For state and federal projects, use the Materials Certification Letter (MCL) to document reasons for material acceptance when a test fails. Do not include failing materials that have been reworked, retested, and meet the specifications in the list of exceptions in the documentation. Refer to the QAP for example certification letters.

If there are exceptions on a project, explain all exceptions on a Test Exception Letter (TEL) attached to the MCL. The TEL is used when materials test results or other characteristics of the work that indicate reasonable conformance with specification requirements, but did not meet the minimum specification requirements, may be adequate for their intended use. Documentation will include the location where the material is incorporated, the specification requirement, the recorded test value, and the engineering judgment applied to allow use of that material, method, or product.