Product category:
Building Industry Health and Safety
News Release from: BM TRADA Certification | Subject: Q-Mark
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 June 2005
Leading window manufacturers achieve
Q-Mark
Three leading window manufacturers have achieved the BM TRADA Q-Mark for High Performance Timber Windows, deemed to be the most rigorous third-party certification scheme in the industry.
Three leading window manufacturers have achieved the BM TRADA Q-Mark for High Performance Timber Windows, deemed to be the most rigorous third-party certification scheme in the industry The successful new members are West Port Timber and Window Technology in Maryport, Cumbria, Bereco in Rotherham and Wright Joinery in Hull
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 12 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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BM TRADA launched the Q-Mark scheme to give manufacturers a means of differentiating their genuine high performance windows from the many designs on the market, said Product Certification Manager Simon Beer.
"Architects, specifiers and end users want the reassurance that they are buying a window that will perform throughout its life.
The Q-Mark offers them a yardstick against which other products can be measured".
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"One of the drivers for Wright Joinery", said Managing Director Mark Eggleston, "was the fact that Hull City Council had specified Q-Mark for regeneration projects within the city".
Mr Beer added, "For councils like Hull and Newcastle, which has also written Q-Mark into its joinery specifications, it is a guarantee of performance.
High performance windows have the added advantage that they will require less frequent maintenance and replacement than a lower quality alternative, offering significant cost savings in the long term".
All three companies found the scheme demanding but would say that BM TRADA, on the other hand, was easy to deal with.
Testing is done by sister company Chiltern Dynamics, which has several benefits, including good lines of communication throughout the whole process.
Sean Parnaby, Managing Director of West Port, said, "BM TRADA understands our business.
Your technical people were able to relate directly to ours, enabling us to progress quickly.
The fact that the scheme looks at 'the whole of the window, including design and quality of materials, not just certain aspects of it' commended Q-Mark to Bereco", said Managing Director Kevin Martin.
Manufacturers must submit their products for initial type testing, followed by audit testing to a wide range of performance criteria.
Random samples are supplied for audit testing on an annual basis and each range will be fully re-tested within a three-year period, ensuring consistency of production.
As a further guarantee of consistency, scheme members must operate a documented Quality Management System and their factories will also be audited periodically.
All windows supplied by Q-Mark members will be marked with a scheme label, normally placed on the hinge edge of an opening light or frame.
The label bears a unique number for each member, traceable via their entry on the BM TRADA website at www.bmtrada.com.
Simon Beer praised the new members for their strong commitment to quality and service.
"By achieving Q-Mark, West Port, Bereco and Wright Joinery are setting new standards for the industry".
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