Glossary of Terms

Primary Laboratory – A permanent laboratory facility that is not subject to the starting or ending of a particular construction contract or particular project locations.

Satellite Laboratory – A temporary laboratory facility set up for a specific job, project, or contract. At the end of the job, project, or contract, the equipment and personnel return to the primary laboratory. A satellite laboratory is certified under its sponsoring primary laboratory after an on-site inspection has been performed and full compliance has been achieved. All records for equipment used in the satellite laboratory facility must be included in the Quality Manual maintained at the primary laboratory. Copies of information in this Quality Manual pertaining to equipment and personnel at the satellite laboratory must also be maintained at the satellite laboratory.

Reciprocal Certification – Certification granted to a laboratory that currently maintains laboratory accreditation through an acceptable agency, such as the AASHTO laboratory accreditation program. Laboratories seeking reciprocal certification are not subject to an on-site inspection, but must supply relevant documentation as requested.

Single Test Certification - A process by which a contractor can qualify equipment to perform a single test method. This option is available for those performing only AASHTO T 310 (Nuclear density of soils) and/or AASHTO T 152 (Air content of fresh concrete).

Laboratory Certification Coordinator – The individual responsible for the coordination of efforts pertaining to the laboratory certification program for the State of Arkansas as administered by CTTP.

Laboratory Inspector – The individual responsible for performing the on-site inspection of a laboratory, and for reviewing quality system materials.

Quality Manual – The set of documents containing information describing and documenting a certified laboratory’s quality system.(download example of Quality Manual)

Quality System – The organizational structure, staff responsibilities, policies, standard operating procedures and processes which, when implemented, assist a certified laboratory in achieving its quality objectives.

Participating Laboratory – Any laboratory maintaining an acceptable status within the laboratory certification program. A current listing of participating laboratories is provided on the laboratory certification website located www.cttp.org.

Deficiency – Any requirement for certification that has not been met. Responses to deficiencies are made by corrective action. Corrective actions to deficiencies must be completed before certification will be granted. The most common deficiencies typically pertain to equipment needs, calibration records, or Quality Manual contents.

Corrective Action – Any action taken by the participating laboratory to correct a deficiency as noted in the laboratory inspection report. Laboratories must submit acceptable corrective actions within three (3) months of the date of the inspection report in order to receive certification.

Inspection Report – A document prepared by CTTP that details any deficiencies that may be found in the laboratory’s Quality System.

Laboratory Agreement – The document signed by an official representative of the candidate laboratory that states their willingness to adhere to the policies and procedures of the CTTP Laboratory Certification Program.

Enrollment Form – The document that allows a candidate laboratory to officially register as a participant in the CTTP Laboratory Certification Program.

Renewal Date – This date coincides with the original inspection date, regardless of subsequent inspection dates.

Laboratory Representative – The authorized contact person. Individual responsible for communication with CTTP and for maintaining the laboratory’s Quality System.

Certificates of Compliance – Site-specific document which asserts that the participating laboratory has met all requirements of the CTTP Laboratory Certification Program and is certified to perform only those AASHTO and AHTD procedures listed on the certificate.

For More information contact CTTP Offices at (479) 575-3997