ASTM D5255-97e1

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
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e1
Designation: D 5255 – 97
Standard Practice for
Certification of Personnel Engaged in the Testing of Soil
and Rock
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5255; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
e NOTE—Paragraph 1.5 was added editorially October 1998.
1. Scope D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements For Agencies
Engaged In the Testing Of Soil and Rock As Used In
1.1 This practice provides a guide for evaluation and certi-
Engineering, Design, and Construction.
fication procedures for personnel engaged in testing soil and
rock in accordance with ASTM test methods and is intended
3. Terminology
for use by independent organizations providing certification
3.1 Definitions:
services.
3.1.1 agency—an organization, or part of an organization,
1.2 Qualifications for certification candidates, qualifications
engaged in activities of technically oriented testing or inspec-
of those administering the certification examinations, methods
tion, or both.
of administering the certification tests, and certain certification
3.1.2 inspection—the process of measuring, examining,
organization operating requirements are given.
testing, gaging, or using other procedures to ascertain the
1.3 Certification is specific to a single ASTM test method. A
quality or state, detect errors or defects or otherwise appraise
monitored written examination and a monitored performance
materials, products, services, systems, or environments to a
examination are normally required.
pre-established standard.
NOTE 1—Personnel certification may be an important aspect of a
3.1.3 testing—the determination by technical means of
quality system as described in practice D3740. Certification of personnel
properties, performance, or elements of materials, products,
is one means of meeting personnel qualifications given in practice D3740.
services, systems, or environments that may involve applica-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tion of established scientific principles and procedures.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.1 certificant—the individual who has been certified by
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the certification organization.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.2 certification—an action which determines and an-
1.5 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
nounces that an individual has fulfilled the preestablished
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
requirements and is competent to perform the designated
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
task(s) associated with a single ASTM test method.
with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may
3.2.3 certification organization—an independent body en-
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
gaged in the evaluation and credentialing of the knowledge and
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
abilities of individuals performing specified tasks.
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
3.2.4 examinee—certification applicant involved in the ex-
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
amination process.
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
3.2.5 examiner—a qualified professional who administers
title of this document means only that the document has been
and evaluates the performance examination component of the
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
certification process.
3.2.6 personnel—employees of inspection and testing agen-
2. Referenced Documents
cies who perform soil and rock tests.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.7 proctor—the individual responsible for administering
the written examination component of the certification process.
3.2.8 qualified professional—a professional engineer or
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
similar professional who is recognized by peers and associates
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.99 on Quality Control.
Current edition approved May 10, 1997. Published November 1997. Originally
published as D 5255 – 92. Last previous edition D 5255 – 92. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 5255
as having soil and rock testing expertise. publication of a publicly available document, evidence that the
3.2.9 specifying entity—the organization requiring the cer- mechanism used to evaluate individual competence is objec-
tification through provisions in contracts, standards, regula- tive, fair, and based on the knowledge and skills needed to
tions, codes, and legislation. properly perform the test method(s).
5.3.2 The certification organization shall publish, at least
4. Significance and Use
annually, a summary of certification activities to include
4.1 This practice provides basic criteria for the development
number tested, number passing the examinations, number
and operation of a certification organization, selection of
certified, and, when applicable, number re-certified.
examination material for a written examination, and the scope
5.3.3 The certification organization shall provide a mecha-
and details of a performance test. The qualifications of the
nism for responding to inquiries from individuals and organi-
examiner and limitations on the relationship between the
zations wanting to verify that a particular certificant has a
examiner and the examinee are given in this practice.
specific certification.
4.2 The basic criteria provided by this practice is intended to
5.4 Records:
be supplemented by more specific criteria serving the require-
5.4.1 The files of the certification organization should con-
ments of the certification organization.
tain at least the following:
4.3 It is unrealistic and unintended that each individual be
5.4.1.1 Examination identity and date administered,
certified for every test that the employing agency performs.
5.4.1.2 Examination question source,
Rather it should be a goal of an agency that a majority of
5.4.1.3 Identity and qualifications of written examination
personnel normally performing a given test are certified.
proctor,
Depending on the purpose of the testing, it may be appropriate
5.4.1.4 Identity and qualifications of performance examina-
for the client to specify whether or not a certified technician
tion examiner, and
should perform a given test.
5.4.1.5 Examination question performance statistics.
4.4 Although this practice calls for certification specific to a
5.5 Evidence of Certification:
single ASTM test method, it is not intended that the certifica-
tion organization avoid grouping related test methods in the 5.5.1 Evidence of certification shall be issued by the orga-
interest of efficiency. nization to the candidate upon successful completion of the
examinations. Certification shall include the date of certifica-
5. Certification Organization
tion, the period of certification, and the ASTM
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