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 Program Brochure (pdf)
Instructions for Completing the IAGI AIC Submittal Form - instructions only (pdf)
AIC Submittal Form - includes above instructions (pdf)
Why was the AIC program developed?
What is the AIC program?
What isn’t the AIC program?
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 500,000 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 annual cost for the AIC application is $1500 (USD) for IAGI members and $2500 (USD) for non members. 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 500,000 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.

Current AIC program status

The program has been running for over a year and seven companies have entered and been accepted into the program and have been awarded the AIC designation. With an increased growth in our international membership and CWT companies, the AIC program is now being offered to companies Internationally. For more information about the program or the International application process, please contact Laurie Honnigford at iagi@iagi.org.