The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) is launching a performance and fire certification scheme for stairs – and the first certified products are going into the 2012 Olympics athletes’ village.
The scheme is a response to what the BWF has identified as worrying evidence about poor stair manufacturing and procurement practice and a lack of understanding about technical requirements.
Announcing the scheme at the organisation’s Members’ Day, BWF president Ian Purkis said many stairs produced by non-BWF members were not up to standard and “some might not even comply with Building Regulations”.
The scheme would “enlarge the market for timber staircases” and had received strong support from the NHBC and Local Authority Building Control, said Mr Purkis.
It will demonstrate that stairs meet relevant loading, deflection and, where appropriate, fire resistance.
Jeld-Wen, which is supplying stairs for the London Olympics athletes’ village, has already received certification and a second company is near to completing the process.
Certified stairs will be marked with a disc identifying the level of certification, serial number and manufacturer’s contact details.
Founder membership, which offers some financial benefits, closes in July, and the scheme will be launched formally in September. Fire protected stairs will be certified by a third party, Mr Purkis added.
The BWF already has timber window and fire door certification schemes.
