Third party certification
required by the building regulations. Given the various routes available for a product to demonstrate compliance with the performance requirements of the building regulations, third party certification is still viewed by many as an optional extra and for some, a grudge purchase. However, for as long as the current system
is in place, there will always be room for those that wish to cut corners or break specification to do so, creating an uneven playing field for those installers and manufacturers who want to do things correctly. Third party certification should level the playing field and create a more transparent and less confusing market and approvals process for all. For those wishing to specify third party
certification for installation work and/or products, it is still necessary to understand the products and performance requirements necessary to deliver a safe project. It is also worth understanding the benefits and limitations of a particular certification scheme. For instance, ISO 17065 gives requirements for the certification body, but does not detail how the scheme should operate, which is for the individual certification bodies to set out and to deliver to their clients and end users. Furthermore, it is wholly reasonable to
interrogate and review a company’s scope of certification to make sure it is able to provide the installation or products required for the project within the scope of its certification. It is also worth verifying that its certification is valid and for additional assurance, when it was last audited by its certification provider.
Change ahead
It is clear that the regulatory system for constructing buildings is likely to change, and given some of the shortcomings that have been found as a result of the interim review of the building regulations and fire safety, this is felt by most in the fire safety industry as long overdue. There is definitely no quick fix or simple solution in a complex world. The issues highlighted to date indicate systemic failure with no single element of the building regulations that needs to change. There are a large number of issues that need to be addressed, and as highlighted in Dame Hackitt’s report, a requirement for a cultural shift in the approach to constructing buildings, in order for any changes to make a lasting legacy of safer buildings. Certification and assurance is a small incremental cost and
can actually save money on projects, as well as share responsibilities for performance more fairly and transparently across the supply chain. Third party certification can offer
real benefits to assuring the quality and compliance of construction products and their installation. Furthermore, third party certification schemes can provide a robust system of asset management and product knowledge to assist with ongoing building maintenance, refurbishment and risk assessment, something which underpins the principle of the golden thread. However, it requires everyone in the construction industry to understand the benefits and advantages of such schemes and for the providers of such schemes to ensure they continue to develop the schemes and resources to service the construction industry going forward. Third party certification by UKAS accredited organisations is another layer of assurance in the overall construction supply chain that, while only recommendatory at present, should surely become an essential part in the jigsaw of delivering life safety and property/asset protection. Fire safety should not be about achieving the minimum required under building regulations, but more about ensuring that the products and services being provided are the best that they can be. After all, these are life safety products and everyone should be secure in the knowledge that the building they live or work in is as safe as it can be in the event of a fire
Peter Barker is fire safety manager and a team leader at International Fire Consultants Ltd, IFC Group. For more information, view page 5
References 1. Building a Safer Future, Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: Interim Report, Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by Command of Her Majesty, December 2017.
2. BS EN ISO/IEC 17065: 2012: Conformity Assessment – requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services.
3. BS EN ISO/IEC 17000: 2004: Conformity Assessment – vocabulary and general principles requirements.
4. Approved Document 7, Materials and Workmanship, Regulation 7, The Building Regulations 2010, HM Government (2013 edition).
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