Representative body of the precast concrete industry the Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA) has decided to investigate the possibility of starting an independent mark scheme for its members in response to the problem of renewing their South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) marks, owing to backlogs and poor service at the bureau, says CMA executive director Frans Minnaar.

“While manufacturers are required to supply products that have the SABS mark, they face the predicament of being unable to supply their products, as they have to wait for the SABS to renew their permits,” he tells Engineering News, adding that manufacturers are in breach of contract if they supply concrete pipes without the necessary stamp of approval.

In the case of concrete pipes, the SABS mark has to be renewed every three years and this is “intolerable”, especially owing to backlogs at the SABS, Minnaar says.

He notes that the independent mark scheme being considered by the CMA will be voluntary. Members will be able to participate through an application process that requires acceptance and compliance with the scheme’s rules and regulations, which will be guided by the International Organisation for Standardisation standards and thus be in line with international best practices.

The CMA will also obtain accreditation from the South African National Accreditation System to ensure the credibility of the CMA mark of approval.

Minnaar acknowledges that the scheme will need to be marketed very well to ensure that it has the buy-in of professional bodies involved in specifying products. The CMA will also need to demonstrate that its mark scheme has the same level of credentials as other marks on the market.

“After all, the SABS is merely an accredited agency and the CMA will be testing the same standards through a different accredited verification agency,” he concludes.

The SABS has come under scrutiny over deviating from standard product certification processes in the manufacturing of plastic pipes, with the bureau responding in a formal statement, issued on May 11, that it would be conducting an internal preliminary investigation into the allegations of noncompliance in line with its policy.