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Geosynthetics are widely specified and used around the country on transportation projects.
These geosynthetics will have material requirements for various applications which serve different functions for the project. The material requirements are for the product properties which are needed to perform the specified function on the project. For instance, tensile strength and strain for a reinforcement application or permittivity and apparent opening size for separation and drainage applications.
There are many of these properties which define the product that needs to be supplied to the project. Manufacturers of geosynthetics have material data sheets which are based on the manufacturer’s testing and are provided as part of the submittal for acceptance.
Typically for product to be accepted the agency may run its own testing to verify that the critical properties needed for the performance of the project are consistent with the manufacturer’s material data forms. In the past this testing incurred significant costs and was time consuming. In addition, it required the labs, which did not conduct these tests on a regular basis, to maintain equipment, expertise and certifications to conduct the testing.
The project could also contract with a lab to conduct the testing. The result would be independent verification that the products met the project requirements. This was being done by each state for each project.
The National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP) was established in 1994 to help reduce the duplicative testing of products by state Departments of Transportation (DOT).
In 2023 NTPEP was rebranded to Product Evaluation and Audit Solutions (PEAS). PEAS is housed under the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). They not only conduct product evaluations but also audit manufacturers’ quality control processes. The program focuses on products used for transportation projects but the properties being tested are generally the same as the ones used in other markets. The program covers a wide range of products used on transportation projects; this article focuses on the geosynthetics category.
The program is overseen by AASHTO committees which are comprised of member states. Manufacturers submit their products voluntarily and pay for testing which is conducted by approved laboratories. The selected laboratory then conducts the testing, and a report is generated for the product material properties. The report is an independent evaluation of the product’s material properties which can then be used by the State DOT to help them accept the product on a project. The state may still conduct additional testing if they feel the need for a specific case.
PEAS can be a resource for transportation agencies providing an independent evaluation of geotextile and geogrid material properties as well as conducting factory audits. These services are costly, time-consuming and difficult to maintain for agencies. For the geosynthetic manufacturers this process reduces the level of effort as well reduces uncertainty for acceptance. The result of utilizing this program benefits all involved with submittal approvals. Programs such as PEAS are a communication tool between the innovative research of the private sector developing and improving products which are utilize every day and the public which needs an independent evaluation of the data being submitted.
Test results, reports and audits are stored and are available online for review. These reports can be requested as part of the project quality control procedures to assure adherence to the project specifications. It is important to note that these reports are evaluations and are not approvals of materials. This data can be used by agencies for consideration of product approval. Acceptance of the product is always the responsibility of the agency.
For additional information visit the AASHTO Product Evaluation and Audit Solutions web site at: https://transportation.org/product-evaluation-and-audit-solutions/
Daniel Alzamora, P.E., is a contributing editor for Geosynthetics and has spent more than three decades in the geosynthetics industry in both the public and private sector.