Trained and certified in a range of procedures, our technicians conduct many field and laboratory tests that are customized for projects upon request.The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), The American Association Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), and The US Army Corps of Engineers accredit our materials laboratories and field testing operations. These accreditations confirm that our laboratories meet rigorous standards for testing and analysis procedures and equipment calibration.
Independent Laboratory Qualifications
Raba Kistner meets the requirements for independent laboratory qualification as defined in the “Manual of Practice – Materials Engineering Testing and Inspection” published by the Association of Independent Scientific, Engineering and Testing Firms (ACIL). We are a member of the Texas Council of Engineering Laboratories (TCEL), an organization representing laboratories engaged in construction inspection and related quality assurance testing. Please review our Certifications, Qualifications, & Calibrations.
ASTM E 329 Compliance
Raba Kistner meets the requirements, basic and supplemental, of ASTM E 329, “Standards of Recommended Practice for Inspection and Testing Agencies for Concrete and Steel as Used in Construction.” We participate in the development of standards for ASTM and have members on Committees C-9 Concrete and Concrete Aggregates, D-18 Soil and Rock, and E-36 on Laboratory Criteria for the Evaluation of Testing and Inspection Agencies.
Ameri
can Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
Raba Kistner’s Austin, El Paso, McAllen, and San Antonio, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah, laboratories are accredited by AASHTO for the disciplines of Aggregate and Asphalt Testing, Portland Cement/Concrete Testing and Soils Testing. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It represents all five transportation modes: air, highways, public transportation, rail and water. Its goal is to foster the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system. This accreditation utilizes laboratory assessment and proficiency sample services provided by the AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL) and the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL). For the initial accreditation a laboratory must satisfy the quality assurance/quality control requirements specified in AASHTO Practice R18. An on-site assessment by AMRL and/or CCRL is made of the test methods for which accreditation is requested. The assessment verifies training of employees, calibration of equipment, and implementation of testing procedures.
The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)
Our Houston Laboratory is accredited by The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). A2LA is a nonprofit, non-governmental, public service, membership society. The mission of A2LA is to provide comprehensive services in accreditation and accreditation-related training. A2LA also offers programs for the accreditation of testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, medical testing laboratories, reference material producers and product certification bodies.
Association of Soil and Foundation Engineers (ASFE) Peer Review
Raba Kistner has been active in ASFE and its peer review program. A team of 3 to 4 experienced professionals from other member firms conducts this review over an intensive 2 to 3 day period. The team examines documents and practices related to the firm’s organization, staff, work product, and professional activities. It visits and examines physical facilities, reviews manuals, reports, proposals and observes daily operations. ASFE’s peer review program has been used as a model for other professions and is highly regarded on a national basis. It improves the quality of geotechnical engineering practice by ASFE member firms to better serve their clients and thus better protect public safety and welfare.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Inspections
Raba Kistner’s Austin, El Paso, McAllen, and San Antonio, Texas laboratories are validated for construction materials testing and inspection on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ projects. Representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspect the Raba Kistner laboratories and review our Quality Assurance Programs and documentation.
Calibrations
Our laboratories are equiped with calibrated, maintained testing equipment to successfully service your geotechnical and construction projects. We have written, detailed procedures for all calibrations, standardizations, and check activities for our equipment. The calibrations are made using equipment traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
TxDOT Laboratory Accreditation and Technician Certifications
Under the TxDOT Independent Assurance Program, Raba Kistner has been accredited for its laboratories and personnel in the performance of acceptance testing. Additionally, Raba Kistner has been delegated by TxDOT with the authority to administer the laboratory and technician certification program for TxDOT and Regional Mobility Authority projects.
UDOT Certification Program for Consultants
Raba Kistner maintains all the relevant certifications required to perform UDOT construction phase services. These include Construction Engineering Management Training (CEMT), participation in the Inspector Qualification Program (IQP), UDOT Partnering Phases 1-3, and the Laboratory Qualification Program (LQP). These certifications are required to perform Construction Engineering Management (CEM) and Materials Testing services for UDOT projects.
Western Alliance for Quality Transportation Construction (WAQTC)
Raba Kistner participates in the Transportation Technician Qualification Program (TTQP) in an effort to comply with and to meet the requirements of The Code of Federal Regulations 637, Subpart B – Quality Assurance Procedures for Construction. Our employees maintain certifications for all WAQTC testing modules including Aggregate, Asphalt, Concrete, Embankment and Base, and In-Place Density, as well as Superpave Mix Design. Participation in the WAQTC program allows Raba Kistner to gain certification reciprocity to perform testing and inspection activities in several Western States, including Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Texas and New Mexico.
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)
ManyRaba Kistner employees are certified through NICET training programs. Disciplines include Construction Materials Testing, Geotechnical, Building Construction and Transportation. Many public agencies value and require NICET certifications for the projects we work on. Participation in the NICET training programs ensures that our employees are among the most knowledgeable and proficient in our industry.
International Code Council (ICC)
Participation in the ICC certification program is required to perform International Building Code (IBC) special inspections. ICC certifications held by the Raba Kistner staff include all of the Special Inspector Category disciplines among others. The Raba Kistner team has the depth and certification redundancy to perform special inspection on any project.
American Society for Quality (ASQ)
Raba Kistner Infrastructure places high value on Quality Management Systems and the deployment of best practices and assessment tools to achieve client satisfaction and, ultimately, client confidence. Many Raba Kistner Infrastructure senior managers and project managers hold American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certifications enabling us to better serve our clients. Our staff members hold the following ASQ Certifications: http://prdweb.asq.org/certification/control/index
Certified Manager of Quality/Operational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
The Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence is a professional who leads and champions process-improvement initiatives corporately and within projects, leading to a sharing of best practices across the organization and the clients we serve. The CMQ/OE facilitates and leads team efforts to establish and monitor client and subconsultant relations, supports strategic planning and deployment initiatives, and develops measurement systems to determine organizational improvement. The CMQ/OE is equipped to motivate and evaluate Raba Kistner Infrastructure and project staff; manage projects and human resources; analyze financial situations; determine and evaluate risk; and employ knowledge management tools and techniques in resolving organizational challenges.
Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
The Certified Quality Engineer is a professional who understands the principles of product and service quality evaluation and control. The CQE is equipped in the areas of development and operation of quality control systems; application and analysis of testing and inspection procedures; the ability to use metrology and statistical methods to diagnose and correct improper quality control practices; an understanding of human factors and motivation; quality cost concepts and techniques; and the knowledge and ability to develop and administer management information systems and to audit quality systems for deficiency identification and correction.
Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
The Certified Quality Auditor is a professional who understands the standards and principles of auditing and the auditing techniques of examining, questioning, evaluating and reporting to determine a quality system’s adequacy and deficiencies. The CQA analyzes all elements of a quality system and judges its degree of adherence to the criteria of industrial management and quality evaluation and control systems.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
The Raba Kistner Infrastructure Quality Manager is a Certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, trained and certified to deploy and audit a Quality Management System in compliance with the ISO 9001 Standard for Quality Management System Requirements.
http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/management_and_leadership_standards/quality_management.htm