NBS and BDA join forces to ensure industry best practice

As part of a mutual commitment to align standards and improve quality, NBS and BDA have joined forces to improve the connections between manufacturers and built environment professionals. This is important for the success of brickwork, which is a material that is dependent on site construction.

The relationship clearly highlights the importance of best practice, linking architects, specifiers and engineers with BDA’s technical standards, guaranteeing clear, definitive instruction and guidance for brick specification, design and construction.

NBS Chorus, the flagship specification writing platform, offers the most comprehensive, high-quality content available with multiple content sets and links to standards relating to the design and specification of bricks and brickwork. These are available to download here: https://www.thenbs.com/PublicationIndex/documents?Pub=BDA.

Sean Wilkins, Technical Manager at BDA, adds, “As the trade association for UK brick manufacturers, we have a keen interest in guaranteeing the highest quality in brick construction. We recognise the NBS as one of the most important routes for designers to communicate their requirements with bricklayers.

“An important part of our remit is to develop standards at a British and European level, however the construction sector is very broad, which can make clear communications difficult. Our partnership with NBS seeks to overcome this challenge. We look forward to working with them to ensure that the latest technical standards and specification requirements are shared with the industry, supporting the essential work they do to reduce misunderstanding.”

Richard Waterhouse, CSO, NBS, says, “The new building safety system and tighter regulations mean construction product manufacturers’ production processes, testing procedures and specification information will come under immense scrutiny. Dovetailing with the Golden Thread, manufacturers will be expected and, if necessary, compelled to provide precise performance and certification details.”

He adds, “This important, significant partnership will ensure the BDA’s clay brick and paver manufacturers can align their information with the NBS’s high standards, which can then be presented to building specifiers in a concise, and structured yet thorough, format. This will allow specifiers and manufacturers to meet new technical standards and specification requirements.

“Commenting on the partnership, Sascia Elliott, Head of Partnership, NBS, says, “By teaming up with BDA, both organisations can increase their reach and help the industry work more effectively. This is all about driving up quality across the built environment.”

She adds, “Providing expert information efficiently and accurately in an integrated way enables professionals to do their jobs faster and more accurately. This approach is already acting as a catalyst, strengthening links so that the wider construction industry can take advantage of the power of digital.”

Learn more about the Brick Development Association here: https://www.brick.org.uk.