What is AIC?
IAGI’s Approved Installation Contractor program aims to promote industry growth and provide better quality workmanship. The program recognizes geosynthetic installation companies that meet a minimum level of professionalism, ethics and business practices. Approved Installation Contractors must meet requirements in the following areas: corporate history and business practices, insurance verification, safety training, and professional competence and experience. Click on the links below for additional AIC program information.
View a list of AIC companies
AIC Submittal Checklists
AIC Submittal Form (pdf)
Why was the AIC program developed?
What is the AIC program?
What isn’t the AIC program?
What is AIC International?
Current AIC program status
Why was the AIC program developed?
IAGI developed this program based upon dialogs with member installers, member
suppliers, outside experts in the containment field, and government officials
involved in the geomembrane business and who want to establish a benchmark for
installation contractors.
The AIC program recognizes geosynthetic installation
companies that meet a minimum level of professionalism and business
practices. The term “Approved” should be interpreted to mean that evidence is
available to show that the information provided is verified as best as possible
by a third party organization.
What is the AIC program?
The AIC program was developed based on the principles and business practices
that an industry advisory board determined were important to geomembrane
installation companies who consistently perform quality installations. As with
any good system, this set of requirements is subject to improvements and
revisions. As experience is gained with this program, the Board of Directors of
IAGI fully expects to change and improve the program to meet both the needs of
the customer of the installation company as well as the installation company
itself.
This program outlines a basic level of business practices a company must meet in
order to fulfill the AIC requirements. The companies that achieve AIC status
must show that they have the ability to be bonded. The Board of Directors of
IAGI is cognizant that geomembrane installers come in many sizes and many of the
very small specialty operators do excellent work. It was not the intent of IAGI
to prevent these small specialty contractors from competing for work within the
industry. The Board also felt that is was important that a company have some
financial backing in order to meet the various challenges that come from running
a specialty trade company. Hence, there is not a minimum level of bonding
capability that a company must achieve, just that they are capable of purchasing
a bond. The company does not have to actually own a bond at the time of AIC
process – but they have to have a current letter from a bonding company stating
they can purchase a bond.
The key elements that must be submitted for AIC third party review and
verification include:
- Company history and information
- Minimum 5,000,000 square feet installed annually
- Ability to be bonded
- Proof of general liability insurance
- Proof of worker’s compensation insurance
- Proof of automobile liability insurance
- Safety training program
- Health and safety orientation program
- Drug free work program
- Resumes of key personnel – professional competence/experience
- Fifteen percent of crews must be Certified Welding Technicians
- Two letters of reference from engineers that are dated within the past year
- Two letters of reference from contractors/owners that are dated within the past
year
- Two letters of reference from geosynthetic manufacturers that are dated within
the past year
The application must be signed by a company officer and notarized. All of this
information is submitted to a third party accountant for review and verification
of information. The entire process must be completed annually. The initial cost
for the AIC application is $1500 (USD) for IAGI members and $2500 (USD) for non
members. The renewal cost annually is $1000 (USD) for IAGI members and $2000
for non-members. Applications for renewal must be complete within 60 days of
the original approval date or will be subject to the initial cost for renewal
past that date. For information on becoming a member of IAGI,
click here.
There are many performance expectations that geomembrane installation
contractors must meet on any jobsite. Safety management is important criteria of
this program. The safety requirements stated within the program are not a
substitute for local, federal, and/or state/provincial requirements. Safety
provisions and plans are generally provided by the jurisdiction in which the
work is being performed.
What isn’t the AIC program?
AIC is not a substitute for engineers/owners doing their own background check on
the installers they are planning to use on the job site. If the owner and/or
engineering firm has more requirements than are covered by the AIC program, it
is the obligation of that party to state those requirements and conduct further
investigation of the company to ensure they meet those requirements.
For example, the industry could not come to consensus on the subject of Employer
Modifier Ratings (EMR). Many on the panel wanted to require an EMR of less than
1.0 to receive the AIC designation. Others were concerned that a small company
that may have had one injury, but an otherwise excellent track record would be
prevented from getting the AIC designation. Requiring an EMR of less than one
may have discriminated against the small installer. When working with many of
the larger owners, they often require that a company meet the EMR threshold of
less than one. In this case the owner/engineer could ask for an AIC company with
an EMR of less than 1.0 in their specification.
The same type of requirement can be called out in a specification where an
owner/engineer wants a company with more experience than 5,000,000 square feet
of geomembrane installation.
The AIC designation will give the engineer/owner a starting point – knowledge
that the companies that have completed this program have a minimum level of
professionalism and business practices implemented in their companies. IAGI
fully expects those hiring an installation company to have other requirements
outside the AIC designation based upon the installation company’s field of
expertise.
What is AIC International?
AIC International was established after the AIC program began due to the
increase in interest from companies outside the US and Canada. The AIC program
was originally established based on the best business practices in the United
States and Canada. However, the demand for the AIC program to broaden to the
standards accepted in countries around the world was great and IAGI has made
provisions for these countries. Based on the many different qualifications that
the AIC program requires, the AIC International program takes into consideration
the best business practices in the applicant country. The provision for this is
if a company adheres to the best business practices of their country, the
company is only AIC approved in their country of submission. Therefore, if a
company is listed on the AIC Companies list as AIC International and their
country name, this company may only place the AIC designation on bids and jobs
within the country specified. Companies may apply for the general AIC program
but must adhere to all of the standards and qualifications that were set forth
when the program began.
For those companies that are not in the United States and Canada and would like
to apply for the AIC under the AIC International rules and regulations, please
review the AIC International Checklist
for more information. For all International applicants, all forms, letters and
applications must be submitted in English. Any items that are submitted in
another language must be accompanied by a translated version. A representative
of your company may translate this or you may pay for a third party company
aside from The Honnigford Group.
If you have any additional questions or comments regarding the IAGI International program, please contact the IAGI office at iagi@iagi.org or +1-651-554-1895.
Current AIC program status
The AIC program has been accepted internationally and the number of companies
continues to grow. For more information about the program or the International
application process, please contact Laurie Honnigford at
iagi@iagi.org.