Attestation in construction

Attestation is the process of confirming that something is correct or genuine, or that a particular requirement has been met. Attestation can be a process of signature, oath or some other form of certification. It is typically associated with wills, where witnesses attest the execution of a will.

In construction, the part of construction contracts that requires signature can be referred to as the ‘attestation clause’. In addition, if a contract is executed under seal, signatures may be added to ‘attest’ the seal.

Attestation can also be used to indicate accreditation of some sort, for example under the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS).

More recently, the introduction of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) in 2011 has given a specific new meaning to attestation in construction. The regulation was introduced to harmonise performance information on construction products across the European Economic Area (EEA). It is made most visible by the mandatory CE marking of regulated products. Demonstrating compliance with the regulations requires ‘attestation of conformity’ (AoC). There are five levels of attestation of conformity depending on the nature of the product. The lowest levels (1 or 1+) have the most demanding requirements and might be necessary for products with safety-critical aspects. The highest level (4) is the least demanding and might for example apply to decorative products. Non-safety critical attestation might be carried out by the manufacturer themselves, whilst safety critical testing might have to be undertaken by a notified body.