BBA PRESENTS FIRST TWO MCS
CERTIFICATES
The British Board of Agrément has issued its first two MCS
Certificates. These are the result of a certification process set
out in the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). The two
products are the Clearline Solar Collector from Viridian Solar
(Certificate
0001) and TopSola TSM-160M Solar Photovoltaic Modules from MAP
Environmental (Certificate
0002).
The BBA is accredited by UKAS to certify microgeneration
products against the requirements of the MCS. However, this is not
the same as our Agrément Certificates, which address all relevant
aspects of the performance of a product. The MCS is much more
limited, focusing primarily on the energy-providing capabilities of
a product, although proposed amendments to the scheme may take
things a little further.
Viridian Solar already had a full Agrément Certificate showing
how it meets regulatory and other non-statutory requirements of
roof components. Stuart Elmes, Chief Executive of Viridian Solar,
said: ‘We welcome the BBA becoming approved assessors for the MCS
scheme. They were a good choice for Viridian because of our earlier
work together to create the first Agrément Certificate for a solar
panel.’
MAP Environmental (also seeking full Agrément Certification)
said: ‘We at MAP Environmental are excited about the confidence
that the BBA Agrément Certificate on our photovoltaic systems will
give and will also increase consumer confidence in the photovoltaic
market’.
We at the BBA believe that more specifiers and purchasers will
be looking for the same additional reassurance of product
performance provided by Agrément Certificates for in- and on-roof
microgeneration products that they look for from other roofing
products, and we look forward to announcements in that regard
shortly. Our approach will be to address further key issues of
interest to the consumer, designer, specifier or architect such as
regulatory compliance and assessment of structural stability,
durability, output performance, weatherproofing and practicability
of installation’.
CHANGE TO THERMAL INSULATION
The introduction of a range of harmonised European (EN)
standards for thermal insulation products prompted many suppliers
to the UK market to declare reliable characteristic values for
thermal conductivity.
The characteristic λ90/90 values may appear less favourable than
values quoted in Agrément Certificates; however, it is worth
bearing in mind that they have evolved from the mean measured
thermal conductivity values to give a better representation of the
thermal conductivity of an insulation product. The λ90/90 values
help to ensure the declared thermal conductivity relates to 90% of
production with a 90% confidence level.
The BBA has a duty to work towards a level playing and our
objective is to ensure that the thermal performance of all Agrément
approved insulation is declared at a 90/90 confidence level within
the next 12 to 18 months.
To do this in a way that is fair to all clients and users of BBA
certificates we are running the conversion as a project whereby,
sector by sector, we contact holders of all "non compliant"
Certificates with the aim of revising their quoted conductivity
values by insulation type. During this period of transition we are
urging all applicants to adopt the λ90/90 approach as soon as
practicable.
By doing this as a single project we hope to be able to deliver
the service cost-effectively and that saving will be passed to our
clients.
If you have any questions or queries then please speak to your
Project Manager or the BBA Sales and Marketing Department on +44
(0)1923 665300.
CREO AWARDED CERTIFICATE FOR ICF
SYSTEMS
UK based insulated concrete formwork producer Creo
Manufacturing Ltd is delighted to have achieved BBA approval for
their ICF Wall System (Certificate
09/4707).
The key factors assessed included:
- Structural aspects — the system components
have adequate strength to resist the loads associated with
installation loading.
- Thermal insulation — the system
contributes to the overall thermal performance of the wall
construction.
- Condensation — walls, openings and
junctions with other elements will adequately limit the risk of
surface and interstitial condensation.
- Behaviour in relation to fire — walls will
provide adequate fire performance, provided the system is used in
conjunction with suitable materials.
- Sound insulation — separating and internal
walls with the minimum concrete core density and detailing provides
sufficient sound resistance.
- Durability — the system components are
durable.
‘I approached the BBA in Mid 2009 after some months of
frustration talking to another organisation in the UK’, says Creo
Chairman, Colin Wakefield. ‘I set the BBA tight deadlines, looking
for the Certificate to be awarded by early January 2010 and they
committed to meet these and in fact the Certificate was issued just
before Christmas - a bit ahead of the deadline.’
Colin went on to say ‘I can hardly praise the BBA team highly
enough. The sales guys were receptive to our demands and the
engineers and Certificate writers jumped around too.
With the BBA Certificate backing our product, we will be
beginning some major projects this year and have ambitious plans
for the further development of the Creo system throughout the
UK.’