Introduction

For a long time now, the world has been experiencing major population growth. According to data from the United Nations Organization (UNO), in 1950 the world population was around 2.6 billion people and in 1987 this figure had already increased by 100%, reaching the mark of more than 5 billion individuals [1]. Currently, the population growth rate in the world does not reach 1.2% per year and this rate is decreasing over time [2], but the Earth has already surpassed the 7.8 billion mark.

With this explosive increase in the world's population, demands in all aspects have also been impacted and have risen sharply. To meet the needs arising from this increase, engineers around the world have been forced to take ever greater steps and optimize all existing processes, machines, materials and structures and develop new methodologies and technologies.

When it comes to building structures, whether for housing, work or infrastructure, the progress made in recent years has been immeasurable. Over time, this knowledge has been widely disseminated from design, through calculation, analysis, materials technology to construction techniques. [3]

However, there are negative consequences to this development, as it has led to an increase in the risks taken. Despite the existence of regulatory standards, mistakes can happen, resulting in early degradation and pathologies in structures or even fatal accidents. [3] Kot works to verify projects carried out by other companies in order to certify their quality. Check out this article to find out more about CQP!

Project Quality Certification - CQP

The Brazilian Association of Technical Standards, ABNT, defines "The evaluation of the conformity of the project must be carried out by a qualified professional, independent and different from the designer, required and contracted by the contractor, and recorded in a specific document, which will accompany the project documentation...", making it mandatory to carry out the evaluation of the conformity of concrete projects. In order to meet the requirements of the NBR and given the complexity involved in drawing up construction projects for metal or concrete structures, Kot provides Project Quality Certification, or better known as CQP.

The scope of this service can vary greatly depending on the client's needs and the final object of study, but in general, the stages carried out by the company during the CQP are listed below for steel structures, foundations and reinforced concrete structures.

• Understanding the project in order to ensure its correct verification, to avoid problems during the construction phase;
• Evaluate the project's calculations and assumptions;
• Carrying out structural simulations to check projects;
• Review and validation of technical drawings;
• Analysis of the assembly sequence of the structures;
• Accompanying and/or recommending the manufacture, assembly, disassembly and maintenance of structures in accordance with regulatory standards.

Once these steps have been carried out, proposals for improvement or correction of points of non-compliance found in the checks can be suggested. 

Accidents involving structures usually have major consequences, including major financial, environmental and humanitarian damage. Cases such as the collapse of bridges and viaducts can cause deaths, environmental risks and millions of dollars in damage. All this can be avoided by carrying out project quality certification.

Conclusion

Reading this text highlights the growing need for structures to meet the demands of the population, which have increased exponentially over the last few decades, be they housing, employment or infrastructure (such as bridges, viaducts and footbridges). In addition, in order to meet the requirements set out in the standards, it is important that projects go through the certification process, so that they meet the requirements set out in the standard and thus avoid errors and non-compliance that could eventually result in accidents.

Achieving project quality certification has a significant financial advantage when compared to the possible impacts associated with project errors. Investing in Project Quality Certification reinforces the business's sustainable concerns, strengthening its social, environmental and financial commitment. 

Kot's team includes civil and mechanical engineers who are qualified to carry out quality certifications for your project, on assets such as road bridges, railway bridges and viaducts. The company's mission is to develop engineering solutions with excellence and it has the know-howto assess your requirements.

If you, like our more than 150 clients, are looking for engineering solutions for your operation, contact our team and find out more about our services. Since 1993, we have specialized in developing engineering solutions using computational methods.

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References:

Cover image credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/5fNmWej4tAA

[1] The world's population is increasing: it has doubled in half a century. O Tempo, December 7, 2020. Available at: https://www.tempo.com/noticias/ciencia/a-populacao-mundial-esta-disparando-dobrou-em-meio-seculo.html

[2] Population growth. Brasil Escola, [S.I]. Available at: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/o-crescimento-populacional-no-mundo.htm

[3] CMS, Vicente and R Thomaz, "Pathology, recovery and reinforcement of concrete structures" [S.I]. PNI, 1998.