Meeting standards in construction

PFPF Chairman David Sugden.
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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.

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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.