Manufacturer’s certificate
Manufacturer’s certificates can be used to ensure quality control, and to verify standards of construction products and workmanship. Third parties test quality characteristics of the manufacturer’s products and provide certification.
Below are a number of different types of quality certificates:
- Certificate of origin: In this case, the certificate states that the product complies with some specifications.
- Accredited laboratory test certificate: The sort of test is performed only on a small sample, and so cannot guarantee all production. They should be used with caution due to their limited scope.
- Product type approval certificate: This approves a prototype and therefore does not guarantee the quality of the subsequent manufacturing process.
- Standard compliance seal or mark: This covers continual production and so it is more reliable than other certificates. When the product is very new and there is no specific standard to regulate it, the certificate is issued in the form of technical suitability documentation.
- The British Board of Agrément (BBA) is an independent UK organisation that offers an approval service for construction products, systems and installers. An agrément certificate is issued for a successful product or system following a detailed assessment including both laboratory testing and inspections. In addition, the manufacturer is audited to ensure they have an adequate quality management system. Repeated testing is undertaken for the duration of the certificate’s validity period.
- The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) was introduced in 2011 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.
- A Kitemark indicates that the product has been independently tested by BSI to confirm that it complies with relevant British Standards, and that BSI have licensed the product manufacturer to use the Kitemark. Manufacturers have to pay to have their products and manufacturing processes tested, and these tests are repeated regularly to confirm continued compliance.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Agrément certificate.
- British Board of Agrément.
- Certificates in the construction industry.
- Construction Products Regulation.
- Design quality.
- Fitness for purpose in construction.
- Kitemark.
- Manufacturer.
- Quality control for construction works.
- Specification.
- Technical specification.
- Testing construction materials.
- Warranty.
- Workmanship.
Featured articles and news
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.
The 2025 draft NPPF in brief with indicative responses
Local verses National and suitable verses sustainable: Consultation open for just over one week.
Increased vigilance on VAT Domestic Reverse Charge
HMRC bearing down with increasing force on construction consultant says.
Call for greater recognition of professional standards
Chartered bodies representing more than 1.5 million individuals have written to the UK Government.