7/27/2019 NTN GEN 009 Hold Points and Witness Points

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NATSPEC TECHnotes April 2009

© TECHnote NTN GEN 009 is a guidance note for consideration. Check www.natspec.com.au for latest version

AUS-SPEC definitions:Hold point : A defined position inthe manufacture/ constructionstages of the contract beyond

which work shall not proceedwithout mandatory verificationand acceptance by thesuperintendent.

Witness Point : A nominatedposition in themanufacture/construction stagesof the Contract where the optionof attendance may be exercisedby the Superintendent, afternotification of the requirement.

Nonconformance report (NCR) :A mandatory (standard format)report submitted by thecontractor that details the

nonconforming work and thecontractor’s proposed dispositionof the nonconformance.

Notice of nonconformance(NNC) : Formal instruction fromthe superintendent regardingproduct nonconformance to thatspecified.

Corrective action : Measures,including preventative measures,taken to rectify conditions whichhave caused or might causenonconformity.

Corrective action request(CAR) : A formaladvice/instruction from thesuperintendent regardingdepartures from the Qualitysystem or methods as approvedin the Quality plan.

Disposition : Action to be taken toresolve nonconformance .

NATSPEC definitions:Hold point : An activity cannotproceed without the approval ofthe contract administrator.

Contract administrator : Has thesame meaning as ‘architect’ or‘superintendent’ and is theperson appointed by the ‘owner’or ‘principal’ under the contract.

Witness point : Provides anopportunity to attend an activitybut does not involve anobligation. The activity canproceed without approval fromthe contract administrator.

Relevant documents0161 Quality (Construction)

0167 Integrated management

017 General requirements

AUS-SPEC TECHguides

Austroads AGPD03/08 Guide to project delivery – Part 3 Contract Management.

HOLD POINTS AND WITNESS POINTS

INTRODUCTIONHold points and Witness points areconstruction stages which may needadditional inspection, verification anddocumentation to ensure:• The safety of the personnel,

environment and the public, prior toproceeding.

• The technical quality and any legalrequirements have been satisfied.

• The next stage in the constructionprocess can be completed.

Verification measures will vary with thespecification method. For performancespecifying, verification involves testing. Forspecifying by reference, verification is to astandard, or through third-party

certification to that standard. Verificationprocedures are documented in thespecification as Hold points and Witness points .

HOLD POINTA Hold point is a mandatory verificationpoint beyond which a work processcannot proceed without authorisation bythe contract administrator. Hold points areusually assigned to those critical aspectsof the work that cannot be inspected orcorrected at a later stage because theywill no longer be accessible. The workcannot proceed until the contract

administrator is able to verify the quality ofthe completed work and releases theHold .

Hold points can be nominated by:• The principal in the contract

documents.• The contract administrator with a

Nonconformance or Corrective actionreport.

Use Hold points sparingly as eachpotentially introduces project delay.

WITNESS POINTA Witness point is an identified point in theprocess where the contract administratormay review, witness, inspect or undertaketests on any component, method orprocess of works. The contractor isrequired to notify the contractadministrator who may or may not take theopportunity. The project however, mayproceed.

CONTRACTOR’S ROLEThe contractor is responsible for satisfyingthe requirements specified in the contractand for planning, developing andmaintaining a system, which will assurethat nonconformances are detected andtheir dispositions controlled. The issue of aNonconformance report or a Notice ofnonconformance automatically creates aHold point .

AUS-SPEC APPROACHAUS-SPEC is a specification systemfor the life-cycle management ofassets. In AUS-SPEC Hold points are

part of either the Quality plan or theMaintenance management plan. Forexample:• 0161 Quality (Construction) and

0167 Integrated management worksections, the Quality planfor the works incorporateschecklists, inspections, testingand documentation to ensurethat the works comply with thecontract documents. Hold points and Witness Points are includedin the checklists. Examples ofsubmissions include a quality

plan or soil compaction testresults for a prepared sub-base.• A Maintenance management

plan combines the requirementsof the Technical specifications,Quality manual and the Qualityplan, for assuring quality inconstruction projects. TheMaintenance management plancovers policy, organisation,selected procedures,maintenance planning andActivity specifications formaintenance activities. TheActivity specifications form thecore of the document whichincludes the nominated Hold points . For example, test resultsconfirming compliance ofmaterials like asphalt orrequirements of the work orderfor the proposed maintenancework.

AUS-SPEC TECHguides providefurther guidance on the use of Hold points and Witness points for theAUS-SPEC specifications. For moreinformation on AUS-SPEC visitwww.natspec.com.au.

NATSPEC APPROACHNATSPEC defines Hold points andWitness points in the General requirements worksections with thefollowing Guidance text:If an approval is required prior to implementation consider nominating a Hold point, to eliminate ambiguity.

The inspection clause in individualworksections includes Guidance textfor nominating Hold points . Thesemay be, for example, inspectingformwork and reinforcement prior topouring of concrete, orwaterproofing.