For over 20 years, BFRC has been the leading provider of window and door energy rating certificates in the UK. In the last 18 months, the growing organisation has continued to expand its range of services to include testing and certification products. Technical Director, Richard Bate explains more.

There is continued pressure on the fenestration industry to remain compliant and transparent. Whether this drive is through more stringent legislation, now and in the future, or the desire to show accountability, there is a refreshed commitment to trade ethically and ‘do the right thing’, and at BFRC, we understand how businesses need support. The sector is being reshaped and redefined as door, window and glass businesses work hard to ensure their products consistently meet the highest standards. Supporting our customers in their drive to achieve those standards is at the heart of everything the BFRC does, which is why we’ve been focussed on widening the scope of what we can offer in terms of testing and certification. 

A broader scope

As part of this commitment, we are delighted to announce we have now secured triple UKAS accreditation as a product certification provider (No. 20057) meaning we are now approved to certify the following product standards:

• BS EN 14351-1 System 1 emergency exit Panic Bar
• BS EN 1279 Insulated Glass Units
• BS EN 12150 Toughened Glass.

This announcement is a positive step for BFRC, as being UKAS accredited in these three new areas will offer IGU manufacturers, glass processors, fabricators and installers more choice when it comes to accrediting their systems and meeting legislation.

With our long history of supporting the drive to raise and maintain standards to the highest level within the industry, UKAS accreditation for these important product areas was the logical next step – and there’s still more to come.

Our customers matter

One thing that is of fundamental importance to us as we drive forward with our ambitious plans, is that we do not lose sight of what motivates us – our customer service.  It’s not uncommon to hear that a company is customer focused, but how much of that is lip service and how much is reality? As we grow and expand our services, it’s important to keep in mind what being ‘customer focused’ really looks like.

The foundation of the BFRC is our reputation for knowledge, experience and reliability; maintaining and building on this is key. We’re committed to exceeding the high standards our members and clients have come to expect. We’re moving away from the traditional, transactional customer / supplier relationship, and growing our reputation as a collaborative partner, on hand when needed to make the process of testing and certification as smooth as possible. This latest achievement means we can now open up what we do to more businesses who want to work with a collaborative and professional partner who delivers reliable and professional service, backed up with comprehensive reporting, delivered in a timely manner.  

Over the coming months, we look forward to working with businesses and giving them value for money when it comes to UKAS accredited testing and certification. We can save time and hassle across the whole process and will only deliver what the client needs. There is often confusion and misinformation about what is actually required when it comes to audits or legal requirements for accreditation, something we’re determined to head off with a drive for more integrity.

Our aim is to become the UK’s most wide-ranging testing and certification provider for windows and doors. In addition, we will be working in collaboration with other testing partners across the UK to make a much smoother process for our clients, being able to offer complete solutions for their testing and certification needs.  We can also offer R&D services to support product development and analytical services to provide greater depth of understanding of product performance. There is a growing pressure to deliver the designed performance in the installed product, and we want to work with the industry to ensure confidence that products will continue to perform throughout their product lifecycle.

If you’re looking to refresh the way you do your UKAS accredited testing and certification get in touch with the BFRC today:  Visit www.bfrc.org or email enquiries@bfrc.org