TWI Certification Ltd achieves independent body status for certification of structural steelwork to meet Construction Products Directive

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) has recently awarded TWI Certification Ltd with status to carry out conformity assessment for steelwork manufacturing companies under the Construction Products Directive. With the new scope, TWI Certification is able to offer accreditation to ISO 3834 (Quality Requirements for Fusion Welding) and Factory Production Control (FPC), helping companies to gain the CE mark for their products.

Following assessment by UKAS and a subsequent recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, TWI Certification has been notified to the European Commission and other Member States as a body fulfilling requirements to carry out conformity assessment according to the Construction Products Directive (EN1090-1). The new status means that the company is able to offer a complete audit of welding operations associated with production of structural steelwork.

With full implementation of the EU Construction Product Regulation due in July 2013, manufacturing companies will be required to CE mark all steelwork produced for the construction industry. The CE mark demonstrates compliance with the Construction Products Directive, meeting the minimum requirements of EU and EFTA member states and acting a ‘passport’ for a company to legally place their products on the construction market in all member states.

The route to achieving a CE mark involves a Factory Production Control (FPC) system audit of welding operations associated with production, which must be certified by an independent organisation or nominated body such as TWI Certification. The certification body will check that a manufacturer’s welded construction products meet the technical requirements of BS EN 1090-2,(steel) and/or BS EN 1090-3 (aluminium).

The FPC system for structural steelwork is similar to the BS EN ISO 9001 Quality Management System but requires that a nominated welding coordinator is responsible for all welding activities, and that the manufacturing company keeps a documented Welding Quality Management System meeting the requirements of ISO 3834.

The Welding Quality Management System will group a company’s products under four Execution Classes – Class 1 for farm buildings, Class 2 for other buildings, Class 3 for regular bridges, and Class 4 for nuclear power stations or long-span bridges. Each category has varying levels of quality and welding related requirements for compliance.

For further information about assessment and certification to meet the Construction Products Directive, please contact Ian Hogarth ian.hogarth@twi.co.uk or Clare McGrath clare.mcgrath@twi.co.uk

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Notes to Editors

UKAS is independent of Government but is appointed as the national accreditation body by the Accreditation Regulations 2009 (SI No 3155/2009) and operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government through the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

The Notified Body status and scope of conformity assessment of TWI Certification Ltd is published at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newapproach/nando.

TWI Certification Ltd

TWI Certification Ltd was formed as a separate company in 1993 in order to separate TWI activities in the field of certification. The company is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service on behalf of the UK Department of Trade and Industry in accordance with EN ISO 17024 'Criteria for certification bodies operating certification of personnel'. One of its main activities is to administer the well-recognised Certification Scheme for Welding and Inspection Personnel (CSWIP) and is a recognised 3rd party for PED.

TWI Certification is authorised for EN ISO 3834 certification by the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF). The scheme is also accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and is called the Welding Fabricator Certification Scheme.

TWI Certification Ltd has its headquarters at the TWI Granta Park site.

TWI, Granta Park, Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AL. Tel: 01223 899000. Fax: 01223 892588. E-mail: twi@twi.co.uk. Web: www.twi.co.uk Twitter: @TWI_Ltd

Date: 16 July 2012                                                                                                                                   30 /12

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