sta membership and quality standards - structural timber · 2017-05-02 · sta membership and...

STA membership and quality standards

A guide for customers

Version 1.0 - January 2016

STRUCTURALTIMBER ASSOCIATIONBuilding solutions in timber

2


STA MEMBERSHIP AND QUALITY STANDARDS

Confidence in using a STA member company The Structural Timber Association (STA) represents the vast majority of the structural timber industry, with an extensive membership covering a range of businesses engaged

in the delivery of structural timber buildings. This includes the materials supply chain, engineers, designers, manufacturers, erector/installers and associated firms providing

support services, such as legal and insurance businesses.

The STA offers differing levels of membership, each requiring defined levels of quality in the way our members undertake their work. However, the extensive range of

membership businesses means that the specific quality requirements differ for each type of member and activity.

Choosing to work with a STA member company gives you the confidence that no matter what service they are providing, they are meeting the STA’s strict membership

criteria and delivering industry best practice at every stage. They will also have the necessary accreditation to comply with the Construction Products Regulations (CPR) and

where CE marking is not yet available, we guide members to achieve equivalent (or better) levels of quality standards. See additional information provided in this document

on CE marking.

STA membership levelsThe STA has established a hierarchy of membership; Gold, Silver and Bronze. The three levels of membership are designed to recognise the differing levels of quality standards

held by our membership and encourage improvements in membership quality, allowing members to progress through the levels.

Our ‘assure’ logo is your guarantee that the STA member has met our membership criteria and will operate to the highest industry standards. Details on the requirements for

the different levels can be found in the table on page 5.

The highest level of STA membership

The second level of STA membership

STA entry level membership

3



Membership types and definitionsWe split our membership types as follows (each with different quality standards) as listed below.

Key on terminology:

1. Element is the component part that makes up a product

2. Product is the building system or assembled part that will form the building system

Structural timber building system (STBS) membersA STBS member is a company that has been contracted to provide a building system to the customer. The customer may be the building end-user, a developer, a main

contractor, a sub-contractor or a self-builder. The contract can be to either supply a kit of elements or to supply and construct the elements on the site.

The scope of elements includes any of the following: assembled walls, floors or roof panels. Loose materials, joists, rafters etc. may also be supplied through the structural

timber building system member.

See Appendix 1 for further details of works typically covered by our STBS members.

Product supply chain membersThis is a STA member providing materials and component parts to be used in the manufacture of structural timber building systems/elements for site assembly.

Examples of this type of member is a supplier of joists, boards, fasteners, insulation, membranes etc.

Product supply chain membership also includes businesses that manufacture components like truss rafter roofs and open web joists, Glulam beams, I-joists and steel frames

to be used by others. It also encompasses structural products such as SIPs and CLT panels that go on to be processed by others into wall, floor and roof elements.

Erector/installer membersBusinesses that assemble elements and products on-site to form the building shell which are designed and supplied by others.

Designers, engineers and consultants, plus service supply membersBusinesses that produce fabrication drawings and/or engineering calculations for the elements and building structural system, including energy performance, acoustic, fire,

safety and acoustic services.

Service supply chain businesses provide ancillary support roles to the timber industry such as solicitors, construction plant suppliers and insurance brokers.

4



CE marking As a customer of an STA manufacturer, such as a developer, specifier, contractor or self-builder, you are required by European law, called the Construction Products Regulation

(CPR), to purchase and adopt only products and systems that are eligible for CE (Conformité Européenne) marking.

STA members are therefore legally bound to provide CE marked building products and systems where appropriate - and naturally the STA has made CE marking compliance

a condition of membership. We provide our members with advice on what products and systems have a harmonised standard (hEN) or product European Assessment

Document (EAD), which in turn provides the legal requirement for CE marking. Not all building elements require CE marking and STA members are able to advise their

customers on what is, or is not, required.

CE marking for elements

There is currently no CE marking for factory produced timber frame walls, floors or roof assemblies (called elements), however elements used within a building system are

required to be CE marked.

For CLT the manufactured elements should have a CE mark but there is no requirement for the assembled product delivered to site to be CE marked.

For SIPs a CE mark can be obtained for the element manufacture and overall product performance.

CE marking through a European harmonised standard does exist for component parts such as engineered joists/ hangers, trusses, several insulation types, wood based and

gypsum boards. Steel framing and beams within a building system also require CE marking.

Members that do not produce products in a factory

STA members that do not undertake factory assembly of systems, but deliver the product from either a factory, or assemble the product as a kit of elements on-site, must comply

with CE marked elements where appropriate and will fall under the STA quality level appropriate to their certification.

5

Quality levels for membersThe table below outlines the quality and accreditation standards that our members are required to demonstrate to achieve levels Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of STA

membership.

Notes

1 & 2 For schemes that are UKAS accredited

3 Should be independently accredited

4 Third party companies confirm through audits that the company has the management and product performance claimed and is regularly checked for this

5 Third party companies such as consultants and university testing that is not UKAS accredited

6 EAD (follows approved ETAG submission and approval)

7 CE marking for products are provided either though an EAD or a product or system that has a European Harmonised Standard. For timber frame stud wall elements

and floor and roof cassette elements CE marking will be from EN14732 once it has been approved. Members will be updated when this is published and becomes

a harmonised standard

8 STA CE marking template which is annually audited by STA approved consultants



Erector/installers

Designers, engineers and consultants, plus service supply members

Product supply chain

Accredited NVQ + CPCS + ISO 9001

ISO 9001 + Assure Silverrequirements

ISO 9001 + product performance certification i.e. CE marking (where appropriate), BBA, BM Trada or other recognised third part certificate

Self-certified to STA service supply chain quality standards

ISO 9001

Structural timber building systems

Audited building system (or factory element), performance and management4

Examples:

BOPAS - for system

BM TRADA Q Mark - for products or systems1

CTAG - for products or systems2

European Assessment Document6

BBA certificate - for products or systems

CE mark - for systems or products that are in a system7

STA CE template - for an audited company8

Audited management of factory and product productionExamples:

IS0 90013

Option to have additional third party product performance design checks and reports5

Accredited NVQ

No formal declaration of quality standards


The STA requires that all erector installer members hold minimum Assure Silver membership

In-house quality systemAll outside of the Gold and Silver level definitions, but new members must have a STA quality consultant review - see Appendix 2 in the STBS membership guidance for the scope of the in-house quality system expected. Note that this is not audited

6

Minimum quality standard requirements

STBS membersThe minimum entry level of membership to the STA for STBS members is Assure Bronze. To achieve this, our member will be asked to register with the STA and to state that

they only use CE marked materials and components, where appropriate. They will also be asked to have a STA consultant review their in-house quality standard.

Assure Silver membership requires STA members to undertake an audit of their factory and product production, for example an IS0 9001. There is also an option to have

additional third party product performance design checks and reports.

Assure Gold level members must have an audit of their management systems and the performance of their building system (or element). See table on page 4 for examples

of approved audits.

Product supply chainEntry level membership for product supply members is Assure Bronze, for which there is no formal declaration of their quality standards. However, you may wish to ask the

STA member you are working with about any quality standards they hold.

Assure Silver membership requires the STA member to hold an appropriate ISO 9001 certificate.

Assure Gold level members are required to have an ISO 9001 and also a product performance certification appropriate to their product e.g. CE marking certification, BBA,

BM TRADA Q Mark.



Audit of management systems and building system performance

HighestLevel

Audit of factory and product production

MinimumLevel

Review of in-house quality standards+ CE marked products

ISO 9001 + product performance certification (i.e. CE marking, BBA)

HighestLevel

ISO 9001

MinimumLevel


7

Erector/installer membersAssure Silver is the minimum level of membership for erector/installers. This requires all of the member’s site employees to have a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)

and for timber frame erectors to obtain Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS) cards and National Plant Training Standards as proof of competency.

Assure Gold is the highest level of membership and requires a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) for timber frame erectors. A higher level of training known as

Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) by the CITB will be required with relevant training for managers. In addition, Gold level firms shall have ISO 9001

accreditation. Although not a requirement of this membership, the STA also recognises SSIP accreditation as part of the highest level of membership.

Designers, engineers and consultantsEntry level membership for designer, engineer and consultant members is Assure Bronze, for which there is no formal declaration of their quality standards. However, you

may wish to ask the STA member you are working with about any quality standards they hold.

Assure Silver membership requires a self-certification submission to STA which includes evidence of training, competence, checking procedures and membership of learned

institutions.

Assure Gold membership requires a recognised third party audit for management or services e.g. ISO 9001.



(NVQ) for Timber Frame Erectors + CPCS Plant training + ISO 9001

HighestLevel

Requires a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)

MinimumLevel

ISO 9001 or similar approved quality audit

HighestLevel

Self-certification miniumum level

MinimumLevel


8

Appendix 1Works typically covered by our structural timber building system (STBS) members.


STRUCTURAL TIMBER BUILDING SYSTEM SUPPLIER WORKS COVERED

Type 1 structural building system supplierCommon terms for this supplier may be:• fabricator• timber frame manufacturer• timber frame sub-contractor

Manufacture of the elements Additional services may include in-house or subcontract:• design of the frame• delivery to site• erect on-site

Type 2 structural building system contractors Common terms for this supplier may be:• processor• delivery partner• supply contractor• frame sub-contractor

A business that provides a direct contract with the building customer to deliver a building system that is part or fully manufactured by another business. The structural building system contractor may process a manufactured element and add value before delivery to the customer.Additional services may include in-house or subcontract:• design of the frame• delivery to site• erect on-site

Structural Timber Association The e-Centre Cooperage Way Alloa FK10 3LP

t: 01259 272140 f: 01259 272141 e: [email protected] w: www.structuraltimber.co.uk


sta membership and quality standards - structural timber · 2017-05-02 · sta membership and...

Documents