BS 99001 is the draft standard currently in development which provides additional Quality Management System requirements and guidance to those specified in BS EN ISO 9001, specifically for organizations operating in the built environment sector. We asked David Myers, Shirley Parsons Associate and a member of the Technical Committee for the standard to give us a briefing:
What is BS 99001?
BS 99001 Quality management systems for the built environment sector) is a derivative of ISO9001 focused on the needs of the construction industry.
Who needs to be aware of BS 99001?
The standard is aimed at every party in the construction process, from Client through Design contractors to construction sub-tier contractors.
Why is it being developed?
The construction industry recognises that it still has a significantly worse quality performance than almost every other industry segment in the UK (and the world). The new standard incorporates the quality steps necessary to tackle the common quality issues experienced in the construction industry today.
Why should businesses think about becoming certified to it? What are the benefits?
The key benefit of the new standard is that better quality delivers lower costs and minimises the time taken to deliver a project overall. Thus, implementing the standard should drive profits and the reputation of companies that adopt the disciplines. It is likely that the standard becomes an industry norm (as similar systems have been within Aerospace and Oil & Gas) and that clients specify certification to the standard as a pre-requisite of tendering.
How does BS 99001 interact with the Building Safety Regulations?
The standard has been developed in a post-Grenfell world, and processes to meet Building Safety Legislation have been incorporated in the document.
What are the differences between ISO 9001 and BS 99001?
While the fundamental principles of ISO9001 have not been changed, and there are many changes introduced to ensure that the necessary steps are made in the construction environment to deliver the best possible project quality.
How much time/resources will it take to become certified?
There is no single answer to this question; for a well-disciplined, process-driven organisation delivering best practice quality today, the process could be quick and relatively easy. For organisations with a greater gap to best practice quality delivery, the changes could be substantial with a significant amount of organisational and cultural change required.
What are the timescales?
The final consultation process closes in July 2021, and the technical committee will be reviewing the feedback before finalising the standard details. We expect the final standard to be launched at the start of 2022, although most qualities-focused construction businesses are already looking at how they plan to adopt the standard.
How can Shirley Parsons help & why should I use you?
The Shirley Parsons team have many years working at the front line of construction industry quality delivery in the UK (with Clients, Tier 1 contractors and sub-contractors), and a number of us have been directly involved in the development of BS 99001 and thus have an excellent understanding of the new standard.
We provide a BS 99001 Gap Analysis to help companies identify their position against the new standard and what actions they need to talk to ensure effective certification. We also have several other methods and tools available to improve the quality of construction projects.