Geotextiles traceability

Q: We are having a problem with traceability on our project with geotextiles. Does this really matter for each roll and lot of material?

A: Yes, it does. The labels must match inside and outside of the product. Insist that the geotextile itself is branded and conforms to ASTM D4873 Standard Guide for Identification, Storage and Handling of Geosynthetic Rolls and Samples. It is easy for an unethical distributor to rewrap and change the identification on a substandard geotextile roll if it is not labeled or branded correctly. Please have a look at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Product Evaluation and Audit Solutions (formerly National Transportation Product Evaluation Program [NTPEP]) requirements for geotextiles). They are summarized below and are believed to be effective at acquiring preapproved quality geotextiles.

The program is voluntary and open to all (i.e., domestic and international vendors). 

Both private labelers and prime supplier(s) go through a compliance check and an on-site audit every three years prior to having materials placed on the AASHTO Product Evaluation and Audit Solutions approved list.

All prime manufacturers are required to print a unique identification code (given by AASHTO-Product Evaluation and Audit Solutions) every 16 feet (5 m) on each of their approved products.