CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee – Chattanooga-based Propex Operating Company, LLC, announced today that its Geotextile Laboratory at its Ringgold, GA, manufacturing facility has achieved the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) lab accreditation for Quality Control Mechanical Testing. A2LA accreditation demonstrates technical competence for a defined scope and operation of a laboratory quality management system. It is in accordance with the recognized International Standard ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
According to Steve Thaxton, Engineering Services Manager, A2LA accreditation assures customers that common performance and hydraulic properties of nonwoven geotextile products are tested in compliance with current ASTM, ISO, Australian or Canadian standard test methodologies and that the quality control test equipment is properly calibrated and maintained.
Thaxton underscores the importance of accreditation by pointing out that destructive product test results are not universal or bias-free and designs can fail if reported test results do not accurately reflect actual performance. “Since geotextile labs generate critical data used in civil and environmental engineering designs, testing standards and accreditation are absolutely necessary to protect public safety and the environment,” he added.
This latest accreditation further distinguishes Propex’s Ringgold, GA laboratory. Additional lab accreditations and certifications held by Propex – Ringgold, include CE, BNQ, and the gold standard for geosynthetic testing, GAI-LAP. In addition, the plant’s quality system is maintained under ISO 9001:2008 certification and it is ISO 14001 certified as a result of documented procedures and efforts to improve and protect the environment.
“Strict manufacturing specifications, quality control monitoring, and laboratory testing ensure our products consistently meet or exceed the most demanding customer specifications,” said Thaxton. “Like any quality-driven manufacturer, we will continue to invest in testing and accreditations to keep us sharp and to keep our infrastructure safe.”
For a complete list of test methods included in scope of A2LA, visit their web site at www.A2LA.org, and click “Search Accredited Organizations” to find “Propex – Ringgold, GA” in the dropdown list. For more information about Propex, visit www.propexbrands.com.
Propex is the global leader in earth stabilization solutions. Our erosion control and geotextile products bring long-term value, performance, safety and stability to the world we share.
