N° 157. 1983. Quality Control and Quality Assurance for Concrete Structures

This report treats quality assurance with particular emphasis on control aspects. It can be considered partly as parallel to, and partly as a derivation of, the “General Principles on Quality Assurance for Structures” prepared by the Joint Committee on Structural Safety and published by IABSE in 1981.

The mixed character of this report—partly conceptual and partly operational—corresponds to an intermediate step between principles and recommendations, and reflects the fact that quality assurance (QA) concepts have only recently been introduced into the construction field. The entry point has been the construction of nuclear power plants, and experts in many countries are now seeking to apply QA concepts to more common types of structures.

As a matter of fact, the actual meaning of quality assurance is still under discussion. Some associate it with ideas such as “recording” and “documentation,” whereas others (among them this report) emphasize the idea of “forward thinking.”

This report aims to contribute to clarification, not only in the structural field but also in the broader field of building construction. In spite of its incompleteness, it is intended to provide technical guidance to drafting committees for codes on quality assurance, as well as to professionals in their daily practice.

Although the terminology used in the report has been carefully checked, it should not be considered definitive, mainly due to the evolving nature of some of the terms.

The Task Group I/1 “Quality Assurance” hopes that the information provided in this report will be complemented by the work of other CEB Task Groups or other international organizations active in specific aspects of quality assurance. For example, this applies to Chapter 4, where CEB Task Group VII/2 “Quality Control of Reinforcing Bars” may provide further information, and to Chapter 6, where CEB Task Group IX/2 “Maintenance and Diagnosis of Concrete Structures” may contribute additional material.

The Task Group wishes to thank the members of CEB Commission I for their advice, and Messrs. Calavera and Morán for their particular contributions to Chapter 3 of this report.