2301 - WOOD POSTS
2300-3 b. Plant Quality Control Requirements. The plant must have a quality control section identified within its
organization that is adequately staffed to perform the require d lot-by-lot testing. The plant laboratory must have proper equipment, calibrated annuall y according to the requirements of the equi pment manufacturer’s recommendations, with which to adequately perform all measurements, visual inspection, and testing related to subsections 2301.2b. and 2301.2e. Provide a copy of the plant quality control plan to the Engineer’s representative during the plant inspection. As a minimum, the plan will include 1) grading procedur es and personnel qualifications, 2) treatment procedures and personnel qualifications, 3) record keeping procedures and personnel, 4) copy of plant identification stamp or tag, and
5.notification and resubmittal in the event of any change s to procedures and personnel, or the quality control plan.
c.Sampling and Testing Procedure. The Engineer’s representative will select the test samples, at random, at the plant. Provide access to all facilities necessary for the Enginee r’s representative to randomly select samples from all bundles/charges as defined below. Samples for grading comparisons will be selected from material “in the white”, and samples for comparison of treatment tes ting will be selected from the finished product. Provide plant personnel to handle and label necessary bund les/charges from the randomly selected samples.
1.Lot size. All stock within a lot is subject to sa mpling unless exceptions are authorized by the Bureau Chief of Construction and Materials. Lots are defined separately for “in the white” and finished products:
a.“In the white.” The lot of wood that is subj ect to sampling for grading comparison includes all sizes and grades of material described in this specification that are in stock.
b.Treated. The lot of wood that is subject to sampling for treatment comparison includes all finished products of material described in this specification that are in stock.
2.The lot sample size will be:
a.10 bundles of “in the white”, and
b.10 charges of finished product.
3.Sample preparation. Storage and handling of the products will be evaluated during this phase.
a.Transport the “in the white” bund les selected by the Engineer’s representative to an area of the plant that will be suitable for breaking, re-grading, and re-bundling. Provide plant personnel to handle, break and re-bundle the randomly selected samples.
b.Take borings from the finished product bundle s where they are stored. They may need to be broken open and moved around for sampling access. Take borings of the finished product as described in the AWPA Standard M2, “Standard for Inspection of Wood Products Treated with Preservatives”. Take 20 borings from each of the 10 selected charges of fi nished product. Assign each sample, consisting of the 20 borings, a unique identification number. Trim all 20 cores and grind as required by the test method. Place each sa mple in a sealed contai ner and durably affix the sample identification number to each container. Th e sample, or a portion thereof, is tested by the plant. After plant testing is completed, combine th e tested and untested portions of the sample so that comparison testing can be performed by KDOT. Conduct all sample preparation operations in the presence of the Engineer’s representative.
4.Testing.
a.All items in each bundle “in the white” will be graded for comp arison. Provide the Engineer’s representative with the plant’s grading for each “in the white” lot sampled for use in this comparison. The Engineer’s representative will grad e the test bundles according to the procedures and requirements of the applicable specifi cations and grading rules as referenced in subsection 2301.2b.
b.Test each sample according to the procedur es and requirements of the applicable AWPA Standard A9. For the purpose of comparing the plant and KDOT testing laboratories, each of the 10 samples is to be tested by each laboratory. Provide all the necessary facilities and test records required by the Engineer’s representative to witness the tests. Record the plant test results onto a KDOT form and sign the form. Provide these re sults and the remaining companion samples to the Engineer’s representative.
5.Comparison of Test Results.
a.KDOT grading results will be co mpared with the producer’s results for the total of the sampled lot. The differences between KDOT and producer results may not exceed 5% of the sample total.
b.KDOT’s treatment testing results will be comp ared to the producer’s results for each sample, taking into consideration the reproducibility expr essed in the precision table in AWPA Standard A9. None of the samples may fall outside the acceptable range. 2301 - WOOD POSTS
2300-4 (c) A sample that fails the comparison requirements may be re-sampled 1 time only, and on a 2-
for-1 basis (both samples must pass or the entire lot fails). It is preferable that the resample be removed from the same lot that failed if it is still available. The results of the resample specimens will replace the initial test results.
d.Plant Status.
1.Attainment of prequalified status. In order for a plant to be prequalified to provide wood guardrail posts and spacer blocks, and wood sign support posts to KDOT pr ojects, comply with the re quirements referenced in subsection 2301.4c. (5) .
2.Renewal of prequalified status. The following schedule will apply to plants that have attained their initial prequalification status:
a.One year after the initial prequalification, the plant will again be evaluated according to subsection 2301.4 .
b.For plants that retain prequalification after the second evaluation, the next evaluation will be required after a 2-year time interval.
c.For plants that retain prequalification after the third evaluation, the required evaluation time interval will be extended to 3 years therea fter provided the plant maintains continuous prequalification and is not disqualified.
d.A prequalified plant that becomes disqualified may regain prequalified status at the next annual renewal inspection, but must comply with all the requirements that apply to initial prequalification including the re-inspection schedule outlined above. The disqualified plant may petition for an immediate re-evaluation provided it can be demonstrated that the disqualifying deficiencies have been corrected.
e.A plant that chooses not to renew it prequalified status, but then later chooses to again prequalify must comply with all the requirements th at apply to initial prequalification, including the re-inspection schedule outlined above.
3.Disqualification. All prequalif ied plants that are currently prov iding wood posts for KDOT projects will have their product quality monitored through the use of verification inspections as described in subsection 2301.4e. Failure of 2 verification samples w ithin 1 year of each other will result in disqualification of the plant and removal from the prequalified source list. In the event of di squalification, the plant is subject to the requirements of subsection 2301.4d.(2)(d) . A plant that fails to comply with these re quirements 2 times, consecutive or otherwise, will be permanently disqualified unless an exception is granted by the Bureau Chief of Construction and Materials due to change in ownership, plant management or other significant reorganization.
e.Quality Assurance.
1.Verification Inspections. During the course of each year, the Wichita Regional Materials Laboratory will randomly select a minimum of 1 project or contract containing wood posts provided by each of the prequalified plants. The Wichita Regional Materials Laboratory will contact the District administering these projects or contracts for scheduling of the field verification testing. Upon notification of a verification inspection, the Contractor is required to store materials in a manner allowing easy acce ss for inspection and, upon arrival of the Engineer’s representative, provide adequate manpower for the handling and re-stacking of the product.
2.Verification Testing.
a.All materials used on the project are consider ed to be 1 lot and will be subject to both grade and treatment verification testing. A minimum of 20 randomly selected pieces will be graded. In addition, a single sample, consisting of a single boring from each of the same graded pieces will be treatment tested. Borings will be taken as described in AWPA Standard M2 and tested in accordance with AWPA Standard A9. If the sample fa ils to meet the specifications for grading or treatment, it is cause for rejecting the entire lot.
b.In the event that the verification samples fa il to comply with the pr eceding, the Engineer’s representative may randomly resample the lot 1 time onl y on a 2 to 1 basis, or reject the lot. If the lot is re-sampled, then both samples must pass, or the entire lot is rejected. The results of the resample specimens will replace the initial test results.
c.The Contractor is to replace the rejected lo t at no additional cost to KDOT. Remove the rejected lot from the job storage site.
3.Verification Related Costs. KDOT costs for verifi cation inspection and testing will be borne by KDOT. Excessive inspections for replacement of rejected material may be charged to the Contractor. 2301 - WOOD POSTS
2300-5 2301.5 Basis of Acceptance
a.The plant must be currently prequalified.
b.Provide the Engineer’s representative of the project with a copy of plant test reports that govern the analysis of the wood post and block lots delivered to the project. In clude a report of the preservati ve treatment analysis for each lot. Mail a copy of the reports to the Wichita Regional Materials Laboratory, Bldg. 1, 3200 E 45th N, Wichita, KS 67220. Verify that the proj ect number and/or the contract number appear on each report.
c.Provide the Engineer’s representative of the project with shipping orders, an invoice, or cover letter that documents the project number, wood post and block sizes, job, or producer order numbers, and the total number of each lot of the represented wood posts and blocks delivered to the project.
d.Provide the Engineer’s representative of the project with a certification stating that the wood posts and blocks delivered to the project comply with this specifica tion, and that the preservative treatment complies with the applicable AWPA standards. This documentation must bear the signature and title of an official of the plant with contract binding authority, and must be notarized. This requi rement may be included on the test reports referenced in subsection 2301.5b.
e.As a minimum, wood posts and blocks must be legibly stamped with the lumber grade, producers’ identification, and minimum specified treatment recorded in PCF.
f.The final disposition of the wood posts and blocks will be completed at the final destination as the result of inspection for the quality of workmanship and the delivery condition and approval of the associated required documentation.
Source: Kansas Standard Specifications for State Road and Bridge Construction, 2015 Edition. Pages 932–934 of 978.