SCI launched its SCI Assessed scheme well over ten years ago. Our aim from the very start was to provide a flexible scheme to help manufacturers get their products specified by providing reassurance to potential users. So we are not only able to confirm the stated performance of a product, but also confirm that things such as design software associated with that product are appropriate.
However, it is also the case that users may not appreciate the scope of what any given third party certification or assessment actually means. A classic example is a CE Mark that does not declare certain properties – the product is still CE Marked but may not have the same performance as an alternative product.
With this in mind SCI is developing its SCI Assessed scheme as applied specifically to product performance, so that in future all product certificates will include the same scope. Some items may be marked as ‘Not Assessed’ but this will be clear up front so that users do not have to search the small print to find what has not actually been assessed. This should help to avoid misunderstandings and misuse of products.
Another ‘product’ within the SCI Assessed family is our NHBC Stage 1 scheme. Stage 1 confirms that a given light steel manufacturer’s system manual complies with the generic standards of the NHBC Chapter 6.10 for light steel walls and floors. Stage 2 is then undertaken to ensure that the manual is applied correctly on any given project. That is all well and good, only if the project is actually constructed according to the specific design. We are therefore now offering Stage 3 assessment of as-built (or ‘being built’) schemes to give builders confidence that the design is being properly implemented.
We believe that in a world where designers rely more-and-more on third party information these developments will be a step towards the construction of more robust structures. ContactGraham Couchman or Andrew Way.