bcd12_industry news 28/1/10 16:23 Page 15
In addition to its product assessment are being installed and
approval work, the BBA also also, if possible, where they have
provides the inspection and been installed for some time.
assessment services that underpin This helps to provide information
the Government-authorised on the durability of the product
FENSA and ELECSA Competent under assessment, as well as on
Persons Schemes. transport, storage, fixing and
An Agrément Certificate is maintenance requirements.
awarded to a product only after it Assessment of the production of
has successfully completed a the product is carried out to check
comprehensive assessment, that the manufacturer has
involving laboratory testing, on-site appropriate controls in operation to
evaluations and inspections of the ensure that the product
manufacturing operation. specification approved by the BBA
The BBA Working for All
Laboratory testing is carried out can be maintained consistently.
to confirm that a product will meet BBA surveillance continues
certain pre-determined throughout the life of every
The BBA was set up by Certificate, made to the performance levels. Agrément Certificate. Inspections
Government to provide an specification agreed by the BBA Many of the BBA’s own test are normally undertaken at the
independent opinion on the and installed as set out in the facilities are formally accredited by source of production twice a year
performance of building products, Agrément Certificate, has ever the United Kingdom Accreditation and, every three years, a detailed
particularly with regard to their failed to give the performance Service. This underlines the BBA’s Review procedure is carried out.
compliance with Building figures quoted in the Certificate. commitment to the highest levels of All this helps to ensure that what
Regulations. The BBA is also active outside accuracy in its test procedures. you read in an Agrément Certificate
The BBA’s Governing Board the UK. It has been designated by In addition, BBA technical staff is what you will get from the
comprises representatives from Government both to issue visit sites where products under product covered by that Certificate.
professional and trade European Technical Approvals
organisations across our industry and to represent the UK in the
and the BBA also works closely co-ordinating European Organisation
with the regulatory authorities for Technical Approvals.
and other non-statutory bodies ETAs will enable building
throughout the UK, such as product manufacturers to go
the NHBC, to ensure acceptance forward to obtain CE marking for
of BBA approved products their products, allowing them to be
nationwide. placed on the market in all
The BBA also consults widely European Economic Area
with expert bodies as part of its countries. A new offering from the
approval processes, dependent on BBA – CE Marking Application
the types of product or system Guides, has recently
concerned. All this helps to complemented this. These take the
maintain the unparalleled data that was generated as part of
reputation of Agrément Certificates the CE marking process and relate
and to underpin the BBA’s first- this to the requirements of UK
class track record. No product Regulations, codes and warranty
covered by an Agrément organisations like the NHBC
£6.6 billion - The Cost of the Global Recession on the UK Housebuilders Industry
The recession has cost the UK Pattison suggests, “With demand cut their cloth accordingly. lower sales expectations others
Housebuilders industry £6.6 billion so subdued and the resultant Watch out for further job losses have managed the Holy Grail –
in lost profit in the last year competition, many companies are and closures as these companies they have grown their business
according to new research by unable to charge the price they as they look to claw themselves and increased their profit margins
market analysts Plimsoll. need to make healthy profit back to profit next year. If they in a recession. Those companies
David Pattison, senior analyst margins. In the absence of pricing fail to act quickly they could prove that an efficient business
and author of the Plimsoll Analysis power many companies will have find themselves running out selling the right product to the right
– Housebuilders, says “The to make painful but necessary of cash”. market can still succeed in the UK
recession has hit the sector hard cutbacks in the next 12 month”. On the other hand, there are still Housebuilders industry”.
with more than half of the However, the burden of lost companies getting it right in spite The new Plimsoll Industry
companies analysed in our new profit is not being shared equally of it all, “Amazingly, there are 163 Analysis – Housebuilders gives an
report making less profit than they as Pattison explains, “770 companies that have maintained or instant performance rating on the
were a year before. The bill in lost companies have bore the brunt of increased their profit margins in top 1000 companies in the market.
profits stands at £6.6 billion”. the downturn. These companies the last year. All things considered Each company has been rated as
When pressed for a reason for have seen their profit margins that’s a pretty good achievement. Strong, Good, Mediocre, Caution
this collapse in the bottom line of decimated and in the absence of a While some of these companies or Danger according to their
companies throughout the market, big upturn in demand will have to made cut backs to match their latest performance.
Correction to Housebuilder & Developer magazine October/November
The article on page 32, ‘Timber Frame the Way Forward’, was supplied by Mike Cruickshank at Scotframe Timber Engineeering.
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