The Structural Timber Association (STA) is proud to once again be an Industry Partner with this year's Offsite Expo, taking place 20-21 September 2022 at the Coventry Building Society Arena and will be showcasing the importance of its STA Assure accreditation.
Exhibiting on stand F10, the STA will be continuing to represent the collective interests of its members by providing confidence in the use of structural timber across the construction industry, all of which is underpinned by STA Assure, the STA's Quality Assurance Scheme. In addition to this, the STA team will also be explaining how members are supported and how the association encourages the increased use of structural timber.
It is crucial to ensure a programme of continuous improvement for any quality assurance scheme, and this is something that is in place for STA Assure to ensure that the scheme remains of high quality and robust. The most recent updates to STA Assure includes a focus on good management processes that once was solely factory based but has now been extended to the site installation process.
In order for members to attain an STA Assure accreditation, the installers must have successfully completed The Timber Frame Competency Accreditation Scheme (TFCAS). TFCAS is specifically designed for installers and is a focused programme that tests the capabilities and knowledge of installers across various structural timber systems in order to promote best practice. Currently, the scheme covers three subject areas: practical skills, knowledge skills and health and safety skills.
As part of the ongoing enhancements to ensure members and clients alike are confident of the audit scheme as well as the robustness of the installer competency scheme, the STA have added a further module to the programme. The additional subject matter covers the installation of cavity barriers, essential to the construction process and the safe use of structural timber. Furthermore, third-party invigilation for the testing aspect of TFCAS has been introduced to further bolster the strength of the accreditation.
The STA views these changes as utterly crucial to the assurance that safety, competency and quality of construction standards come first, and this is part of the ongoing support to members and the wider industry. Both STA Assure and the competency programme schemes are regularly reviewed and updated, as part of its continuous improvement programme and increase in quality.
STA Assure safeguards the interests of end users, enabling them to partner with a reputable firm that will harness the multitude of inherent benefits that structural timber offers.
The STA's Andrew Orriss is once again on the judging panel for the Offsite Awards that runs alongside the Offsite Expo. The Offsite awards celebrate companies and projects that set the standard for innovation and expertise. The STA is also sponsoring the 'Best Use of Timber Technology Award' for this year's event.
Speaking about the Offsite Awards, Andrew said: "I'm very pleased to return to the judging panel for the 2022 Offsite Awards. Recognising true innovation in projects, products and teams is incredibly important for driving positive development within the industry. There have been many strong entries into the competition this year, so there will be plenty to celebrate and reward on the 20 September."
For more information about STA Assure and TFCA visit: www.structuraltimber.co.uk
Read the full article, go to Offsite Magazine
