TEXTILES.ORG
Conducted by National Transportation Product Evaluation Program
Alpharetta, Ga.-based Tensar International announced in an Aug. 13 press release that its high-density polyethylene (HDPE) uniaxial (UX) geogrid product line successfully completed the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program’s (NTPEP) on-site audit.
As the on-site audit was added just last year to the program, Tensar’s UX geogrids are the first HDPE geogrids to pass the evaluation, according to the release.
“We are committed to providing quality products to our clients,” said Willie Liew, application technology manager at Tensar. “We have been proactive in the process by starting the NTPEP audit a year before our current report expires in 2013, and are proud to have our manufacturing process and quality control system successfully complete the audit.”
The press release noted that the NTPEP audit assesses the long-term design strength of geosynthetic reinforcement products and provides performance test results as well as index test results. The evaluation includes a desktop review of the facility’s quality manual and an on-site review of the facility’s processes and quality management system documentation.
According to the release, more state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are utilizing the NTPEP for product qualification because the program is recommended in the current Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) wall/slope design guidelines.
“Having the geogrid evaluated through an independent party and through the high standards of the NTPEP provides credibility to our UX geogrid product line and provides the reliability the state DOTs can count on,” Liew said.
The NTPEP audit is a program under the sponsorship of AASHTO and was developed by industry members and state DOT members to provide a uniform program, which allows for all manufacturers and private label suppliers to be held to a consistent standard internationally. The audit improves quality assurance and proves to the states which manufacturers have satisfactory quality control, the release said.
With the on-site audit complete, Tensar is currently in the process of finishing the remainder of the evaluation program, with an expected completion by summer 2013.