Content Republished with permission from the Builders and Contractors magazine, Issue #141
The world of steel construction in New Zealand is constantly striving to improve and with the introduction of the Bolt Import Charter (BIC) scheme, it’s only getting better.
Steel Construction New Zealand (SCNZ) has played a massive part in ensuring companies are able to commit to these changes.
SCNZ technical director Kevin Cowie says the Bolt Importer Charter is the latest steel construction industry quality assurance programme.
“It complements the Steel Fabrication Certification programme launched in 2014 and the Structural Steel Distributor Charter launched in 2019.
“The Bolt Importer Charter ensures that fasteners and anchor bolts supplied to the local steel construction sector are sourced using good procurement practice and represents a mark of excellence for bolt importers in New Zealand,” Kevin says.
Steel & Tube is the first company in New Zealand to achieve the Bolt Importer Charter, having been independently audited to satisfy the requirements of the charter.
Steel & Tube Group Product Manager, Tait Mitchell, says it was never a race to be the first company.
“When the idea about the charter came out, we decided to go for it straight away as we already trusted the processes we had in place. Steel & Tube has always considered itself a leader in the industry,” Tait says.
Tait explains the BIC is important as it’s designed to promote and reward best practice in sourcing structural fasteners.
“It’s important to provide assurance to the market that the range you sell is fit for purpose and achieves the level of compliance the industry is looking for.
Steel & Tube’s achievement in gaining the increased compliance has made customers very happy as they know Steel & Tube has gone down the path of a trusted product and process.
Tait says they’re in a market where increased testing and compliance are the norm. He says many businesses do not want the risk of buying non-compliant products, especially when structural fasteners represent so little of the overall cost of the project.
“However, a failure could result in a building collapse and lives lost.”
To achieve chartered status, Steel & Tube had to review all its internal policies and make changes if needed. Then it hired an external auditor to assess its procedures to ensure compliance with the requirements of the BIC. “Achieving the charter is a good image for the whole industry. It means the industry is providing high-quality product that is tested and trusted throughout New Zealand.”
D&H Steel Construction is benefiting from the BIC as it’s now receiving tested and trusted products consistently.
D&H Steel managing director, Wayne Carson, says the BIC is one more initiative the industry has been driving around compliance and the structural steel contractor has been crusading for the compliance message.
“It’s been three years in the making. Steel & Tube, to its credit, is at the forefront by adopting this. It gives us confidence we are receiving compliant bolts and it sends the message to clients that we are meeting standards and codes. It naturally means we will be purchasing more product through them,” Wayne says.
“This is another commitment to maintaining a higher benchmark. There are very specific standards that bolt manufactures and suppliers have to meet.
“They have to think about performance and expectations, and have random testing. They need to have a programme with quality controls.”
“The Bolt Importer Charter lays out the expectation that distributors do their due diligence on the manufacturing.”
Wayne says structural engineers and council building officials are looking for evidence that the bolts are meeting the standards and the BIC is another way they’re providing confidence and evidence. “Steel & Tube is leading by example,” he says.
To find out more about the Bolt Importer Charter and what it could mean for your company, visit the SCNZ website at: www.scnz.org.
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