British Group Sets Fencing Inspection Guidelines
WARWICKSHIRE, England – The Quality Fencing Assurance Scheme (Qfas) recently published draft guidelines for its perimeter fencing inspection regime, expected to be implemented in early 2005.
Qfas is being launched to raise standards in the fencing sector, through a program of inspections, auditing, and education. It will offer customers 10 year warranty protection for a wide variety of fencing types and systems.
Following the Qfas fencing industry conference in September, a number of important details regarding the operation of the scheme have been reviewed by companies supporting Qfas.
“One key area of concern was how to establish an inspections regime that was both rigorous and meaningful, yet which was not too expensive to run,” says Qfas Chairman Graham Harper. “The solution arrived at by the sub-committee achieves this and we are now inviting comment from all companies interested in signing up to Qfas.”
Under the guidelines it is proposed that all Qfas installation member companies will appoint suitably qualified inspectors from among their own senior staff, who will be responsible for inspecting every Qfas -protected installation upon completion, and additionally on large contracts, during installation.
These in-company inspectors will be given training and guidance by Qfas, and will attend regular Qfas organized local meetings plus an annual inspectors_ workshop, as well as receiving regular bulletins covering best practice and highlighting problems found.
They will work with Qfas’ own independent inspectors, who will be appointed to double-check a randomly selected sample of installations from each company, each year.
“We believe that this program of 100 percent self-inspection backed by regular and random independent third-party inspection will be effective without imposing unnecessary additional costs,” adds Harper.
The draft guidelines also set out the frequency of random inspections; the training and qualifications requirements for in-company inspectors; and the requirements for the independent inspectors who will be appointed when the scheme is launched.
The Qfas-appointed independent inspectors will be experienced fencing consultants with no commercial links to Qfas members. The guidelines are available for industry review and comment can be found on the Qfas Web site. www.qfas.ltd