Laboratory Registration System (LRS)
The Laboratory Registration System (or LRS) was established to manage risks associated with testing service standards for infrastructure projects.
We are committed to working closely with industry to implement the LRS. The system applies across the full infrastructure life cycle. It includes activities such as geotechnical investigation, construction, maintenance, pavement monitoring and evaluation, and the investigation of pavement failures.
In collaboration with the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), the LRS ensures that materials testing standards are enhanced across industry, and provides engineering decision makers with increased confidence in testing services being delivered to Queensland's vast road infrastructure network.
LRS pilot projects have been conducted in Brisbane, Bundaberg and Mackay.
The LRS will be set up under the department’s Specialist Supplier Registration Framework.
The system will apply to all laboratories providing civil engineering services to the department. This includes laboratories undertaking testing on behalf of companies supplying construction materials and products, for example, quarries, asphalt producers and precast concrete suppliers.
The website will provide up-to-date information about the LRS, including the likely implementation timeframes on a region by region basis.
Implementing the Laboratory Registration System (LRS)
The implementation commenced in July 2009.
It is estimated the system will be in place for all department projects by the end of 2011.
Any organisation providing testing services for departmental projects from this time onwards will need to be registered with the LRS.
The LRS implementation approach has three key features:
- It will be phased in to give laboratories time to prepare and apply for registration
- It takes a 'region by region' approach, with selection of individual projects in a region based on risk
- It is likely to involve a number of different industry sectors in the same timeframe (contractors, suppliers and laboratories).
A high level overview of the LRS implementation approach and timeline are shown below:
Key LRS projects
The ORIGIN Alliance Project (Dinmore to Goodna) in South East Queensland was the first and largest project selected, with an estimated value at $2 billion AUD. The project is expected to include 35-40 external organisations and departmental laboratories in the South East. The project has now commenced.
The Pacific Motorway Upgrade Project is the second project on the schedule, and has now commenced. The project is expected to include up to 30 external organisations and departmental laboratories in the South East.
Implementation will continue through 2011 with projects progressively rolled out across all regions. We are currently investigating suitable projects for this phase of the implementation in the South East. A completed LRS implementation schedule will be available on the website when the schedule is finalised.
Industry collaboration and LRS documentation
Since inception of the scheme, we have worked closely with industry to ensure the system has benefits for all involved, including industry bodies, individual contractors, suppliers and laboratory organisations.
The system is a long-term initiative, with the department and industry working together to achieve shared goals related to compliance with materials testing standards.
Our role in administrating the LRS focuses on managing the materials testing risks and ensuring engineering decision makers have confidence in using the testing data.
Feedback from external organisations and internal laboratories participating in the pilot scheme will be used to update the registration documentation. Following this an industry workshop will be held with representatives from external organisations to preview the updated LRS Registration documentation.
To access the LRS documentation please see the LRS Documentation section.
The Registration documentation is now essentially complete and once suitable projects have been identified, the implementation and briefing schedule will be published on the website, including:
- An outline of remaining projects on the LRS implementation schedule
- Timeframes for awareness and briefing sessions
- Start dates for the surveillance and audit components of the system.
The pilot projects trialled the documentation, tested the surveillance and audit procedures and were used to obtain feedback from Industry.
No additional pilots are planned before implementation which has begun on the Origin Alliance Project.
Here is some feedback we received about the LRS pilot projects
"The LRS will increase interaction and strengthen relationships between Main Roads, Contractors and Testing Service Providers" – Jaco Maree, Main Roads Superintendent in Bundaberg
"As a project manager, I believe the LRS will improve testing consistency and accuracy for workmanship and materials supply, over and above the existing standards, with resultant improvements in the delivered projects." – Matt Kraft, Project Manager, Civil, Mining & Construction Pty Ltd, Maryborough
"We were initially apprehensive at the prospect of having Main Roads in our laboratory and looking over our shoulder, but I think over time it has proved helpful for our operations. By adopting a positive and cooperative approach from both sides, some of our younger staff who may not have been all that experienced on Main Roads projects, have learnt a lot through the feedback provided during the surveillance visits". – David Bowler, Senior Principal, Cardno Bowler
LRS Documentation
All relevant LRS documentation will be published in this section in the coming weeks.
