Modern Quarrying Q3 2020

ON PHOTO: CHECKING AGGREGATE QUALITY Tighter requirements from building and construction professionals are driving ever tighter tolerances and aggregate suppliers need to be ready to meet future specifications.

QUALITY STANDARDS

With its industry-wide survey currently under way across member operations, surface mining industry association, Aspasa, seeks to gauge the extent of laboratory facilities at each of the member operations to assist with the planning of the implementation of its newly-introduced technical quality audits, writes Munesu Shoko. I ncreasing requirements for certified quality aggregates have led surface mining industry association, Aspasa, to introduce its own guidelines and auditing systems to ensure testing of aggregates and crushed granular materials is done in accordance to South African National Standards (SANS) 3001 AG and GR series test methods. In future quarries belonging to Aspasa will have an option to participate in an annual audit designed to measure compliance of testing facilities including their apparatus calibration and personnel competence against an abridged ISO 17025 format, to ensure the correct classification of products. Over time, as their systems improve, they can opt to obtain accreditation through South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) for ISO/IEC 17025 – general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. According to Barry Pearce, chairman of Aspasa’s technical QUALITY STANDARDS TO THE FORE

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Increasing requirements for certified quality aggregates have led surface mining industry association, ASPASA, to introduce its own guidelines and auditing systems to ensure testing of aggregates and crushed granular materials is done in accordance to South African National Standards 3001 AG and GR series test methods To determine the extent of testing facilities at member operations before rolling out the technical quality audit, Aspasa is conducting an industry-wide survey, which is being led by the association’s technical team

Attention to the quality of the products provided is now starting to become more of a concern for ASPASA members, especially where margins on products are so low and business is scarce

Tighter requirements from building and construction professionals are driving ever tighter tolerances and aggregate suppliers need to be ready to meet future specifications

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 3 - 2020