Propex receives lab accreditation

Chattanooga-based Propex Operating Co. LLC announced in a July 12 press release that the geotextile laboratory at its Ringgold, Ga., manufacturing facility has achieved the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) lab accreditation for quality control mechanical testing. Propex is a manufacturer of earth stabilization and erosion control geotextile products.

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, the release stated.

According to Steve Thaxton, Propex’s 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.

“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,” Thaxton added.

Propex’s additional lab accreditations and certifications include CE (Europe), BNQ (Canada), and GAI–LAP (from the Geosynthetic Institute). 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, according to the press release.