Whether looking for a concrete supplier to help your construction business with multiple construction projects, or are an individual with a DIY project that needs concrete, it is easy to choose based on price points and deliverability. But it is important to look beyond these and consider concrete standards in the UK that suppliers should meet.
There are several key ready-mix concrete standards and certifications that your concrete supplier should hold and meet in the UK. It is worth noting that not all of them are a legal requirement as they depend on the specification, project, customer and sector.
Some of the most important credentials to look out for in a concrete service supplier include, BS EN 206, ISO 9001, UKAS-accredited certification arrangements and relevant health and safety and transport accreditations.
In this article, we share what certifications and standards you should look out for when looking for a ready-mix concrete supplier.
Why do accreditations matter?
Before diving into which certifications and concrete standards you should be looking for, you should understand why they are important.
No matter what you are using concrete for, you need it to be able to hold the weight and foot traffic, while potentially withstanding harsh weather conditions. In short, you need it to do its job.
Certifications and standards ensure product quality is met, and health and safety standards are followed when producing and pouring it. This keeps your site safe throughout the project, but also those around the project in the future.
So, let’s take a look at what ready mix concrete standards you should keep an eye for in concrete suppliers.
The most important concrete standards in the UK
BS EN 206
BS EN 206 BS EN 206 is a key standard covering the specification, performance, production and conformity of concrete and is used in the UK alongside BS 8500. At a basic level, it specifies how concrete specifications should be produced, and used in these instances.
It provides requirements for the ingredients that make the concrete up, the properties cured concrete should meet.
BS 8500
The BS 8500 standard typically sits alongside BS EN 206. This is particularly important for those who are specifying concrete for a project, or buying it.
There are two parts to this concrete standard in the UK.
The first part gives guidance to those who detail what the requirements of the concrete are to suppliers.
Meanwhile the second part covers the materials that can be used in the specifications.
What does BSI certification mean for a concrete supplier?
BSI stands for British Standards Institution and provides a large number of accreditations, and standards across a variety of industries and sectors.
They set health and safety standards in some areas, while in concrete look to certify the quality and production of the product. It acts as an independent reassurance that concrete suppliers meet a set of specific criteria and requirements.
However, buyers should look at the scope of the certification, and not just the BSI kite logo to make sure it applies to the concrete they are purchasing.
At AMS Group (Avon Material Supplies), we are proud that our concrete is BSI-accredited. This demonstrates that our facilities, and concrete drum fleet meet very specific requirements, including meeting the two standards mentioned above, BS EN 206 and BS 8500.
Why ISO 9001 matters when choosing a concrete supplier
ISO 9001 isn’t specifically a concrete standard in the UK.. Rather is a quality management system standard.
It covers:
- Documented processes
- Consistency
- Customer requirements
- Monitoring
- Corrective action
- Continual improvement
ISO 9001 does not mean that a company’s concrete is automatically certified to BS EN 206 or BS 8500. Instead, it demonstrates that the organisation operates a certified quality management system within its production.
AMS is ISO 9001 certified, providing independent assurance that quality management is embedded within our concrete production processes.
What does UKAS accreditation mean?
UKAS, standing for United Kingdom Accreditation Service, doesn’t directly provide a ready-mix concrete standard. Instead, it accredited organisations that provide the testing and certification of the standards.
This is an important fact to understand as it means that the body who has provided a BSI certification, for example, has the authority and knowledge to do so.
It shows competence in the assessment process, as well as reassuring that the certification is recognised by the body itself.
What is Achilles UVDB and why does it matter?
Achilles powers the UVDB (Utilities Vendor Database) in the UK. It is basically a directory of pre-vetted suppliers across a range of industries.
Being registered as an Achilles member shows that suppliers have gone through rigorous vetting processes, and demonstrates it meets UK procurement standards as well as health and safety standards, environmental considerations and much more.
We hold an Achilles UVDB Silver+ membership, providing additional evidence of its suitability for demanding supply-chain and utilities procurement environments.
What does Mission Zero accreditation mean?
As well as the standards that apply to the concrete itself, it is important to consider how your concrete supplier operates when delivering it to your site.
Concrete suppliers operate heavy vehicle fleets and regularly deliver to busy construction sites, so transport safety, driver compliance and responsible fleet management are all important considerations.
Mission Zero is a quality standard for the road fleet sector, designed to help operators work towards safer, more efficient and compliant operations. It covers areas such as vehicles, drivers and operating procedures. Mission Zero also offers additional modules for areas such as work-related road risk and sustainability.
For a concrete supplier, this provides additional reassurance that the business considers the safety and compliance of its delivery operations, rather than focusing solely on the production of concrete.
At AMS Group, we hold Mission Zero accreditation, helping to demonstrate our commitment to maintaining high standards across our fleet and concrete delivery operations.
What should you check before choosing a concrete supplier?
When comparing concrete suppliers, there are several things worth checking beyond the price of the concrete and the availability of delivery.
1. Does their concrete meet the relevant standards?
Ask whether the concrete you are ordering is produced to the relevant requirements of BS EN 206 and BS 8500.
The exact requirements will depend on the project and the type of concrete required, so if you have been given a concrete specification by an engineer, contractor or other construction professional, make sure you provide this to your supplier.
2. Do they have relevant product certification?
Look for independent certification covering the concrete products you are purchasing.
If a supplier displays a BSI logo, check the certification scope rather than assuming that every product they supply is covered.
3. Do they have a recognised quality management system?
An accreditation such as ISO 9001 can provide additional reassurance that the supplier has documented processes for maintaining quality, monitoring performance and continually improving its operations.
4. Can they provide evidence of their accreditations?
A professional supplier should be able to provide details of its current certifications and accreditations, including their scope and validity.
Don’t be afraid to ask for copies of certificates or check the relevant certification directory where one is available. You can find all of our certifications and standards on our website under the Resources section. If you have any questions about them, our staff are always happy to provide any answers in a phone call.
5. Do they have appropriate delivery and safety standards?
Concrete quality is important, but so is getting it to your site safely.
Look for evidence that the supplier has appropriate systems in place for its drivers, vehicles and delivery operations.
6. Can they help you choose the right concrete?
A good concrete supplier should be able to discuss your requirements and help assist you to find the best solution for you.
However, where an engineer or other construction professional has provided a specific concrete specification, this should always take precedence.
What certifications and accreditations does AMS Group hold?
At AMS Group, we understand that supplying quality concrete involves more than simply producing and delivering a mix.
Our relevant certifications and accreditations provide customers with independent evidence of the standards we work to across our concrete production, quality management, supply chain and delivery operations.
BSI-accredited concrete
Our relevant concrete products are BSI-accredited against the applicable standards, including BS EN 206 and BS 8500.
This provides customers with additional assurance that the relevant concrete production processes and products meet the requirements covered by our certification.
Importantly, certification applies to a defined scope, so customers should always check that the certification covers the particular concrete they require.
ISO 9001
AMS Group is ISO 9001 certified, demonstrating that we operate a recognised quality management system.
This supports consistency across our processes and provides a framework for monitoring quality, responding to issues and continually improving our operations.
Achilles UVDB Silver+
We also hold Achilles UVDB Silver+ membership.
This is particularly relevant when working with organisations that require additional supplier prequalification and assurance, including customers operating within utilities and other demanding supply chains.
It provides additional evidence that our business has undergone supplier assessment beyond the technical requirements of the concrete itself.
Mission Zero
Our Mission Zero accreditation supports our approach to fleet and transport compliance.
As a concrete supplier, safe and responsible delivery is an important part of the service we provide. Our accreditation helps demonstrate our commitment to maintaining appropriate standards across our vehicles, drivers and transport operations.
Are these certifications legally required for concrete suppliers?
Not necessarily.
It is important to understand that not every certification or accreditation is a legal requirement for every concrete supplier in the UK.
The requirements can depend on the type of concrete, the project, the customer, the sector and the specification.
For example, a major infrastructure project may have very different procurement and certification requirements from a homeowner ordering concrete for a driveway.
However, relevant standards and independent certifications can provide valuable reassurance that a supplier has the processes, knowledge and controls needed to produce and deliver concrete consistently.
This is why it is worth looking beyond price when choosing a concrete supplier.
If you want to learn more about the concrete standards that our ready-mixed concrete collections, and deliveries and mini-mix deliveries meet, you can call our team on 01202 579579.
Concrete Standards FAQs
Q: What are the main concrete standards in the UK?
A: The two key standards to be aware of are BS EN 206 and BS 8500. BS EN 206 covers the specification, performance, production and conformity of concrete, while BS 8500 provides complementary UK-specific provisions. BSI describes BS 8500 Parts 1 and 2 as complementary British Standards to BS EN 206.
Q: What is BS 8500 used for?
A: BS 8500 is used alongside BS EN 206 and is particularly relevant when concrete is being specified, purchased and used in the UK. BS 8500-1 provides methods for specifying concrete and guidance for the specifier, while BS 8500-2 covers constituent materials and concrete.
Q: Is BSI certification important when choosing ready-mix concrete?
A: BSI certification can provide additional independent assurance that relevant products or processes have been assessed against defined requirements. However, customers should check the certification’s scope and validity rather than relying solely on a certification logo.
Q: What does ISO 9001 mean for a concrete supplier?
A: ISO 9001 is a quality management system standard rather than a specific concrete standard. It provides a framework for managing processes, customer requirements, monitoring, corrective action and continual improvement.
Q: What should I ask a concrete supplier before ordering?
You should ask whether the concrete meets the relevant project requirements, which standards and certifications apply, whether the supplier can provide evidence of its certification, and whether it can supply the type and quantity of concrete you require.
If your project has been designed or specified by an engineer or other construction professional, provide the supplier with the concrete specification so they can supply the appropriate mix.