Construction Quality Assurance: Closing an Island Dump
Quality Assurance  A systematic program designed to provide verification that quality control functions have been adequately performed and to verify that the total installation conforms to the plans and specifications. Usually performed by the Owner or Third Party Firm.
Quality Control  Testing and inspection functions performed to verify that specific parameters conform to the plans and specifications. Usually performed by the manufacturer or the installer.
Quality Assurance Team Owner Design Engineer Construction Manager CQA Monitor Contractor
CQA Program Pre-construction Construction Post-construction
Pre-Construction CQA Meetings Conformance testing Shipping
Meetings Pre-bid Pre-construction Progress Final walkthrough
Conformance Testing  Process of testing and analysis of materials prior to deployment to ensure that the physical properties of the material are in accordance with the specifications.
Types of Conformance Testing Manufacturing plant Manufacturer’s plant audit Third party laboratory
Manufacturing Plant Quality Control Raw material Geomembrane rolls Post-production handing and testing
Raw Material Resin manufacturer’s documentation Sampling from the rail car Resin testing Storage
Polyethylene Resin (white) Compounded Resin (black)
Rail Cars Unloading Resin
Resin Properties Density Melt index Carbon black Oxidative induction time
Carbon Black Dispersion Test
Carbon Black Dispersion Chart
Geomembrane Extrusion Blown film Flat die
Post-Production Handling and Testing Thickness Labeling Storage Laboratory conformance testing
Micrometer for Thickness Testing
Storage of Geomembrane Rolls
Geomembrane Labels Roll number and date Resin manufacturer Roll width and length Thickness Blend number
Laboratory Testing and Labeling for Geomembrane Rolls
Laboratory Testing Frequency Retains Testing
Physical Properties Tensile Specific gravity Puncture Carbon black
Start of Tensile Test
Completion of Tensile Test
Manufacturer’s Plant Audit Third party audit Evaluation of quality control procedures
Plant Audit for Ordot Dump Closure
Inspection of a Plant Review of manufacturer’s quality control program Delivery, storage, and handling of resin Production of geomembrane Storage and labeling of the geomembrane
Third Party Laboratory Testing Delivery Sampling Testing
Indicator Parameters Density Tensile properties Asperity height Carbon black Puncture
Delivery of Geomembrane to the Site Manufacturer’s certification Off-loading Logging of rolls by CQA Monitor Cross checking conformance testing rolls
Pre-Construction Complete Manufacturer’s testing and documentation complete Third party conformance testing complete Quality assurance engineer’s review complete
Construction CQA Subgrade preparation Geomembrane deployment and field seaming Nondestructive testing Destructive testing Repairs
Subgrade Preparation Written acceptance from installer Compaction Particle size Desiccation
Subgrade Preparation
Geomembrane Deployment Subgrade preparation accepted Approved panel layout Panel and seam identification Weather conditions
Geomembrane Deployment
Field Seaming Trial weld Fusion welding Extrusion welding
Trial Welds Every four hours Three feet in length Welding
Trial Weld Preparation
Trial Weld Testing
Fusion Welding Heat and pressure Single wedge Double wedge
Fusion Welding
Double Wedge Welder
Extrusion Welding Heat bond Oxidation removal Welding
Oxidation Removal
Extrusion Weld
Nondestructive Seam Testing Vacuum box Air pressure Spark test
Vacuum Box
Air Pressure Testing
Destructive Seam Testing Frequency/selection Shear testing Peel testing
Destructive Seam Sample
Destructive Coupon Cutting
Destructive Shear Test Using Tensiometer
Repairs Seams Sheet
Documentation Daily records Observation and test data sheets Progress reports Construction deficiency reports Final certification reports
Ordot Dump Closure Existing conditions Final grading Cover system
Ordot Dump Existing Conditions
Ordot Dump Final Grading
Ordot Dump Cover System Lower geocomposite LLDPE geomembrane Upper geocomposite Geocell Landfill gas extraction system Leachate collection system
Cover System Detail
Cover System Installation
Geocell Installation
Drilling of Landfill Gas Extraction Well
Installation of Landfill Gas Extraction Well
Landfill Gas Flare
Leachate Collection Trench Construction
Stormwater Collection With Concrete Filled Geocell
Stormwater Collection Structures
Site Specific CQA Issues for the Ordot Dump Closure Weather Leachate seeps Remote location Waste relocation Stormwater control
Current Closure Construction Progress  Photographs
Severe Weather Conditions
Initial North Slope Conditions
Grading and Relocation of Waste on North Slope
Grading of Waste on North Slope
Placement and Compaction of Waste on the Top Deck
Placement of Foundation Layer Over Final Waste Grades
Compaction of Foundation Layer Over Final Waste Grades
Installation of Leachate Seep Drain
Excavation of Temporary Leachate Storage Pond
Final Grading of Temporary Leachate Storage Pond
Installation of Bottom Geomembrane in Temporary Leachate Storage Pond
Installation of Floating Cover in Temporary Leachate Storage Pond
Construction of Leachate Storage Tank Pad
Excavation and Relocation of Waste Outside of the Final Cover (WRA 2)
Placement and Compaction of Clean Soil in Waste Relocation Area 2
Waste Relocation Area 1 Waste Removal and Backfilling With Clean Soil
Removal of Waste in Waste Relocation Area 4
Overview of Waste Relocation Area 4
Identification of Miscellaneous Waste for Removal
Access Road Construction
Excavation of Water Diversion Trench
Abandonment of Existing Landfill Gas and Groundwater Monitoring Wells
Delivery of Geomembrane Rolls
Logging in Geomembrane Rolls
Questions?