BM TRADA joins with SCI for new quality mark

SCI (The Steel Construction Institute) and BM TRADA Certification, have joined forces to provide SCI members with third-party certification.

Two leading organisations in the construction sector, SCI (The Steel Construction Institute) and BM TRADA Certification, have joined forces to provide SCI members with third-party certification for a range of products to help them gain wider access to construction markets across Europe.

The first of the Q-Mark schemes to be developed under the initiative is for metal-framed building systems, which will pave the way for CE marking under the Construction Products Directive (CPD).

Also, it is centred on a comprehensive technical specification which incorporates current UK and EU standards, along with additional requirements for UK building regulations and warranty providers such as NHBC.

BM TRADA Product Certification Manager Mark Wilkinson said, 'SCI has provided technical knowledge and expertise, while BM TRADA has contributed its own expertise in assessment and certification, as a Notified Body for CE marking under the CPD.

The UK's largest steel-framed building manufacturer, Caledonian Building Systems of Carlton-on-Trent, near Newark - a member of both SCI and their Steel Homes Group - was the first organisation to achieve the new Q-Mark.

This has already enabled the company to obtain NHBC approval for a number of its residential projects.

Stephen Clay, Operations Manager at Caledonian, welcomed BM TRADA's technical support and was so impressed with the company's input that Caledonian has transferred its ISO 9001:2000 certification to BM TRADA.

He said, 'Their grasp of the technical issues involved enabled us to streamline the certification process and to develop systems which were easily integrated into our existing procedures'.

The Q-Mark for metal-framed building systems was the first to be developed under the SCI/BM TRADA partnership and discussions are under way for more to follow.

The assessment process looks into testing, calculation and assessment criteria to enable the manufacturer to show compliance with the relevant specifications and requirements.

The process also involves an assessment of the factory production control (FPC) system in place at the point of manufacture.

Mark Wilkinson added, 'With the development of technical specifications we will begin to see increased numbers of CE marked products on the UK construction market over the next few years.

And, as the CE mark is deemed to satisfy the requirements of the CPD, once CE marked material begins to appear in the UK, it will be non-CE marked material that will come into question.

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