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““MISSION - To develop & administer a self-MISSION - To develop & administer a self-sustaining certification program for the Canadian sustaining certification program for the Canadian precast concrete industry based on the independent precast concrete industry based on the independent inspection of production techniques, equipment and inspection of production techniques, equipment and personnel that assures specifiers and owners of personnel that assures specifiers and owners of nationally uniform, high quality and ever improving nationally uniform, high quality and ever improving precast concrete products and systems”precast concrete products and systems”

Background – History of Precast Certification in Canada

The Precast Concrete Bureau was created in 1967 to address customer concerns about precast quality.

CSA International has been certifying precast concrete plants since 1970.

By the mid 1990s, CSA’s certification program moved away from plant certification (process certification) to product certification with a focus on documentation and report-keeping rather than a review of the operation as a whole.

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Why a New Program? CPCI manufacturing members

wanted an improved program that would move the industry forward (Primary Objective)

In 2006, CPCI reintroduced an

updated audit based process certification program based on conformance to CSA A23.4 and related standards.

The CPCI Certification program reintroduces common, measurable nationwide standards for precast certification.

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Why a New Program? CPCI Certification

provides better assurance of quality to manufacturers, owners, and users

CPCI Certification is a superior program at a similar cost as the CSA program.

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Background – Codes and Standards Requirements

CSA International is a separate division of CSA involved in the testing and certification of a wide range of products and systems.

It is not a requirement of the National Building Code, Provincial Building Codes or CSA Standards that products and systems be certified by CSA International.

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How is precast certification a requirement of Canadian building codes?

National Building Code of Canada (2005) – Division B: Clause 4.3.3.1.(1) - Buildings and their structural members made of plain, reinforced and pre-stressed concrete shall conform to CSA A23.3, Design of Concrete Structures.

Clause A-4.3.3.1(1) - Precast Concrete- CSA A23.3, Design of Concrete Structures, requires precast concrete members to conform to CAN/CSA-A23.4, Precast Concrete – Materials and Construction

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How is precast certification a requirement of Canadian building codes?

CSA A23.3-04 – Design of concrete structures: CSA-A23.3-04 - Clause 16.2.1 – All precast concrete elements covered by this standard shall be manufactured and erected in accordance with CSA A23.4.

CSA A23.4-09 – Precast concrete – Materials and construction: CSA-A23.4-09 - Clause 4.2 – Precast concrete elements produced and erected in accordance with this standard shall be produced by certified manufacturers, with certification demonstrating the capability of a manufacturer to fabricate precast concrete elements to the requirements of this Standard

CSA does not specify the authority for the certification

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Pre-1990 CSA Audit Format (Sample Grade Sheet from 33 Page Audit Report)

Division Being

Evaluated

Overall Division

Weighting

Sub-DivisionWeighting of Sub-Division

Within Division

Manufacturer’s Scores forSub-Division

Weighted Score for Sub-

Division

The 33 page pre-1990 CSA Audit Evaluation Report

was revised by CSA to this……….

Discuss, Check, Verify, Comment (if necessary) on Compliance Control Program:Discuss, Check, Verify, Comment (if necessary) on Compliance Control Program:

DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION A*A* NA*NA* NI*NI* COMMENTSCOMMENTS

11 Management ReviewManagement Review

22 Contract ReviewContract Review

33 Test DataTest Data

44 Inspection ReportsInspection Reports

55 Material Review ReportMaterial Review Report

66 Calibration DataCalibration Data

77 Product ReportsProduct Reports

88 Statement of ComplianceStatement of Compliance

* Legend: A= Acceptable; NA= Not Acceptable; NI= Needs Improvement* Legend: A= Acceptable; NA= Not Acceptable; NI= Needs Improvement

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Why a New Program?

What are the CPCI program requirements?The manufacturing of precast

concrete must conform to the more stringent requirements of:

CSA Standard A23.4-09 Precast concrete — Materials and construction

PCI Quality Control Manuals;MNL-116 Manual for Quality

Control for Plants and Production of Structural Precast and Prestressed Concrete Products

MNL-117 Manual for Quality Control for Plants and Production of Architectural Precast Concrete Products.

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What is audited?Focus is on product conformance

and documentation.The audits determine the

effectiveness of the implemented quality system and confirm that the manufacturer meets the regulatory requirements.

The audits provide manufacturers with the opportunity to improve their quality system.

A detailed audit determines the grade for each division of the audit manual together with a grade for each product group to determine the overall plant quality.

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What is audited?Quality Audits are the heart of the precast certification program.

Audits ensure manufacturers have a quality system in place that is consistently adhered to.

Audits ensure conformance to A23.4, MNL 116 and MNL 117 requirements.

Audits evaluate and identify areas requiring upgrading or corrective action (continual improvement).

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There are a minimum of two regular audits in each full calendar year. The audits determine the conformity of the manufacturer’s quality system and compare the finished products with the specified requirements.

Additional Special Immediate Audits are given when:

The ACO observes a deteriorating quality commitment

Owner / specifier complaints Audit grades decreasing &

marginal Other substantial evidence or

concerns about overall quality See Section 8.6 of Program

Requirements

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CPCI Audit Grading System

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Division

Title Percentage

1 Quality System 20

2 Production Practices

30

3 Raw Materials and Accessories

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4 Concrete 15

5 Reinforcement and Prestressing

5

6 Quality Control 15

7 Product Tolerances 10Total = 100%

Audits are 2 day duration regardless of the size of the plant

Minimum total grade for maintaining certification for each Product Group is 80%

Minimum grade is 70% for each Division

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CPCI Audits

Pass/Fail Criteria

CPCI Audit Grading Sheets

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How does the CPCI program demonstrate accordance to CSA requirements?CPCI Certification

Accredited Certification Audit Documents211 page documentOutlines the PCI MNL

and CSA requirements for each Division of the Audit

Used by ACO in every audit

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Excerpt from CPCI Audit Document

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Governance - Who runs the program?Quality Assurance Council (QAC)

A multidisciplinary independent body oversees the certification program with representation by:

precast manufacturersindependent architect, engineer, building official and Ministry representatives.meets twice per year

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QUALITY ASSURANCE COUNCIL MEMBERS:

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MEMBER COMPANYPeter Quail (Chair) Lafarge InternationalGene Shelestynsky (Consulting Engineer /

Vice Chair)

Procon Engineering

Wayne Kassian (ACO) Kassian Dyck AssociatesRobert Burak (Administrator)

CPCI

Vacant (Building Official)Bernard Pilon (Transp. Ministries)

MTQ

Jamie Stacey (Transp. Ministries)

MTO

Stanford Downey (Architect) Stanford Downey ArchitectsMalcolm Hachborn (Precast Manufacturer)

Res Precast (ON)

Filip Brogowski (Precast Manufacturer)

Con-Force Structures (AB)

John Fraser (Precast Manufacturer)

Strescon (NS)

Muhamed Aprovic (Precast Manufacturer)

Lafarge Construction Materials (MB)

Certification organization specializing in precast concrete structures & building products

Conducts quality audits of manufacturers to the requirements of the program.

Auditors are professional engineers, knowledgeable and trained in the evaluation of precast concrete manufacturing plants and procedures.21

Accredited Certification Organization(ACO)

KassianDyck AssociatesCalgary, ABMember:Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), formerly National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA)

CPCI Program Requirements

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Who is eligible for CPCI Certification?

Any qualified manufacturer who produces precast concrete structural and architectural precast concrete products and complies with the requirements of the CPCI Certification Program is eligible for participation.

CPCI Active members are required to maintain CPCI Certification to maintain membership with CPCI

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MEMBER CERTIFICATION STATUSCPCI Member Certified Plants (February 2013):Visit www.precastcertification.ca for updatesAnchor Concrete Products (Kingston, ON)

APS Architectural Precast Structures (Langley, BC)

Armtec - Con-Force (Richmond, BC)

Armtec - Con-Force (Winnipeg, MB)

Armtec - Con-Force (Calgary, AB) – 2 Plants

Armtec - Con-Force (Acheson, AB)

Armtec|Groupe Tremca (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC)

Armtec|Pre-Con (Brampton, ON)

Armtec|Pre-Con (Woodstock, ON)

Béton Préfabriqués Du Lac Inc. (St-Eugene de Grantham, QC)

Béton Préfabriqués Du Lac Inc. (de Beauce, Ste. Marie, QC)

Béton Préfabriqués Du Lac Inc. (Alma, QC)- 2 Plants

CamCon (Dartmouth, NS)

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MEMBER CERTIFICATION STATUS:(Certified Plants- Cont’d)

Central Precast (Ottawa, ON)

Co-Pipe Products Inc. (Taylor, MI)

Con Cast Pipe (Guelph, ON)

Coreslab Structures (Ont.) Inc. (Dundas, ON)

Expocrete (Saskatoon, SK)

Granite Prestressed Concrete (Sudbury, ON)

Hanson Pipe & Precast Ltd. (Uxbridge, ON)

Hanson Pipe & Precast Ltd. (Whitby, ON)

International Precast Solutions (River Rouge, MI)

Lafarge Construction Matrerials (Calgary, AB)

Lafarge Construction Materials (Edmonton, AB)

Lafarge Construction Materials (Winnipeg, MB)

Lockwood Bros. (Armstrong, BC)

M-Con Pipe and Products (Ayr, ON)

MSE Precast Inc. (Nanaimo, BC)

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MEMBER CERTIFICATION STATUS:(Certified Plants- Cont’d)

Munro Ltd. (Utopia, ON) P. Kruger Concrete Products (Edmonton, AB)Prestressed Systems Inc. (Windsor, ON)RES PrecastInc. (Innisfil, ON)Saramac (Lechenaie, QC)Schokbeton (St-Eustache, QC)Strescon Limited (Saint John, NB)Strescon Limited (Bedford, NS)Surespan Structures Ltd. (Duncan, BC)Tri-Krete Limited (Toronto, ON)Wells Concrete (Grand Forks, ND)Non member Certified PlantsNewton Parking Structures (Guelph, ON)

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Comparison of CSA and CPCI Certification Programs

CSA Certification

CPCI Certification

Main focus is on plant, process and people

▲

Focus is on product conformance and documentation

▲ ▲

Available to all qualified manufacturers

▲ ▲

Committed to continual improvement of products and systems for the entire Canadian precast industry

▲

Certified to Canadian (A23.4) and US (MNL 116 & 117) requirements, whichever is more stringent

▲

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Comparison of CSA and CPCI Certification Programs

CSA Certification

CPCI Certification

Quality system manual is required

▲ ▲

Designed to be harmonized with PCI Certification (US)

▲

Program is recognized by the National Building Code of Canada

▲ ▲

Mandated number of audits annually

▲

Program governed by an independent multidisciplinary body that oversees the program

▲ ▲

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Comparison of CSA and CPCI Certification Programs

CSA Certification

CPCI Certification

Auditors are professional engineers

▲ ▲

Evaluated using a uniformly applied detailed checklist of compliance for the entire design, manufacturing and erection process

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Defined uniform pass/fail criteria with an 80% passing grade required

▲

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How to specify CPCI Certification?The Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) TEK-

AID for 03 45 00 Architectural Precast Concrete and 03 41 00 Structural Precast/Prestressed Concrete contains the following Clause 1.8 Quality Assurance:

.1 Manufacturer must meet requirements of CSA A23.4, including Appendices A and B, together with PCI MNL-116 and 117 and CPCI certification requirements.

.2 Manufacturer: certified to Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI) Certification Program at time of bid.

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How to specify CPCI Certification? – DOT Example

Government of Alberta Department of Transportation:AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 7, PRECAST CONCRETE

UNITS, OF THE SPECIFICATIONS FOR BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

Subsection 7.2, Supply and Manufacture, is revised as follows:i)             The last paragraph of Subsection 7.2.2, Qualification, is

replaced with the following:The fabricator shall operate a recognized precast concrete

fabricating plant and be fully certified by the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI) Certification Program at time of bid.

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/Content/docType29/production/Amc223.pdf

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CPCI CertificationMOT Recognition:

Alberta DOTBC MOTIMTOMTQ MB & SK NB & NS Construction Specifications Canada

(CSC)Letters of Acceptance Received:

Ministry of Transportation of OntarioGovernment of Alberta Department of

Transportation

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Thanks

www.precastcertification.ca

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