National Standards are designed to ensure a consistent level of quality, safety, and efficiency across industries by providing a common framework for best practices. They help establish reliability in products, services, and processes by setting minimum requirements that organisations must meet. These Standards often incorporate expert knowledge, scientific research, and industry feedback, making them valuable tools for maintaining performance and gaining consumer trust. Additionally, they can promote compatibility, streamline production, and facilitate trade by ensuring that businesses meet universally accepted benchmarks.
However, national Standards do not always guarantee the highest quality, as they primarily establish a baseline rather than push for innovation or excellence. In some cases, they may become outdated or rigid, limiting flexibility for businesses to adopt newer, more efficient methods. Compliance with national Standards can also become a bureaucratic hurdle, where organisations focus more on meeting formal requirements rather than improving actual quality. Ultimately, while National Standards contribute to consistency and safety, true quality depends on how well businesses implement and exceed these benchmarks.
The QUALICOAT Specification for architectural powder coating goes much further than any national Standard. Whilst British Standards are reviewed for possible updates every five years, the QUALICOAT Specification is updated in real time with updates being issued to licensed members to supplement the printed Specification which is fully rewritten at least once a year. This ensures that all licensed members are coating to the very latest technology and methodology available. The Specification is also far more concise than any national Standard explaining equipment required, application processes, timings and production measurements in greater detail.
Perhaps even more important than the Specification itself is the licensing of all members of the Association. Only when a license is granted, after several plant inspections to show that a company can adhere to the Specification, can a powder manufacturer, pre-treatment supplier, or powder coater claim to be working to the QUALICOAT Specification and prove that their output reaches the most up to date Specification laid down by QUALICOAT. This is where third party inspections are key to maintaining quality. Members are subject to regular, unannounced production specification by a regional, independent test house. These inspections ensure that all licensed members of QUALICOAT are working to the Specification.
Members who fail inspections? If there is a minor non-compliance, the member must quickly update their procedures and they are then subject to a further unannounced inspection. Failing this, QUALICOAT will withdraw their license from that member who must also remove the QUALICOAT label of conformity from all their paperwork and marketing information. The UK & Ireland Association has lost one member this year, having their licence withdrawn. Usually companies who lose their label of conformity take time to update their equipment and procedures and often reapply for a licence.
The process of license granting ensures that specifiers of architectural powder coating are getting the very best powder coating, protecting their reputation, the main contractors reputation and offering building clients confidence in recognising the benefit of the QUALICOAT label.
Should you wish to learn more about membership of QUALICOAT please get in touch. All QUALICOAT UK & Ireland members are available to offer advice and can be found on the Association website at qualicoatuki.org
