The newly-formed Construction Glassfibre Manufacturers Association (CGMA) is alerting contractors, specifiers and merchants about the need to conform to a January 2013 requirement that glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) components, such as dormers and chimneys, must have CGMA or third party certification in order to satisfy NHBC requirements as detailed in the organisation’s July 2012 Technical Extra publication.
The deadline for compliance with the standards comes as a result of the CGMA’s work to bring together manufacturers to establish a process to raise standards and establish an accountable body which would assess, test, manage and audit companies and their products.
On the deadline, Iain Durrant of Ibstock-Kevington, who is Chairman of the Construction Glassfibre Manufacturers Association, says: “The January 2013 date is important for many companies in the construction industry. I urge firms that currently use GRP dormers or chimneys to check with their suppliers and see whether they have third-party assessment - for example from the BBA - or are CGMA members who put their products through the in-depth testing regime we require for all members.”
Membership of the CGMA is open to all relevant businesses and subject to strict joining criteria, rigorous product testing and an annual audit programme of both products and manufacturing capabilities.CGMA members are required to have their products tested for performance and quality of manufacture. Part of the assessment will also check that installation instructions for those on site are adequate. Once a product has successfully passed the required testing, the manufacturer is issued with CGMA certification for that product.
Iain concludes: “We expect that the steps we have taken as an association will help to continuously raise standards for both product manufacture and installation of glass reinforced plastic components. The ongoing auditing and testing regimes we have set up will ensure that the high standards we have in place will be maintained and the industry can go forward with renewed confidence.”
