Concrete Factory Production Control

Concrete from an industrialised process must come from plants that are suitable for a constant production, which have adequate packaging equipment, experienced personnel and equipment to test, evaluate and maintain product quality until installation.
These requirements are governed by the Italian Ministerial Decree of 17/01/2018 Technical Standards for Buildings (Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni), according to which the plants must comply with the Factory Production Control (FPC).
The control of the production process must be certified by a third and independent company, authorised by the Central Technical Service of the Superior Council of Public Works (Servizio Tecnico Centrale del Consiglio Superiore dei Lavori Pubblici).

Technical Focus

The certification requires a Production Manual - an instrument that documents the concrete production control system.
These are its general requirements:

• corporate organisation: human resources and functional roles of production, technological and commercial staff, details of activities and responsibilities of all staff
• requirements to the concrete: identification and specification of the concrete product
• characteristics of the concrete plant and the production process: deposits, infrastructure, equipment, tools and vehicles
• production and product control: equipment, instruments and test labs and controls
• significant data recording, in support of a permanent production control by the manufacturer.

Certification Procedure

• on-site audit: verification of compliance with the requirements and laws applicable to pre-packaged concrete production systems
• certification, after the successful completion of the audit
• periodic checks to certify compliance and renew the certification, at least once a year.

Why RINA?

RINA is authorised to carry out certification activities in the cement production sector, according to the Decree dated 17/01/2018 and through the authorisation issued following Ministerial Decree No. 378/AA.GG. of 10/08/2007 and subsequent renewals, by the Central Technical Service of the Superior Council of Public Works of Italy.

Q&A

What is meant by ‘industrially manufactured concrete?
The term refers to concrete produced through plants, structures and techniques, both at construction sites and at external plants.

Which types of cement conglomerate are subject to the control of the production process at the factory by independent third parties?
Concrete produced at fixed plants, in prefabricated industrial plants, and industrial plants (fixed), at industrial plants installed at (temporary) work sites.

What, in addition to the Ministerial Decree of 17/01/2018, is the regulatory framework for certification of the pre-packaged concrete production process?
In Italy, these are Guidelines for the Production, Transport and Control of Precast Concrete (Linee guida per la produzione, il trasporto e il controllo del calcestruzzo preconfezionato) developed by the Central Technical Service of the Superior Council of Public Works (Servizio Tecnico Centrale del Consiglio Superiore dei LL.PP.).

Can the Work Manager accept precast concrete products from plants without production control certification?
No, the documents accompanying each supply of industrially-packaged concrete must indicate the details of this certification. The Work Manager is required to refuse any supplies from non-compliant plants.