Bison Kerb Wins BBA Certification
Following a two-and-a-half-year application process, Bison Kerb has at last won BBA certification. But what is BBA certification, and what benefits does it bring, not only to us as manufacturers but also to you as an architect or contractor? In this blog post, we take a deeper dive into the subject.
What is BBA?
BBA (British Board of Agrément) was formerly known as the Agrément Board and took its name from a similar system in France, which is the origin of ‘agrément’ – ‘agreement’ in English.
Originally established in 1966 by the British Government, BBA is now a not-for-profit, independent certification body that provides inspection and certification services for building materials manufacturers and constructors in the UK. These services include certifying materials and procedures, and ensuring recognised and BBA-approved practices are applied.
How influential is BBA certification?
As a UKAS-accredited product certification body that meets the requirements of BS EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012, BBA is equipped with a testing laboratory that meets BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017, an inspection body that complies with BS EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012 and a BS EN ISO/IEC 17021:2015-certificated management systems certification body.
BBA and its approvals are recognised universally by building control, local authorities, insurance companies, architects and designers in the UK, due to the organised surveillance and review of manufacturing and constant inspection of installation.
What is the BBA certification process?
Before achieving BBA certification, products are thoroughly tested and assessed for performance. The manufacturing process and materials used are also inspected.
Following certification, BBA conducts six-monthly audits and three-yearly reviews to confirm factory production control and the content of the certificate remain consistent with the original assessments. Any non-conformity is then addressed by the manufacturer.
Any proposed changes to products or their production processes must be submitted to BBA before they are implemented, who will assess the changes and re-issue the certificate to maintain its validity.
What are the benefits of a BBA-certified product?
When specifying materials for a construction or landscaping project, it is sometimes hard to know whether a product is suitable for a specific application. A wide range of similar products can make selection even more difficult, particularly if some fall short on technical specifications or certification
BBA certification confirms that a product attains an established level of quality and is produced by an experienced and reliable manufacturer. Gaining BBA certification is highly regarded in the construction industry, and is used by manufacturers of construction products as a symbol of product superiority.
Once certification is granted, manufacturers can use it to demonstrate that their products have been tested and evaluated by a third party and shown to meet industry standards.
Users of BBA-certified products have the peace of mind that they are using products that are fit for purpose and comply with any relevant standards and regulations.
Why BBA certification is important for Bison Kerb
In an industry that has traditionally used concrete products for heavy-duty kerbing, steel kerbing offers many practical and creative advantages. But architects and constructors considering the Bison Kerb alternative for the first time understandably want to have assurance that this product will be fit for purpose throughout its expected lifespan.
BBA certification gives this peace of mind by providing evidence gained through rigorous third-party testing, evaluation and ongoing auditing to ensure Bison Kerb continues to comply with established quality standards and live up to its reputation as a market-leading, heavy-duty steel kerbing for hard landscaping projects.
For more information, visit Bison Kerb, contact us on 01580 830688 or email sales@kinley.co.uk.
