Testing and bringing products up to Bs standards
Discussion
Good evening PH.
I am after a little advice.. i recently opened up my own company about 3months ago, and have become aware that some of my items will need become BS certified in order to sell to more specific markets.
I have a .PDF file for the Bs standard, although i am at a loss of who, or how i would be able to get my products to the right place for testing or certification.
just wondered if any one here has managed to get their products certified etc.
many thanks.
I am after a little advice.. i recently opened up my own company about 3months ago, and have become aware that some of my items will need become BS certified in order to sell to more specific markets.
I have a .PDF file for the Bs standard, although i am at a loss of who, or how i would be able to get my products to the right place for testing or certification.
just wondered if any one here has managed to get their products certified etc.
many thanks.
Thanks for the link... i had found that site previously, although i found it difficult to navigate... i have however sent them an email now, so hopefully i can move forward, so again, thanks for that.
in response to the 'what do i manufacture' question.
i fabricate handrails, balustrades, glass canopys, etc, mainly private customers although i am looking to move into supplying construction company's, councils etc, so need to bring myself up to spec for tender, so i can become part of the bigger network alongside selling to builders, developers etc within the uk.
in response to the 'what do i manufacture' question.
i fabricate handrails, balustrades, glass canopys, etc, mainly private customers although i am looking to move into supplying construction company's, councils etc, so need to bring myself up to spec for tender, so i can become part of the bigger network alongside selling to builders, developers etc within the uk.
I would suggest you try and find a couple of other sources of expertise in this area as you can quickly spent a fortune to not make a lot of progress.
I am not knowledgeable in your business area but suspect that CE marking maybe applicable.
https://www.constructionproducts.org.uk/our-priori...
I am not knowledgeable in your business area but suspect that CE marking maybe applicable.
https://www.constructionproducts.org.uk/our-priori...
CE marking is appropriate and technically mandatory. Certification is not massively complex or expensive SCCS are used by many fabricators for certification and you'll likely only need to be certified for upto execution class 2 (EXC-2). https://www.steelcertification.co.uk/
In terms of the BS standards they are not something you certificate to in the case of your industry, rather you need to design (and fabricate) your handrails/balustrades in accordance with the relevant BS's and approved documents of the building regulations.
I believe the relevant standards are BS 6399 Part 1, BS 5395, BS 6180, Approved document K and Approved document M.
I assumed you've previously worked for a fabricator but are know branching out on your previous employer would (or should) have had a qualified structural engineer who did the structural calculations, you'll need to find one for your business probably as a consultant or contractor who will sort out the design calculations for you so you know the correct thickness, spacings, diameters etc. Ideally the person will know and understand the building regs so that you don't end up producing beautiful balustrading that isn't compliant.
If you also install and will be installing on construction sites run by larger builders or local authorities then you'll need to get your installers CSCS carded, this may mean they'll need to study for a NVQ. Also as you'd be working on the edge of voids and should be harnessed yoru fitters will likely require IPAF training and cards.
In terms of the BS standards they are not something you certificate to in the case of your industry, rather you need to design (and fabricate) your handrails/balustrades in accordance with the relevant BS's and approved documents of the building regulations.
I believe the relevant standards are BS 6399 Part 1, BS 5395, BS 6180, Approved document K and Approved document M.
I assumed you've previously worked for a fabricator but are know branching out on your previous employer would (or should) have had a qualified structural engineer who did the structural calculations, you'll need to find one for your business probably as a consultant or contractor who will sort out the design calculations for you so you know the correct thickness, spacings, diameters etc. Ideally the person will know and understand the building regs so that you don't end up producing beautiful balustrading that isn't compliant.
If you also install and will be installing on construction sites run by larger builders or local authorities then you'll need to get your installers CSCS carded, this may mean they'll need to study for a NVQ. Also as you'd be working on the edge of voids and should be harnessed yoru fitters will likely require IPAF training and cards.
b0rk said:
CE marking is appropriate and technically mandatory. Certification is not massively complex or expensive SCCS are used by many fabricators for certification and you'll likely only need to be certified for upto execution class 2 (EXC-2). https://www.steelcertification.co.uk/
In terms of the BS standards they are not something you certificate to in the case of your industry, rather you need to design (and fabricate) your handrails/balustrades in accordance with the relevant BS's and approved documents of the building regulations.
I believe the relevant standards are BS 6399 Part 1, BS 5395, BS 6180, Approved document K and Approved document M.
I assumed you've previously worked for a fabricator but are know branching out on your previous employer would (or should) have had a qualified structural engineer who did the structural calculations, you'll need to find one for your business probably as a consultant or contractor who will sort out the design calculations for you so you know the correct thickness, spacings, diameters etc. Ideally the person will know and understand the building regs so that you don't end up producing beautiful balustrading that isn't compliant.
If you also install and will be installing on construction sites run by larger builders or local authorities then you'll need to get your installers CSCS carded, this may mean they'll need to study for a NVQ. Also as you'd be working on the edge of voids and should be harnessed yoru fitters will likely require IPAF training and cards.
Good reply - it's certainly not just a case of throwing things together and assuming they'll be ok. In terms of the BS standards they are not something you certificate to in the case of your industry, rather you need to design (and fabricate) your handrails/balustrades in accordance with the relevant BS's and approved documents of the building regulations.
I believe the relevant standards are BS 6399 Part 1, BS 5395, BS 6180, Approved document K and Approved document M.
I assumed you've previously worked for a fabricator but are know branching out on your previous employer would (or should) have had a qualified structural engineer who did the structural calculations, you'll need to find one for your business probably as a consultant or contractor who will sort out the design calculations for you so you know the correct thickness, spacings, diameters etc. Ideally the person will know and understand the building regs so that you don't end up producing beautiful balustrading that isn't compliant.
If you also install and will be installing on construction sites run by larger builders or local authorities then you'll need to get your installers CSCS carded, this may mean they'll need to study for a NVQ. Also as you'd be working on the edge of voids and should be harnessed yoru fitters will likely require IPAF training and cards.
A lot of these items will be pre-fabricated and you can get standard test results from the suppliers (ie Q-Railing, Fastec etc).
Best of luck, it's not an easy market :-)
Some real in depth answers there, thanks a lot, i really appreciate it!
In terms of the CE marking, i will definitely chase that up. You are right in what you say, it is a minefield, however, i am aware there are only a handful of companies that offer CE and BS compliance within this sector
In terms of the regulations, i am aware of those, and also that building regs can vary wildly from county to county, this includes everything from post spacing to glass thickness.
i spoke to one customer from London before Christmas, she wanted 6mm toughened glass.. for her 2nd story Juliette balcony, as thats what building regs had told her she needed
as for assuming about the previously working for a fabricator, your wrong there, although you are correct about finding someone to sit down with a structural engineer who can do the loading calcs for me. I am part of a business network so i will do some digging to find someone suitable.
As for installs, i currently dont offer that service, however i do outsource jobs to trusted builders and installers, a few of which are CSCS carded, and even though i have had no call for them yet, its handy to have, like you say, if i get install jobs on commercial property.
In terms of the CE marking, i will definitely chase that up. You are right in what you say, it is a minefield, however, i am aware there are only a handful of companies that offer CE and BS compliance within this sector
In terms of the regulations, i am aware of those, and also that building regs can vary wildly from county to county, this includes everything from post spacing to glass thickness.
i spoke to one customer from London before Christmas, she wanted 6mm toughened glass.. for her 2nd story Juliette balcony, as thats what building regs had told her she needed
as for assuming about the previously working for a fabricator, your wrong there, although you are correct about finding someone to sit down with a structural engineer who can do the loading calcs for me. I am part of a business network so i will do some digging to find someone suitable.
As for installs, i currently dont offer that service, however i do outsource jobs to trusted builders and installers, a few of which are CSCS carded, and even though i have had no call for them yet, its handy to have, like you say, if i get install jobs on commercial property.
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