The Sector of Government Center for Testing and Quality Control & Research undertakes testing and checking the quality of the materials used in construction; whether for facilities, road work, or rainwater and sanity drainage projects. It tests the materials to ensure their validity meet the Kuwaiti standard specifications, the international standards, or the technical specifications of the Ministry of Public Works. In addition, the Sector undertakes inspecting the existing facilities and the construction soil for roads and buildings. The Sector activities include the projects of the Ministry of Public Works, government ministries and bodies, private sector, and citizens.
The Government Center for Tests and Laboratories Sector includes:
- First: Construction Laboratories Department
- Second: Road Laboratories Department
- Third: Quality Control Department
- Fourth: Planning and Follow-up Office
- Fifth: Administrative Unit
- Sixth: Safety Department
First: Specializations of the Construction Laboratories Department:
The Construction Laboratories Department undertakes inspecting and chemically inspecting building, instructions, and building materials; in addition to conducting the scientific research related to the all fields of construction. The Department also participates with the Public Authority for Industry in studying the standard technical specifications for the construction industry. This aims to increase the technological and technical development in this field. It also undertakes training university students in cooperation with the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training.
The Construction Laboratories Department comprises the following sections:
- Soil and Constructions Section
- Construction Material Section
- Chemistry Section
The Soil and Constructions Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Conduct the field studies in different project worksites through testing and examining the standard penetration test, take samples of the soil on different depths to estimate the soil durability, and prepare the necessary technical reports
- Conduct the different laboratory tests on soil samples that are extracted from the sites to be labeled and study their mechanical properties
- Conduct field tests on the soil; such as field density test, plate bearing test, dynamic and static cone penetration test, and others
- Preview any new issue that occur regarding ground failures and land subsidence during and after construction, determine the causes, and suggest solutions after conducting the necessary tests
- Conduct site tests on building structures, and evaluate them using tools and equipment according to the local and international specifications to assess their safety
- Take cylindrical samples from concrete and rock
- Examine the concrete using ultra-sound waves to avoid its distortion
- Study the building and construction collapses, determine their causes, and propose recommendations
- Calibrate devices, central blenders, and equipment used in laboratories on the project sites, and evaluate their efficiency
- Determine the changes in groundwater levels using piezometers
- 1Conduct researches on soil and groundwater to propose the best solutions for protecting the building from any damages caused by them
The Construction Material Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Conduct tests on rebar regarding its flexibility, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, bending, welding, dimensions, and others
- Examine the materials used in cement concrete industry including gravel, sand, and cement to determine their physical and mechanical properties
- Conduct the necessary test on cement concrete to determine or ensure its strength
- Test the materials used in cement concrete industry including the materials used in slowing and speeding the uncertainty period, the plasticizers
- Conduct the necessary tests on foam and cellular concrete
- Coordinate with the Quality Control Department to approve the factories producing concrete admixtures and construction materials
- Conduct tests on concrete products; such as all kinds of bricks, all kinds of tiles, marble, rock, limestone, cable covers, and others
- Conduct tests on the corrosion of concrete materials resulting from the environmental conditions, and suggest the suitable solutions
- Conduct physical tests on special materials; such as cork, glass, fiber, wood, pipes, plastic products, moisture and thermal insulating materials, materials used in expansion joints
- Examine the pipes used in health and construction projects; such as cast iron pipes, galvanized and copper pipes, and others, and examine the covers and stairs of manholes, iron bars, metal screens, angle screen, and wall joints
- 1Conduct researches on traditional materials and the materials used in construction
- 1Develop and update the construction material specifications
The Chemistry Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Analyze and test the insulating and adhesive materials to identify their components and test their resistance to weather conditions including heat and moisture, the percentage of waterproof and thermal conductivity, and their resistance to chemical material and salts
- Test the plastic and rubber tissues, anti-moisture plastic and asphalt materials, and the materials used for filling the joints and expansion joint
- Analyze dyes and paints to identify their components and their resistance to weather and chemical conditions
- Conduct chemical analysis on the nonmetal materials; such as concrete and its components, soil, plastic and rubber materials, ceramics, chemical substances, water, glass, oils, gypsum, etc.
- Conduct chemical analysis on metallic materials and minerals; such as aluminum, bronze, and zinc alloys; and test the iron and define the causes of rust and the percentage of galvanization
Second: Specializations of the Road Laboratories Department:
The Road Laboratories Department undertakes conducting the necessary tests on the materials used in road constructions in Kuwait. It also ensures that the implemented work - load-bearing layer of the sidewalks or the asphalt layers - meets the technical specifications. It also undertakes evaluating sidewalks after being constructed using the modern examination methods.
The Road Laboratories Department comprises the following sections:
- Asphalt Section
- Road Material Section
- Paving Evaluation Section
The Asphalt Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Conduct physical and chemical tests on debris used in asphalt mixtures (gravel – sand – powder)
- Conduct physical and chemical tests on bitumen materials (solid – liquid – emulsive) and other materials used in asphalt mixtures
- Conduct tests on designing and approving the asphalt mixtures upon the requests submitted by contractors
- Conduct tests to ensure that the asphalt mixtures match the designed mixtures
- Conduct tests to examine the natural phenomena related to the asphalt mixtures, such as the bitumen test
- Calibrate the packing units of gravel, sand, and cement for asphalt work, and prepare the necessary reports
- Take samples of asphalt mixtures to compare them to the designed mixtures
- Take hot mixture, cylindrical, and cut-off tile samples to conduct the necessary tests upon the request of the competent entities
- Calibrate and approve the testing devices used in examining the asphalt layers that exist in the laboratories of project sites
- Calibrate the asphalt factories in Kuwait that produce and supply asphalt mixtures to the Ministry projects, and ensure that they meet the technical terms
- Approve the factories for producing asphalt mixtures and the gravel packing factories as suppliers for the Ministry projects
- Conduct researches on designing asphalt mixtures
- Coordinate with the competent entities to study and update the technical specifications in proportion with the advancement in road construction equipment technologies
The Road Material Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Conduct physical and chemical tests on the paving layer materials
- Conduct laboratory compaction tests on paving layer materials
- Conduct tests on paving layer materials after being enhanced
- Conduct laboratory tests to define the durability of paving layers
- Conduct site compaction tests on paving layer materials
- Conduct field tests to define the durability of paving layers
- Extract rocks from sites and conduct the necessary tests to ensure they meet the technical specifications
- Take samples from projects to conduct tests on them upon the request of the competent entity
- Take the samples necessary to present the required data for designing the paving layers for public road networks
- Calibrate and approve the testing devices used in examining the paving layers that exist in the laboratories of project sites
- Conduct tests on improving the materials used in road construction
The Paving Evaluation Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Conduct tests on paving materials used in road (cement tiles - interlocking tiles – curbstone - concrete cubes)
- Conduct the dynamic bearing tests on the paving materials in laboratory
- Conduct the tests necessary for the different paving layers or the bearing layers, and evaluate the state of concrete sidewalks in airports using the displacement measuring device and the falling weight deflectometer to indicate the construction capability of the sidewalks
- Test and evaluate the road flat surface and if they are suitable for suitable for traffic using the traffic quality evaluation device
- Conduct tests for road surface resistance to slippery using the slippery resistance measuring device to ensure the greatest safety for road users
- Design paving layers of roads based on the data received from the Road Material Section
- Evaluate the changes that occur on the road surface as a result of traffic and weather conditions, use this evaluation in determining the time and type of the required maintenance, and coordinate with the Maintenance Engineering Sector in this regard.
- Participate in conducting researches on sidewalk failures and the impact of weather conditions on asphalt layers, in cooperation with the Consultancy Office
- Participate in the primary and final receiving committees for the road projects
Third: The Specializations of the Quality Control Department:
The Quality Control Department undertakes ensuring the quality of the carried out work and raising it to the international quality level. This is achieved through ensuring the high level of used materials and studying all the methods that help reduce the project cost.
The Quality Control Department comprises the following sections:
- Road and Sanitary Work Section
- Buildings and Services Follow-up Section
- Factory and Concrete-Product Section
The Road and Sanitary Work Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Follow-up all what is related to the materials used in all project implementation through studying what is stated in the contract documents, in coordination with the Ministry sectors
- Examine and approve the suggested alternative materials to be used if the materials stated in the contract documents are not available, in coordination with the competent entities and sectors, and in proportion with the required quality level
- Pay regular visits to the worksites to follow-up the materials after being supplied, take samples from the stored materials to ensure they meet the specifications in the contract, and check on the methods used in storing materials at the site
- Participate in studying the results of sample examination and the tests conducted on the materials or the implemented work, and coordinate with the competent entities and sectors to make final judgment in this regards
- Ensure the quality of the implemented work through the periodic visits to project sites, and coordinate with the those who are responsible for project- implementation supervising to give opinion and prepare reports in this regard
- Follow-up the quality of the work implemented by the approved sub-contractors, and cooperate with the Technical Coordination Section to update their approval
- Participate in the primary and final receiving committees for the completed projects
The Buildings and Services Follow-up Section undertakes the same specializations stated in the previous section with regards to road and building work:
The word “material”, in the specialization of this Section, means all that can be used of raw or manufactured material, devices, or equipment that are required in the electrical and mechanical work and are stated in the contract documents.
The Factory and Concrete-Product Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Undertake all the work related to qualifying factories for approval, in coordination with the Government Center for Tests and Laboratories and different sectors
- Follow-up the performance of the factors previously approved, with regards to their commitment to specifications, through the periodic visits to such factories
- Qualify and approve the sub-contractors through classifying them by efficiency and work experience, with coordination with the competent entities
- Coordinate with the different sectors in the constant evaluation of the sub-contractor performance through periodic reports, and notify the Contract and Document Department
Fourth: Specializations of Planning and Follow-up Office:
The Planning Department undertakes preparing the statistics on the Sector work and following-up the job-related needs. It also receives the material samples and the fees of the different tests.
The Office comprises the following sections:
- Planning Section
- Accounting Section
- Maintenance Section
The Planning Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Prepare the annual and monthly reports, statistics, and data on workflow based on the reports of the different departments in the Sector
- Follow-up the correspondence related to the questions of the National Assembly members and press, and reply to them in coordination with the competent entities
- Study and estimate the Sector needs of labor in coordination with the competent entities with regards to developing and training the Sector staff to raise efficiency and improve performance; in addition to following up the annual reports of the Sector staff in coordination with the competent departments
- Coordinate with the central library to follow-up the Sector needs to books, periodicals, references, and scientific and specialized publications
- Follow-up the needs of the Sector of systems and software, in coordination with the competent entities
- Coordinate with the Public Relations Department with regards to participation in fairs, seminars, and celebrations in which the Ministry participates
- Prepare tenders and practices for purchasing machinery and equipment and complete the related offering procedures
- Coordinate with the Contract and Document Department to participate in technical committees for examining contractor tenders and give recommendations in this regards
The Accounting Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Prepare the Center annual budget with regards to Chapters Two and Three, in coordination with the competent departments, and monitor spending of funds and ensuring that the budget is not exceeded
- Coordinate with the Contract and Document Department to prepare the tender and practice documents for purchasing machinery and equipment and complete the related offering procedures
- Coordinate with the Contract and Document Department to participate in technical committees for examining contractor tenders and give recommendations in this regards
- Prepare and audit the payment certificates for the Center contracts in coordination with the competent entities
- Coordinate with the Purchasing and Warehouse Department to purchase the materials, equipment, and technical devices for the Center departments and sections
- Participate in the committees for receiving the Sector devices and equipment
- Collect the fees for the different tests and deposit them at the competent entity according to the organizing systems and regulations
- Classify, organize, and receive the samples to be tested and refer them to the competent sections
- Prepare reports on the Section activities, with regards to the financial aspect
The Maintenance Section undertakes the following specializations:
- Follow-up the maintenance work; and maintain, supervise, and operate the equipment and vehicles in coordination with the competent entities
- Follow-up, supervise, and maintain the Center buildings; including the work related to sanitation, electricity, air-conditioning, switch, and garden in coordination with the competent entities
- Follow-up, supervise, and maintain the computer sets in coordination with the competent entities
- Follow-up and supervise the maintenance of office equipment (stationary, photocopiers, faxes)
- Follow-up and supervise the cleaning services at the Center
Fifth: Administrative Unit
- Receive, record and transfer the Sector correspondence to the competent departments
- Receive and organize the staff-related transactions and the Sector correspondence to be sent out of the Sector
- Organize, index, and save correspondence and documents related to the Sector work
- Prepare responses, memos, and letters if necessary
- Follow-up the secretariat work of the Sector
- Create and update a database that includes the data of all the staff of the Sector, and follow-up the related work transactions in coordination with the competent entities
- Follow-up providing the required stationary, printed forms, office equipment, and furniture; in coordination with the competent entities
Sixth: Specializations of the Safety Unit
- Develop a general policy for industrial safety, professional health and safety, and work environment at the Ministry of Public Works including buildings and projects, in coordination with the different technical sectors
- Approve the safety manual for projects presented by the Supervision Body for each project separately
- Create a database of all past incidents in Ministry projects for the purpose of studying and analyzing them, and take the procedures and precautions necessary to ensure they do not occur again in the future
- Work on monitoring the commitment of Ministry project staff to safety terms and systems, especially those who are concerned with project implementation and supervision, as to avoid any staff injuries, physical losses, service or public property damages, or harming the environment; through providing a safety inspector for each project in cooperation with the safety body of each contractor
- Ensure the availability of information, guiding panels, signposts, safety clothes, drilling supports, etc. for all projects
- Develop the safety plan and evacuation plan for all Ministry building contracts and projects in coordination with the State’s concerned bodies
- Follow-up the implementation of conditions by all the Ministry entities, settle any contradictions or disputes over specializations that may hinder achieving the Safety Department goals and policies, with regards to the implemented contracts or the future ones
- Approve the contractor and consultant technical staff concerned with safety, after the approval of the supervision body with regards to the safety and security in the Ministry projects
- Set the training and performance-monitoring rules for the different missions and risks in the Ministry buildings and projects
- Regulate the work in confined spaces and the work-alone spaces, and create specific permits for working in them
- Develop policies, systems, and work methodologies for each of the following:
- Statement of intent
- Organization responsibility
- Arrangement
- (A) Safety inspection procedure
- (B) Risk assessment
- Procedure
- Correct any error with regards to safety and security in the Ministry buildings and existing projects, and ensure that change happens through field visits and inspection teams
- Review the specifications, procedures, policies, systems, and periodic review methods for ensuring the performance improvement of professional health and safety
- Evaluate the performance of contractors, consultants, and Ministry staff with regards to health and safety and the evacuation plan, in cooperation with the international representatives in Kuwait
- Stop the work on projects in case of existence of any indicators to defects in health and safety that may lead to a catastrophe or to declaring emergency
- Conduct evacuation drills and implement emergency plans in the Ministry buildings and projects
- Spread safety awareness among the Ministry personnel, as a first priority, and in the society, being the real user of the Ministry facilities; using all the available media (visual, audio, readable, etc.) and through participation in public activities and official events within a thoughtful awareness program and a purposeful strategic plan
