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.

 

Tendering and construction monitoring in the installation and testing of drains and sewers of all materials and nominal widths with the associated structures.

 

The same applies to the assessment groups or execution areas ABAK:

 

 - Experience and reliability

Particular experience and reliability of the organisation and the personnel employed with regard to tendering and construction monitoring in the installation and testing of wastewater pipes and sewers in open construction ABAK.
The particular experience of the organisation is considered verified through supporting documentation on the corresponding activities.
The reliability of the organisation is considered verified through presentation of a corporate management system for fault minimisation (e.g. 4-eyes principle).
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 must meet the requirements of this appraisal group. If only individual activities (e.g. construction monitoring) are carried out by subcontractors, the requirements of the Quality and Test Specifications must be met for these activities.

 

3.15 Requirements for appraisal group ABAK

 

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

 

 

3.15.1 Resources of the enterprise

 

3.15.1.1 Personnel

 

• Responsible persons⁵⁾ in the appropriate number for the scope of the respective task with five years of successful activity in tendering and construction monitoring in the installation and testing of wastewater pipes and sewers in open construction. Evidence of specialist knowledge will be deemed provided by presentation of evidence of suitable training.
• Skilled personnel in the appropriate number for the scope of the relevant task. Evidence of specialist knowledge will be deemed provided by presentation of evidence of suitable training.
• Training.
  
  

3.15.1.2 Operating facilities and equipment

 

Personal protective equipment according to the provisions of the German Ordinance on Workplaces (ArbStättV), the German Accident Prevention Rules (UVV) and the safety regulations for work in enclosed spaces of wastewater engineering facilities.

 

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 a year.
  
  

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 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.

 

 

For further regulations on company and site inspections 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.