WOBO thanks the BBA for updating our members in respect of the changes taking place with certification.
You may already be aware that UKAS (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service) has initiated discussions with the BBA to review the Agrément and HAPAS certificate schemes, and we have been working on this with them. We have worked to ensure that any changes to the schemes do not undermine the technical excellence and rigour of the assessment process.
As a valued BBA Client and Certificate Holder, we wanted to update you on this important development.
What this means for the BBA HAPAS and Agrément schemes:
HAPAS: The BBA HAPAS Certification Scheme will continue to hold accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065. We are making enhancements to this scheme so that the scope is more detailed on our accreditation schedule, and the Scheme Document sets out the assessment process. There will be small changes to the structure and content of HAPAS Certificates
Agrément: The BBA Agrément Certificate Scheme will remain accredited, but under ISO/IEC 17020 (inspection), which covers ‘examination of a product, process, service or installation or their design and determination of its conformity with specific requirements or, on the basis of professional judgment, with general requirements’. Moving the BBA Agrément Certificate Scheme to ISO/IEC 17020 emphasises the BBA’s use of professional judgement to underpin our assessments, which is key to our approach. All current Certificates will be amended to reflect this change. An external-facing Scheme Document has been created, setting out the assessment process. The ongoing elements of the Agrément approach, including production surveillance and regular reviews of content and Regulations, will remain Scheme requirements, outside of the ISO/IEC 17020 scope. We are using the opportunity to apply changes proposed during 2021’s Agrément consultation with the industry. This includes standardising the sections in a Certificate. It has also allowed us to shape the scheme to match our ongoing progress towards digitalisation.
What this means for your certificate:
Your certificate number will not change and the certificate will still be accredited and recognised in industry. We have been working closely with organisations in the industry including UK Government, warranty providers, specifiers, building control, trade associations and more to help them understand the changes to ensure a smooth transition.
Will this affect all Agrément and HAPAS certificates?
Yes, all Agrément and HAPAS certificates will be updated to the new style.
What happens next?
We are sharing this information with you as a pre-cursor to changes that will take place during the transition period. Discussions are ongoing between the BBA and UKAS; the working date for the accreditation changes is 1st December 2022. Following that, the timeline is likely to be in two parts:
Stage 1: By the end of June 2023, we expect to have amended all BBA Agrément Certificates to reference the change in accreditation. You do not need to take any action for this amendment to take place, and it will be done without cost to you; the BBA will make the amendments to Certificates, and you will be sent the new version of your Certificate(s) as soon as they are available. This Stage does not apply to BBA HAPAS Certificates.
Stage 2: From the time when the accreditation arrangements change, any newly issued or reissued Certificates will be in the new style. BBA Agrément Certificates will be issued under the Scheme accredited to ISO/IEC 17020; BBA HAPAS Certificates will be issued under the Scheme accredited to ISO/IEC 17065. Your Certificate(s) will be amended either as part of the regular 3-year Review / Reissue cycle, or at any intermediate Reissue, whichever is the earlier. No additional Reissue contract will be required for this update.
You do not need to request a change; we will contact you at the appropriate time.
Join our Q&A webinar
We understand that you may have a number of questions. We’d therefore like to invite you to join our BBA Client Q&A webinar where our team will be on hand to answer any questions you have. To register your interest to attend, or if you have any questions you would like answered during the webinar, please email hello@bbacerts.co.uk
In the meantime, if you have any specific queries, we will be happy to respond to them.