Chris, you recently joined Naylor Concrete. What does the business do differently with regard to testing?
Naylor Concrete takes a much more comprehensive approach to testing than is commonly seen across the construction industry. Not only do they invest in independent testing but they have also recently invested in new equipment which will allows them to conduct in-house testing.
How does this the mix of in-house and independent third party testing work?
All Naylor Concrete products are subjected to load testing which is undertaken by Lucideon and as relevant subjected to fire testing by Exova. We view these independent tests as an essential part of our production and certification process. They enable specifiers, contractors and end users to be confident that Naylor products are of a consistently high quality and will perform as required, the importance of which was reflected in the RIBA ‘What Specifiers Want’ Report which found 66% of respondents value or highly value third party certification.
In addition, we have recently made significant investments in product testing equipment and by operating our own testing facility we will be able to monitor product quality and performance on an ongoing basis to ensure consistency in these areas. We can also test new products before they are independently tested, giving us confidence that our products will meet stringent third party certification criteria.
What other benefits does product testing provide?
In-house testing also plays a critical part in product development and underpins our commitment to innovation, research and development. For example, Naylor Concrete has recently invested in its own in-house test rig to conduct load capacity tests. The ability to load test product prototypes and innovative concrete materials will be critical as we seek to develop new solutions which will help the construction industry to deliver net zero.
What else does Naylor Concrete do to ensure its products are of the highest possible standard?
To ensure we maintain the highest possible manufacturing standards, our production process is also independently audited. Every year the British Standards Institute (BSI) conducts a thorough audit of our manufacturing facilities and production processes to ensure we are fully compliant and are implementing industry best practice. On some product lines, we also undertake additional product or batch testing which goes above and beyond the regulatory testing requirements as required by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and other bodies.
What advice would you give to specifiers and end users when selecting products?
Only purchase or specify products from a reputable manufacturer which has obtained product certifications for its products and which invests in an independent testing routine. Although specifying a cheaper, untested or uncertified product may sometimes seem appealing, it ultimately exposes the purchaser and the end user to unnecessary risk and potentially litigation. Only by choosing an independently tested or certified product, can a specifier truly have peace of mind about its performance.