ACRS FEATURE
ACRS 2021 CERTIFICATES ARE ONLINE WITH SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES Philip Sanders, Executive Director, ACRS •
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• While 2020 has been a year we would all like to move on from, the effects of the last year have created some perverse effects we all need to be aware of and manage. Together with the pain and disruption to all our lives from the pandemic, most businesses have been severely impacted - few more so than steel traders and suppliers, and steel certifiers due to highly globalised supply chains and associated implications for continued effective verification of product conformance in Australia and New Zealand. As many of you would have read in previous ACRS features, a number of new Standards were released during 2019 and 2020, some suppliers left the local market whilst others entered, and numerous projects have found that their basic assumption that materials specified and purchased would consistently meet the required standards and specifications have been severely challenged including that materials would be supplied to projects under ACRS certification, as required. Additionally, and separately, the ACRS traceability scheme supports and enhances ACRS product scheme certification, but care still needs to be taken in a more volatile and changeable supply environment. This article covers some important recent developments in construction steels and steel supply, and some adjustments and additions to ACRS certification to reflect the new realities and provide continued confidence that materials supplied meet Standards, including:
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Construction Engineering Australia • February 2021
Further developments in the certification of AS 4671:2019 for steel reinforcing materials; ACRS accreditation to AS 4100:2020 Steel Structures complementing ACRS longstanding JAS-ANZ accredited certification of welded sections to AS/NZS 3679.2 2016 Welded I-Sections and AS/NZS 5131: 2016 Steelwork Fabrication; Traceability concerns and use of ACRS certification to effectively manage materials traceability (and awareness of misstatements regarding ACRS certification to avoid effective scrutiny of supply of affected materials), and resultingly; Changes to ACRS certification and practice (particularly rebar processing and structural welded sections fabrication) to assist steel customers easily confirm the unbroken chain of ACRS certification required to verify only ACRS certified materials have been supplied.
ACRS Certified Steel Reinforcing Materials – Manufacture and Processing The recent release of AS/NZS 4671:2019 and its product requirements initially caused some confusion in the marketplace - particularly whether the 2001 edition of AS/NZS 4671 remains valid, or whether the 2019 edition must apply to any supply delivered under ACRS certification. A transition period of 2 years is currently operating, and suppliers are progressively moving to the new Edition. ACRS early JAS-ANZ accreditation to certify to both AS/NZS 4671:2001 and AS/NZS 4671:2019 has continued to assist suppliers, building surveyors, government departments and consumers retain confidence in the uninterrupted supply of compliant materials. ACRS is continuing to issue certificates to AS/NZS 4671:2001 and seamlessly update suppliers to AS/NZS 4671:2019 as they complete their transition.