TO TEST OR NOT TO TEST?
The question that is on most manufacturers lips at the moment is whether testing is necessary on their products, or should they cap their costs and stop with just bringing products to the shelves?
We are so proud of all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes with innovation and development of our range. That took the decision to verify this independently, through a testing agent. We believe in our quality and we want our customers to have the assurance that an authorised and independent body believes in it too.
We believe testing can establish performance and design limitations within products to allow further innovation OR even confirm superior achievements have been surpassed!
The testing that is undertaken on our products isto satisfy the National and International standard. This will enable us currently to supply to Europe, but whether this will continue on a no deal Brexit exit from the EU, who knows…… The distressing fact for British manufacturers or suppliers is that there could be a possibility of having to have TWO tests, one for Europe and another for Britain. This will affect the pocket of the manufacturer, unless something is sorted.
If you are going down the road of having your products tested and then certified by an independent company, what should you look for in the business and how do you know that they meet the current standards themselves?
Its important to pick a company that has been tested to an industry standard and that list their accreditation number underneath their certificate. Our testing partner Wintech are annually audited to ensure that they can not only test to the UK standard
This is the accreditation logo that needs to be seen
but also that they can audit these companies themselves and are registered to complete and issue certification to a UK standard.
This is the accreditation logo
The type of testing that can be undertaken can give that assurance that products can withstand our weather system, a perfect example would be in 2016 Storm Jonas hit the UK with a devastating force, bring winds across the UK up to 65 mph! Wouldn’t you like the assurance that if you were purchasing windows or doors for your home that they had been weathertightness (wind, snow and rain) tested AND certified? Rather than the alternative…… fingers crossed, let’s hope for the best!
With the constant warning of impending and current climate change causing weather chaos on a seemingly regular basis, surely our fenestration products should all be of a standard that they keep these conditions OUTSIDE the home?
Testing isn’t only necessary for industrial facades for shopfronts or high-rise business units, which in itself can highlight potential wind load failure of giant panes of glass being ‘blown’ from a building during a storm, resulting in a ’back to the drawing board’ moment to tweak their new designs. It is testing on domestic windows and even air leakage tests on ALL new builds.
The standard should be widely known by consumers on all levels, just as we are getting more familiar with energy rating on buildings and appliances that are currently bought and sold. We all need to know the quality of the goods we buy, whether it be for commercial or our domestic home needs. We SHOULD know the answer to simple questions like; “Will my home be warm when it is cold outside” and can this be verified by a recognised industry body.
So, to test or not to test…. The best way to answer the question is to ask it with another one…. If you had a choice, would you buy a product that had been independently tested for quality, or one that the representative, sales man, said met the standard? Think of a car, would you buy the one with the MOT or the one without and hope for the best……….
The proof is in the testing.