These Quality and Test Specifications apply to the manufacture and maintenance¹⁾ of public and private wastewater pipes and sewers and the associated structures.

 

The Generally Accepted Rules of Technology (a.a.R.d.T.) apply to the manufacture and maintenance of wastewater pipes and sewers.

 

3.1 Execution areas and appraisal groups

 

If the requirements on technical performance capability and experience for the specified service group are met, an enterprise an organisation (public institution /engineering office) is classified in the appraisal group of the same name.

 

Trenchless installation of wastewater pipes and sewers using controllable pilot pipe methods and comparable controllable methods. A limitation to product pipes ≤ DN 150 is stated on the award certificate.

 

The same applies to the assessment groups or execution areas V

 

- Experience and reliability

 

Particular experience and reliability of the enterprise and of the personnel employed with regard to the execution of the described tasks.

The particular experience of the enterprise is considered verified through supporting documentation on the corresponding activities.

The reliability of the enterprise is considered verified through submission of a corporate management system.

The particular experience of the personnel employed is considered verified through supporting documentation on the corresponding activities.

The reliability of the personnel employed is considered verified through submission of the appropriate references (e.g. certificates).

 

- Subcontractors

 

Subcontractors for the performance of activities falling within this or another appraisal group under section 3.1 must meet the relevant requirements of the Quality and Test Specifications.

 

3.5 Requirements for appraisal group VP

 

The section numbering refers to the sections of Gütesicherung Kanalbau RAL-GZ 961 ("Construction and maintenance of wastewater pipes and sewers").

 

3.5.1 Resources of the enterprise

 

3.5.1.1 Personnel

 

• Technical supervisors⁵⁾in the appropriate number for the scope of the respective task with three years of successful activity in trenchless sewer construction, alternatively responsible specialists with a qualification to be recognised by the Quality Committee with specialist knowledge for trenchless installation of wastewater pipes and sewers using controllable  pilot tube processes and comparable processes.
  Proof of specialist knowledge is deemed to have been provided by submitting suitable training certificates.
• Skilled personnel in the appropriate number for the scope of the relevant task, but at all times at least one machine operator (in accordance with DGUV information 201-020 section 3.21) and one sewer builder per construction project.
• Training

3.5.1.2 Operating facilities and equipment

 

All the operating facilities required for performance of the respective work must be available. Equipment must be provided on the construction site in sufficient quantity and in a serviceable condition.

 

• Office and work yard with the necessary personnel,
• Barrier material for securing construction sites and material for traffic safety and guidance,
• Controllable pipe tunneling plant,
• Lifting and laying equipment,
• Surveying equipment,
• Test equipment for verification in accordance with DIN EN 1610, DWA-A 125 and DWA-A 139,
• Measurement and recording equipment for the required tunneling parameters in accordance with DWA-A 125. Manual recording is permitted for product pipes <= DN 150.

4.1 Inspections by the Quality Committee or its agents

 

Applicants for and users of quality marks are required to present appropriate documentation to the Quality Committee of the Gütegemeinschaft "Güteschutz Kanalbau" as verification of the fulfilment of the quality requirements of the respectively desired or certified appraisal group and to register all construction sites and projects.

 

Company inspection

 

In a company inspection a test engineer appointed by the Quality Committee or a test centre tasked by the Quality Committee inspects and evaluates, by spot checks, compliance with and documentation of the requirements for the respective appraisal group, including documentation of the self-monitoring and the reports from the construction sites or from projects. The documents are checked for completeness and evaluated.

 

Results of company inspections are recorded. The appraisal of the qualification takes all findings into account in a summary report. Copies are received by the applicants or users of the quality mark, the office of the Gütegemeinschaft "Güteschutz Kanalbau" and the Quality Committee.

 

Following award of the quality mark company inspections are conducted according to the situation, but the minimum is:

 

• 1 company inspection every 2 years 
   

Inspection of construction sites

 

When inspecting a construction site a test engineer appointed by the Quality Committee or a test centre tasked by the Quality Committee inspects and evaluates, by spot checks, compliance with and documentation of the requirements for the respective appraisal group, including documentation of the self-monitoring and the reports from the construction sites or from projects. The documents are checked for completeness and evaluated.

 

Results of construction site inspections are recorded. The appraisal of the qualification takes all findings into account in a summary report. Copies are received by the applicants or users of the quality mark, the office of the Gütegemeinschaft "Güteschutz Kanalbau" and the Quality Committee evaluating the reports.

 

Site inspections [number/a] are generally carried out after the quality mark has been awarded, depending on the number of crews/teams deployed as shown in table 2:

Groups	crews / teams 1-4 5-8 9-12 >12 number of inspections / a
AK	2	3	4	5
V*)	2	3	4	5
S*)	1	2	3	4
I	1	2	3	4
R	1	2	3	4
D	1	2	3	4

^*) related to the respective certified jacking method or S-system.

 

Repeat inspection

 

In the event that requirements are not met, the inspector can arrange a date for a prompt repeat inspection for the necessary and possible remedial action.

 

4.2 Inspections by employees of the enterprise (self-monitoring)

 

In the case of self-monitoring, for all appraisal groups the requirements assigned in section 3 are to be examined and compliance with them documented.

 

The stipulations set out in the "Guidelines for self-monitoring" are applicable.

 

The position of all wastewater pipes and sewers as well as manholes must be checked and documented by height and direction during construction (AK3, AK2, AK1, VP, VM, VMD, VO, VOD, VB).

 

The compaction of the pipeline zone and backfill is to be verified in open construction (assessment groups AK3, AK2, AK1) on a posture-by-posture basis. The spacing of the test points should not exceed a posture length or 25 m in the case of sewer trenches, or fall below 3 checks per construction project.

 

Evidence of proper concrete processing in accordance with the monitoring class as well as material and process-specific evidence (e.g. SIVV certificate) must be provided.

 

The acceptance certificates, the results of the concluding inspections and tests and all supporting documents for self-monitoring must be retained for at least 5 years.

 

4.3 Review of qualifications and checking of self-monitoring

 

Unannounced reviews of the continued existence of the qualifications, self-monitoring and compliance with the other requirements of the certified appraisal group, also taking into account the stipulations in the Implementing Regulations, are undertaken at irregular intervals.

 

If non-conformities are found, the Quality Committee proposes that the Executive Board issue sanctions as laid down in the Implementing Regulations.

 

If the reference measures no longer correspond sufficiently to the thrust of the requirements profile of an appraisal group, the Quality Committee may, after the appropriate evaluation, decide to change the classification to a different appraisal group or the Executive Board may withdraw the quality mark on the proposal of the Quality Committee.

 

For further regulations on company and site visits see section 4.1.

 

5.1 Award

Companies, public institutions and engineering offices that provide services in accordance with these Quality and Test Specifications may use the Sewer Construction Quality Mark for these services as soon as they have been awarded the right to use the quality mark and compliance with the specified quality is assured.

 

The assessment group or groups must be indicated as an addition under the quality mark. The quality mark holder may only use the quality mark with the indication of the assessment group or groups for which they have been awarded the quality mark.

5.2 Application

The application of the quality mark is governed exclusively by the implementation regulations for the award and use of the quality mark for sewer construction of the "Güteschutz Kanalbau" quality association.

Companies, public institutions, and engineering offices that provide services in accordance with the Quality and Test Specifications mark their services with the quality mark sewer construction.

These Quality and Test Specifications may be supplemented and further developed taking into account technical progress. Changes require the prior written consent of RAL. They will be put into effect by the Executive Board of the "Güteschutz Kanalbau" Quality Association after a reasonable period of time from the date of notification of the quality mark holders.