Construction Quality Assurance - What Have We Wrought?

摘要

The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to the new Testing and Special Inspection provisions in the 2007 CBC and to provide insight into a number of the new concepts. The focus is on the issues and concepts and their impact on the work of the structural engineer.rnThe paper starts with a brief comparison of the evolution of special inspection provisions and then segues into the new provisions. We will touch on some of the new special inspections and discuss how to make sense out of some of the provisions.rnThe requirement that the design professional prepare a "Statements of Special Inspections" will be emphasized. This will include a discussion of the SEAONC Quality Assurance Committee's model document and how it can be used to fulfill the code requirements.rnThe new provisions dealing with additional inspections for elements of the wind and seismic force resisting systems will be discussed. We will touch on the need to define the seismic system on the drawings. With some of these new inspections there is a need to define the nature of the inspections and thernqualifications of the inspectors. The special inspection provisions for non-structural components will be discussed.rnThe paper will conclude by introducing the reader to some of the current initiatives and controversies related to construction quality assurance. Included in this list are the qualifications of inspectors and testing agencies as well as the engineer's ability to perform special inspections on her projects.