. Bill LeBlanc Consulting, is also the managing director for the Canadian Precast Concrete Quality Assurance Certification Program. Send comments and Industry Perspectives op-ed ideas to editor@dailycommercialnews.com.
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