CQA Week was established 10 years ago to provide technically advanced but immediately implementable, revenue-generating expertise for geotechnical engineering businesses. The focus is on providing the type of training that will keep companies (and regulators) ahead of the field. Held twice per year, CQA Week will next take place 13 – 17 October 2014 in Austin, Texas at the TRI Environmental campus. The week will feature training and certification opportunities in liner integrity (electrical leak location) surveys, CQA of geosynthetic installations, CQA of compacted clay and GCL installations, and Geosynthetic Certification Institute – Inspectors Certification Program (GCI-ICP) exams.
REGISTER FOR CQA WEEK ONLINE
DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE (PDF)
The schedule is as follows:
- October 13 and 14 – Liner Integrity Surveys/Assessments (LISA)
- October 15 – Construction QA/QC for Geosynthetic Installations
- October 16 – Construction QA/QC for Compacted Clay Liner & GCL Installations
- October 17 – Geosynthetic Certification Institute – Inspectors Certification Program (GCI-ICP) Exams
ABOUT THE CQA WEEK COURSES
Liner Integrity Surveys/Assessments
The sensitivity of liner survey equipment continues to increase at a rapid pace, and standards bodies have responded by further incorporating the latest technological tools for geosynthetic liner CQA. ASTM International, for example, just released standard D7953, Standard Practice for Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using the Arc Testing Method.
This and other methods of liner surveys and their affiliated design issues will be profiled in Austin. Attendees will also have the opportunity to test equipment and hone their skills in the on-site test cells that enable testing exposed, water-covered, and soil-covered lining systems.
The class is ideal for companies interested in adding this service to their business lines, design engineers, construction quality assurance (CQA) firms, site owners, and other stakeholders in geomembrane-utilizing sectors. CQA firms that incorporate LIS expertise have established new revenue centers for themselves. Only a small percentage of geomembranes installed globally utilize liner integrity surveys, but the volume of material being surveyed has grown substantially with regulatory welcome. The efficiency, accuracy, and economical nature have been welcomed by facility owners.
The course is the only one like it in the world and has been taught in Canada, the Philippines, Australia, South Africa, and the United States (New York and Texas). New companies are needed to serve this growing market. Level 2 Certification for LIS is also offered during CQA Week.
INSTRUCTORS: Abigail Beck, M.S., P.E.; Jeffrey Blum
Construction QA/QC Courses
These two CQA courses may be taken singly or as a package. Each course presents material that complements the other, to maximize the educational benefit.
Course 1 (Day 1) focuses on installation of geomembranes, geotextiles, geocomposites, geogrids and geo-appurtenances. It also includes a geomembrane seaming demonstration with a detailed explanation and demonstration of seam peel and shear testing.
Course 2 (Day 2) focuses on the installation of compacted clay and geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs). Special emphasis will be given to establishing rationale and standard operating procedures for field inspections, documentation of test and visual observations, and implementation of CQA plans. A broad appreciation for the manufacturing and installation of waste containment facility materials will be provided.
Additionally, a tour of TRI’s Geosynthetic Testing and Research Laboratories will be provided with test demonstrations, explanation of some TRI internal R&D projects, and discussion of other relevant topics, all supporting class curriculum.
Both of these courses are ideal preparation for the GCI-ICP exams offered on Friday, October 17.
INSTRUCTORS: Mark Sieracke, P.E.; Dr. Robert Gilbert, P.E.; Sam Allen
GCI-ICP Certification Exams
Each CQA course student will be allowed to sit for the Geosynthetic Certification Institute-Inspectors Certification Program (GCI-ICP) exams immediately following the CQA courses. Exam opportunities include:
- Geosynthetics exam
- Compacted clay liner exam
The geosynthetics exam is open for 2 hrs. The CCL exam is open for one hour. A break is provided between them, so it is very possible for participants to be part of both if they choose.
All exam-interested students MUST REGISTER with the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) and pay GSI’s certification fee BEFORE the test. TRI does not collect this fee. Contact GSI (+1 610 522 8440) for more information, or visit www.geosynthetic-institute.org.
REGISTER FOR CQA WEEK ONLINE
DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE (PDF)
