Myth: BBA approval is needed for steel lintels to meet NHBC technical standards
Fact: NMBC requires all products, materials and systems used on their registered sites to meet their technical requirement R3.
This frustrating myth is one we encounter on a regular basis here at UKLintels; frustrating because we have seen first-hand evidence of the market being supplied with misleading, or dare we say, false information.
We took it upon ourselves to investigate exactly what NHBC requires to ensure we communicate with our customers, and the market in general, where they stand with regards to specifying, selecting and installing steel lintels. Whilst this investigation is not yet exhausted, it has enlightened us as to the overall view of NHBC, and why there may be some confusion.
BBA Popularity
This BBA certification issue is borne out of confusion in the marketplace, and as we stated at the start misleading information. It is true that the BBA, along with some other certification bodies, assess against the requirements of NHBC standards, and if they satisfied, there is an NHBC acceptance clause included in the agreement certificate.
This may give BBA certified products an advantage but it does not mean that BBA certification is essential, in fact as part of our investigation; we received a statement from NHBC:
“The BBA is an acceptable technical approvals body, but there are others across Europe. The NHBC does not endorse a particular approvals body.”
Within their entire technical standard documentation, there is only one mention of BBA, and this relates to curtain walling and cladding systems. Their technical standard R3, which can be found here states that ‘materials and products used in critical functions’ should reach “compliance with the relevant British Standard or equivalent European Technical Specification approved by a Committee for Standardisation, provided they are used in accordance with the relevant Code of Practice.” – NHBC Technical Department
Alternatives to BBA
As stated by NHBC themselves, the BBA is one of many certification bodies, others including BDA, Kiwa and BM Trada. However as you can see above in order to meet NHBC standards products must meet the relevant British or European standard, and this means compliance with the Constructions Product Regulation (CPR).
Under the CPR, it is mandatory for manufacturers to apply UKCA (CE) marking to any products covered by a harmonised European standard (hEN) or a European Technical Assessment (ETA). Steel lintels fall into this category and are subject to the most stringent of tests by a third party testing house in order to obtain UKCA (CE) marking.
Lintels must adhere to the British Standards BS EN 845-2 and BS EN 846-9:2016, in order to be sold within the UK. These British standards underpin the CE marking.
All UKLintels lintels are UKCA (CE) marked.
Our UKCA Certification for our own manufactured products can also be found here
In addition, our manufacture partner has recently achieved the BS EN 9001:2015 quality assurance accreditation, which includes an ongoing commitment to improving quality systems and factory operating procedures. This is assessed twice-yearly whereas BBA certificated products are only comprehensively reviewed every three years.
For more information about steel lintels and our technical standards, please do not hesitate to get in contact.
Supporting the Future of Construction: UKLintels donating to SGS College
At UKLintels we’re passionate about laying strong foundations for the next generation of skilled tradespeople. That’s why we are delighted to announce our recent donation of lintels to SGS College’s Horizon Campus. This contribution will support their construction apprentices in honing their skills and gaining hands-on experience with industry-standard materials.
Investing in Tomorrow’s Talent:
SGS College is renowned for nurturing apprentices across various trades, providing them with the tools and expertise they need to thrive in their future careers. Our donation of SL90‘s is designed to bridge a gap between classroom learning and real-world application. By working directly with industry-standard lintels, their students will gain invaluable experience in handling, installing, and understanding the practical nuances of these essential building components.
Bridging the Skills Gap:
The construction industry is evolving rapidly, with increasing demands for skilled workers who can deliver high quality results. At UKLintels, we recognise the importance of supporting educational institutions in equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to meet these standards.
Building the Future Together:
We’re thrilled to play a part in shaping the future of construction and you can visit us on @UKLintels across our platforms on Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok and LinkedIn to see the results of these talented apprentices putting our products to use.
Catnic has increased its prices for the second time in 2021 after its initial 15% price increase on 1st April. Their full price list is available to view here.
The new price list sees an 18% increase in prices due to constrained supplies which we wrote about in our recent article. All steel lintel manufacturers have also moved to very similar amounts which significantly increases the cost of lintels to the end-user for 2021 and beyond.
With demand at an all time high, and supply being limited by the reduction in availability of raw materials we could even see an unprecedented 3rd increase later in 2021.
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For anyone working in the construction sector, the global shortage of construction supplies (steel included) has proved challenging over the last few years. The continued supply constraints have seen manufacturers introduce quotas, effectively rationing the available supply of lintels to UK construction firms and DIY buyers.
The BBC report back in May 2021 the Office for National Statistics projection of an 8% increase in material prices and a global shortage of steel as demand exceeds supply couldnt have been more accurate but 8% would now on reflection have been good news. Prices have since then risen by over 50% for many building products.
Continued supply available to our customers
At UK Lintels, we’re fortunate to be the UK’s largest single site stockist of Catnic and galvanized lintels and were well prepared for the shortages in 2021 and beyond. With a generous stock holding and our two acre Bristol depot, we have been able to continue serving our customers despite the challenges.
Even as material shortages persist in our industry, we have over 5000 Catnic and Stressline steel lintels in stock with a value of over £3.5m at current list prices. All of the products advertised on our website are ‘in stock’.
Planning for future lintel supply constraints
In order to continue serving our customers, we are receiving two artic lorry deliveries per week, with over 60 tonne of Stressline and Catnic steel lintels arriving each month.
Stay informed
With continued uncertainty and volatility in supply likely to continue for a time to come, subscribe to our mailing list to receive regular updates on availability, offers and sector news and information.
For our range of steel lintels, click here or speak to our team for more information on equivalent products that can meet your requirements and specification.
We’re excited to announce that we are changing our online name to UK Lintels. From today you’ll notice our new domain, logo and some changes throughout our website and online presence.
For over 30 years, we’ve been Catnic lintel and steel lintel distributors. Over this time we have developed considerable infrastructure to distribute lintels across the whole of the UK via our delivery partners and our own fleet vehicles.
Why are we changing to UK Lintels?
As the UK’s largest single site stockists for lintels and our expertise in the sector, we felt that the name change was appropriate and demonstrates our focus and expertise in the space.
UK Lintels Managing Director, Grant Morris said, “Given the huge stock holding we offer our customers along with the expertise and focus we have in this space, it felt like the right time and a natural fit. We’re excited about the change and look forward to serving our customers with excellent service under the new brand for years to come.”
What is changing?
In short – just the name. Everything you know about our service is staying the same. The level of service, delivery options, bespoke cut lengths and online ordering system all stay the same.
Whether it’s a next day order to London or an overnight to Aberdeen – you can continue to rely on UK Lintels to deliver on-time and to your specification.
A note for our customers
As of 24th October 2024 A.L Lintels (Batavon) Ltd officially changed to UKLintels Ltd. New orders from this date will reflect our new company name referenced on invoices, card statements and documentation issued by us. For any customer queries relating to this change and transition, please contact info@uklintels.com
