Meeting standards

zoom

Role of standards in supporting technology.

zoom

During tough economic times the temptation to procure cheaper products and cut corners on installation techniques can grow. Construction Week examines why it’s vital to comply with internationally recognised Standards and certification.

With money tight, budgets are being slashed across the board on projects in the Middle East. Developers and clients are seeking lower cost jobs and contractors are looking for ways to carry out their contracts within reduced budgets.

And while some are turning to increased efficiency to meet these financial demands, others are being tempted to seek cheaper options for products and installation methods, which may not meet internationally recognised standards and certification.

But are any potential savings in capital costs from using substandard products worth it? Several issues, including the overall life-cycle cost should be looked at when considering the true price of a product if value to the client is to be determined. “Non-compliant products might appear cheaper during the procurement process, but the additional costs of complete failure of materials, poor fit, rework, replacement, delays to completion etc are rarely factored in,” explains British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) chief executive Jeremy Hodge.

One of the more serious issues is that of health and safety, as the use of non-certified products can have serious implications both during and post construction. “It’s always best to use products [that are] backed by established standards such as the British standards range, particularly if performance is essential to life safety, for example fire safety products,” stresses Passive Fire Protection Federation (PFPF) chairman David Sugden. “You can never be certain of products where a manufacturer’s claims are not backed by such standards and, as long-term performance is questionable, any apparent savings in cost are illusory,” adds Sugden.

“Generally paying 10% to 15% more for a properly certificated product is well worth the extra cost. If fire doors, for example, are purchased without third-party certification, their performance will only be tested in an actual fire. If deaths follow, because the doors didn’t perform well, the costs of claims and damage to reputation would far outweigh any initial saving,” Sugden stresses.

All products certified with the British Standard mark have been tested by a third-party laboratory that independently verifies that the performance meets the specifications of the standard. Some standards require that fire performance tests are carried out following product durability trials in order to prove fire performance after in-situ service. This provides an additional level of safety to the end-user.

But selecting the right products is only one part of the story. Internationally recognised standards and certifications also exist for installation procedures and in order to achieve good health and safety levels, as well as a high quality build, these should be adhered to. Following such methods can bring contractors further benefits, as Hodge explains: “Procedures compliant with international standards provide faster installation through familiarity, ease of inspection and checking, and choice of sub-contractor.”

“Using international-level procedures in maintaining health and safety is important for staff morale and social acceptability,” stresses Sugden. “Firms with a bad reputation may lose out on future projects. Plans for health and safety should include the whole life of the project, for example safety in maintenance such as window cleaning,” he adds.

Product manufacturers back up the need to follow correct installation methods and a product warranty may often depend upon this being done. “Any manufacturer of construction products will confirm that it is no use fitting a well tested product if the installation isn’t done properly,” states Sugden. “Where fire doors are concerned for example, the door leaf itself is tested with certain hinges, closers and other hardware; the same approved fittings must be used in practice for the door to perform as expected,” he explains. “Fire-rated glazing must use the appropriate frames and fixings for it to perform correctly,” adds Sugden.

There are now many training schemes available to contractors that are run by both manufacturers and third-party certification bodies to ensure that installations are correct. “In the UK the glazing industry itself has established schemes to train and certify installers. The same schemes are now available for all fire safety sectors in the UK and similar schemes operate in the USA and Canada,” reports Sugden.

Standards in practice

With clear benefits to be gained from complying with recognised certification, what standards should firms in the region be applying? Traditionally, British standards have been followed throughout most of the Middle East for construction projects, however the scope of accepted standards has expanded, with European and American standards also the norm on many projects today.

“The growing influence of American designers and contractors has led to more ASTM standards being adopted,” explains Sugden. “In fire matters NFPA [National Fire Protection Association] designs are often stipulated, which call for either NFPA or UL [Underwriters Laboratories] test reports and listings. The Dubai Civil Defence requires the use of third-party certificated products where fire safety is concerned and will rigorously enforce this rule after using specialists from Bodycote Warrington Laboratories for technical verification,” says Sugden.

“Legal requirements, including third-party approvals, vary from territory to territory, and are usually negotiated with local regulators such as Civil Defence authorities,” adds Hodge.

In terms of individual projects, it is advisable to select and use a single system of standards and approvals in order to ensure compatibility throughout the build process and avoid any complex authorisation processes, stresses Hodge. “Designers should take the initiative in producing an overall compliance plan for the project,” Hodge suggests.

With the developing construction industry in the region, standards are also now being developed that take into consideration issues such as the local environment, climate and build practices. “Many regulatory agencies in the Middle East are in the process of introducing new conformity requirements based on a range of international standards, for example the Dubai Civil Defence procedures for fire protection products and installation,” reports Hodge. “By referring to suitable international standards in these systems, rather than applying special rules, cost saving for international and local manufacturers can be achieved by reducing the amount of testing and approval required, so reducing the overall cost and time for the project while utilising the best of international practice.”

By evolving as technology develops, standards support technological innovation and can also be used to set targets for technologies to aim for in terms of performance specifications, states BSI. “Far from impeding innovation, standards deliver competitive advantages to the industries and countries where they are most developed, and they embed those countries’ intellect and expertise into the international innovation agenda,” stresses BSI British Standards director Mike Low. “Standards provide support for innovation from original concept through to market,” adds Low.

One of the recent set of standards to be introduced into the Middle East has also been one of the most talked about over the past year, that of ‘green’ or sustainable building standards. “Sustainability standards have a role to play in the middle ground between hard-line laws and educational tools,” says Professor David Jackman, a sustainability expert who played a major role in developing BS 8900: Guidance for managing sustainable development.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM