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CFA launches Approved Distributor scheme
The Construction Fixings Associated marked associate member company, or by the CFA The new scheme will enable any company
the launch of a new associate membership brand supplied. The objective is to assist an who provides a site testing service for fixings,
scheme by extending Approved Distributor installer or contractor to locate the right supplier, and meets the CFA’s requirements, to be
status to Surrey-based Kem Edwards at the and this is facilitated by a search recognised as an Approved
beginning of April. function that shows the nearest Tester for this critical aspect
The Approved Distributor certificate was five distributors to a postcode or of ensuring the safety of
presented to Kem Edwards managing director, location. In an unusual fixings. The scheme will be
Richard Edwards, by Dr Pietro Grandesso, refinement, distances are launched to the Approved
chairman of the CFA and managing director of calculated using route-planning Distributors first via a series
fischer fixings UK Ltd. Also present was general software instead of as the crow of free training days to be
manager of the Construction Fixings Association, flies, and a map of the held at various regional
Mark Salmon, and representatives of other full distributor’s location can be locations. At these sessions
CFA members. displayed together with directions presentations will be made
The objective of the Approved Distributor and journey time estimates. on the technology of fixings
scheme is to recognise distributors that operate Each Approved Distributor has to ensure staff members
to high standards of service with good levels of a detailed listing, describing its understand how fixings
technical knowledge, offer products from at operation, delivery service, work, how they should be
least one full CFA member and promote the product categories stocked, selected and installed and,
benefits of European Technical Approvals for contact options and a link to the
Training will cover “How fixings work”
as well as testing procedures.
once these important
safety critical applications. In addition to holding company’s own website. fundamentals have been
stock from a CFA member in reasonable depth, The CFA is currently running a campaign in covered, how they should be tested. Staff
the Approved Distributor is expected to organise UK construction industry print and online media, members who satisfy an assessment test will
training of installers on installation procedures using a series of popular quiz show themes be awarded a Certificate of Competence and the
and to organise on site testing where necessary. with the common message “Ask the Experts”. company will be recognised as an Approved
“In other words,” says Mark Salmon, “Ensuring The campaign links directly to the CFA website. Tester. Help will be given with acquiring the
Best Fixings Practice.” “We are not looking for thousands of comprehensive Hydrajaws Tester Kit, which will
members in this scheme,” says Mark Salmon, be a pre-requisite for membership of the
“but as the message gets round we are scheme. Once launched to the Approved
confident the numbers will increase to provide Distributors the CFA does plan to open the
users with a good geographical spread and scheme to other companies but there will be a
accessibility to CFA Approved Distributors.” charge for the training and auditing of the
“Of course it is impractical to expect necessary requirements. More details will be
Approved Distributors to exclusively supply CFA given to the Approved Distributors at the CFA’s
members products, although we would September event. Mark Salmon says, “This is
naturally be delighted if they were to do so. We further evidence of the commitment the CFA is
do, though, expect them to ensure that the making to ensuring that fixings are safe…and it
products they supply, from whatever source, are is not the end of the CFA’s plans for training.
manufactured to recognised quality standards. Watch this space!”
Our objective is to appoint associates which
possess the technical know how, the service
ethos and commercial integrity to meet the
Currently the CFA recognises eighteen CFA’s key aim of ‘Ensuring Best Fixings
Approved Distributors with a total of thirty Practice’.”
branches across the UK, in addition to the 23 Distributors wishing to discuss how to
branches of full member, Hilti. To be considered achieve CFA Approved Distributor status will
for associate membership a distributor has to be have the ideal opportunity at Fastener Fair
nominated by a full CFA member, and can Coventry, where the Construction Fixings
continue as an Approved Distributor as long as it Association has its own stand, D19, for the first
has the support of that member. The key time.
qualifier, according to Mark Salmon, is quality “The CFA is also planning its first Approved
rather than scale, which is why some relatively Distributor event to be held on 25 September at
small companies, as well as larger established the National Motor Cycle Museum,” explains
l-r: Mark Salmon: John Muir, technical manager, Hilti GB
ones, have already qualified. Mark Salmon. “During quite a packed day one
Ltd: Dr Pietro Grandesso: Richard Edwards: Len
The CFA is strongly committed to bringing the of the highlights will be the launch of yet
Macknamara, managing director, 2K polymer systems ltd:
scheme to the attention of the construction another CFA scheme – this time for Approved
Chris Morley, specifications manager, Rawlplug Ltd: Andrew
market and has dedicated a specific section of Testers.” Thomas, technical manager, ITW Spit Fixings
its website,
www.fixingscfa.co.uk, to its
Approved Distributors. In
addition to an explanation of
how the companies qualify a
searchable listing is published,
which can be viewed
alphabetically by location, by
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