The National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA) is to resume its Plant-Certification Programme on 6 July following a nearly four month hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The NPCA says the programme ensures precast concrete products meet the highest standards.
All plants enrolled in the initiative are required to meet the same requirements and inspection guidelines, the association adds.
The NPCA's QA/QC Committee says that it has temporarily modified the programme to accommodate the shortened audit year, travel restrictions and other coronavirus-related constraints.
These modifications are intended to underscore the integrity and oversight of the programme, while ensuring the health and safety of our plant personnel, auditors and staff, says the association.
For the remainder of 2020, NPCA audits will be virtual or in-plant.
All annual renewal audits will be unannounced and scored against the current grading schedule in the NPCA Quality Control Manual for Plant Certification.
All NPCA Certified plants should be prepared for an in-plant or virtual audit beginning 6 July 2020.
The association is to perform as many in-plant audits as possible for the rest of the year with the remaining plants subject to virtual audits.
From 1 January 2021, the NPCA intends to return to standard operating producers for the Plant Certification Programme, unless otherwise approved by the NPCA QA/QC committee and NPCA board of directors.
More information about the programme is available online: www.precast.org/2020-plant-certification
