First NVQ qualification awarded for installation and testing of construction Anchors

The first candidate to qualify for a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in testing, Inspecting and thorough examination Occupations (Construction) – Installing Construction Anchors and Site Testing of Construction Fixings has been announced as Joe Shrimpton of Industrial Access Services.

This qualification represents a major step towards creating an industry requirement for skilled and qualified installers as a necessity for safety critical anchoring applications, utilising anchors and other construction fixings.

Anchors, which represent a small element of the work content and cost to a project, are vital from a safety and quality perspective.
Indeed, any issues involving anchors can lead to high costs for remedial action at best, and human injury or death at worst.

Correct installation and testing of anchors and fixings is therefore vital to achieve safe installations

This is the reason that this new qualification is so important in achieving these objectives.

The successful candidate Joe Shrimpton stated:-

"Having been aware of the importance of quality assurance processes in construction anchors for quite some time I had no doubts as to the significance of this new NVQ when I first heard of it. Now that I have completed the NVQ I believe it to have even more significance. There has been a gap in the ability to demonstrate competence in the installation and testing of anchors which this NVQ now fills. Whereas previously highly skilled tradesmen in areas such as curtain walling, steel erection, fenestration and various mechanical and electrical applications were perfectly capable of providing a working ‘product’ the qualifications they held did not specifically cover the installation and quality assurance of the construction anchors on which their products rely. This new NVQ provides a well needed competence ‘bridge‘ between the fixture and the base material, It’s adoption can only lead to a safer, higher quality standard of work across the industry."

The NVQ is an industry accepted qualification which shows competence in the field of anchor installation and testing.
In building the knowledge and expertise element for installers, training is a key contributor to provide this in a simple, effective and powerful manner.
The CFA have carried out such certified training to the industry for many years, and recent developments have broadened out the scope for delivery of this training.

Direct Training courses on a face to face basis are carried out on a scheduled program and these are now augmented by the same courses delivered on an e learning basis.

Detailed information on the obk[-jectives, content and delivery of these methods can be found on the CFA website at https://www.the-cfa.co.uk/CFAAcademy/ , and currently cover courses on the following subjects:-

• Installation of Anchors
• Proof testing of anchors
• Advanced Testing of Anchors
• Supervision of Anchor Installation
• Specification of Anchors

The purpose of this training program is to deliver knowledge and expertise, which provide a level of competence in their own right, but importantly provide support to the NVQ candidate to achieve the qualification.

This NVQ qualification is hugely significant as a driver towards the construction industry initiative to increased levels of competence in all disciplines.

Installation and testing of anchors is an area which needs this change more than many others, and hopefully will contibute to developing an environment in the future in which safety critical anchors must be installed by competent, qualified operatives.

John K Muir
February 2022
 

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Changes to anchor approval system

The European Technical Assessment (ETA) is a document providing information on a product performance assessment based on the products essential characteristics as defined in an EAD The ETA allows manufacturers to draw up the declaration of performance and affix the CE marking.

All products used in construction should carry a CE mark, so all anchors should hold an ETA.

CE marking is an administrative marking affirming conformity to health, safety and environmental protection standards for products sold into the European Union.

CE marking is allowed under the European Construction Products Regulation which lays down harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products.

For products to be affixed with a CE mark, they must either comply comply with an hEN (European Standard) or alternatively obtain an ETA (European Technical assessment) based on the relevant harmonised Technical Specification document an EAD (European Assessment Document).

However, from 11p.m. on New year’s Eve 2020 the UK left its transition period with the European Union (EU)and ended membership of the EU’s Single Market.

Now, CE marking of products will be replaced by the UKCA marking (UK Conformity Assessed)

As a consequence, harmonised Standards (hEN) will be replaced by UK Designated Standards; ETA replaced by UKTA and EAD by a UK equivalent to be developed.

The original intention following withdrawal from the EU, was that during 2021, until 1st January 2022, the European requirements and the new UK requirements would run concurrently, but only the UK system would apply from 2022.

This timescale changed in August 2021 and, the move to UK regulations exclusively will not now take place for a further year, till 1st January 2023.

A detailed presentation on these changes can be seen here

For further information on the changes or for assistance with issues arising, contact info@the-cfa.co.uk