The UK Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels (CARES) has announced a shift from paper to digital certification, highlighting the significance in light of the Grenfell tragedy.
- Through this move, CARES aims to eliminate vulnerabilities in the certification process of safety-critical construction products, as revealed by the Grenfell Inquiry.
- CARES’ chief executive Lee Brankley underlined the necessity for secure, digital formats to ensure product performance and provenance.
- The Grenfell Inquiry report has prompted CARES to support the call for an end to departmental fragmentation in construction supply chains.
- CARES endorses the proposal for a new construction regulator to ensure comprehensive standards, testing, and certification.
The UK Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels (CARES) has transitioned exclusively to digital certification for reinforcing bars. This strategic shift aligns with findings from the Grenfell Inquiry, which exposed significant flaws in the approval processes for safety-critical products. The inquiry’s revelations about dishonest practices have prompted CARES to eliminate paper-based certification methods.
Lee Brankley, the chief executive of CARES, emphasised the urgent need to close any potential avenues for fraudulent approvals in safety-critical supply chains. “We can no longer leave open any route to a repeat of the dishonesty and incompetence in approvals revealed so shockingly by the Grenfell tragedy,” he stated. Brankley advocates for exhaustive digital examinations of product performance and provenance, asserting that paper-based certifications pose unacceptable risks.
The Grenfell Inquiry made clear that commercial pressures have often led to safety being overlooked, resulting in catastrophic outcomes. As a result, Brankley calls for a complete transformation in supply chains, moving from traditional specification models to secure, digital procurement processes. He stresses that digital certification is crucial for guaranteeing a product’s adherence to safety and sustainability standards, as well as for achieving independent verification.
CARES has welcomed the inquiry’s recommendations for unifying the government’s approach to construction supply chains and reinstating an empowered chief construction adviser role. Additionally, CARES supports the proposed establishment of a new construction regulator to oversee all aspects of standards, testing, and certification—potentially including organisations like CARES under a national framework.
Brankley noted the importance of not only awaiting the broader outcomes of the Grenfell Inquiry but also proactively implementing necessary changes. CARES regards the advancement of secure, transparent, and fully digital product documentation as a crucial opportunity to drive significant improvements in industry practices.
CARES’ move to digital certification forms part of a wider strategy to enhance accountability and safety in construction.
