New requirement for ISO 3834 certification

Highways England has updated the National Highways Sector Scheme 20 document (NHSS 20), which sets out the particular requirements for quality management systems to ISO 9001:2015 for the execution of steelwork in transportation infrastructure assets.

“One of the key changes for steelwork contractors seeking NHSS 20 certification is that their system for the management of welding will now have to meet the quality requirements contained in BS EN ISO 3834,” said Steel Construction Certification Scheme (SCCS) Director of Certification Stephen Blackman. “In terms of timing for the implementation of this new requirement, steelwork contractors need to have a valid BS EN ISO 3834 certificate in place by 1st September 2020.”

Further details of this new requirement are set out in section 8.5 of the latest NHSS 20 document (Issue 3, 31 December 2019), which is available for download via the UKAS website (www.ukas.com).

The SCCS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Constructional Steelwork Association. It was established in the early 1980s to provide quality management certification for steelwork contracting organisations.

SCCS now offers a one-stop shop for certification and monitoring services for the structural steelwork sector, including BS EN ISO 3834 as well as integrated or separate UKAS accredited Quality management systems, Environmental and Health & Safety management systems, Factory Production Control systems and selected National Highways Sector Schemes.

For more information about SCCS go to www.steelcertification.co.uk