Clearview 223 - June 2020 | Page 36

TESTING&CERTIFICATION “Consistency, safety and best practice” People may not be aware that globally, 51% of the world’s largest contractors use BSI’s assurance services. However, beyond the built environment, BSI support clients working in food, healthcare and many other sectors; seeking to support industry wherever there is a need for consistency, safety and best practice. We support everything from creating standards of excellence to training people to work in more effective ways, audit how organisations are doing, and helping people to improve performance in future. » BSI CONTINUALLY SUPPORTS THE fenestration supply chain to see where we can add further value and maintain standards. In addition to our new weathertest rig, there will follow further announcements throughout 2020. Additionally, we have already committed to exhibiting at the 2021 FIT Show where we look forward to engaging with the widest possible audience. Our team is always committed to driving up standards in the market place and proud to see clients succeeding in their ambitions. Combined we have 205 years of certification and industry knowledge ready for clients to tap into, and here’s a little insight into those two centuries’ worth of experience and expertise including the here and now of the BSI… Are there any common misconceptions or mistakes made regarding BSI and its work? A common misconception is that BSI writes standards, so can therefore change and re-issue them in double quick time. However, as the UK’s national standards body, BSI provides the framework to support the development of standards. These are written by committees of experts who represent all parts of industry, including trade associations, manufacturers, consumer bodies as well as test and certification laboratories. New or amended standards are drafted and circulated for comment prior to publication to ensure they reach consensus. Only then can a new or amended standard be published. Commonly there can be a time period before the old standard is withdrawn to give industry time to implement the latest best practice. What is the difference between a Kitemark and a CE mark? Under the CPR (Construction Products Regulation), CE marking is mandatory for many construction products and enables organizations to trade legally within Europe. This includes products that are manufactured outside the EU and sold within the EU and the wider European Economic area. For a manufacturer, CE marking for windows, doors, glass or hardware proves that a product meets minimum legal requirements, which allows it to be placed legally on the market in any European member state. To the consumer, CE marking for windows and doors proves that a product has met legal requirements. ‘achieving Kitemark certification proves that a product or service has been independently assessed’ However, the Kitemark™ is a voluntary Mark of Trust for a product or service that’s earned through rigorous testing or assessments to demonstrate safety, reliability and quality and security. For a manufacturer, achieving Kitemark certification proves that a product or service has been independently assessed against specific criteria to make sure it meets agreed quality standards over and above the CE marking safety characteristics. Consumers recognise the quality mark as it demonstrates that products or services have been tested against a wider range of characteristics over and above those identified for CE marking to instil confidence. 36 » JUN 2020 » CLEARVIEW-UK.COM