BBA’s Ronseal testing confirms it does what it says on the tin
The British Board of Agrément is the UK’s leading construction products certification body. They offer approval, certification and test services to manufacturers of products and systems.
If someone creates and develops a new product and wants to market that product as best they can, it makes sense to have it checked to make sure it’s safe and fit for purpose.
Operating for over 50 years, the BBA is widely regarded as the best stamp of approval you can get, and having a BBA Agrément Certificate on a product gives it a significant advantage over any competition there might be in the market. The BBA provides certification for a wide range of products, from building insulation systems, road surfacing and windows & doors to paints, sealants, adhesives and many more.
The Ronseal products tested and certified by the BBA fit very well into the BBA’s long list of accredited clients, having passed all the stringent assessment tests needed to be approved as a reliable and robust product choice that literally does what it says on the tin.
In addition, as the UK’s leading authority on the assessment of insulation products and installation techniques, the BBA also regularly carries out inspections and surveys as part of its successful working relationships with Local Authorities and Housing Associations throughout the UK. The BBA’s consultancy, investigation and training division offers bespoke support and advice across a range of construction-related markets.
Interested in the technical details? Read BBA’s statement on the Ronseal testing below
Highly skilled test experts at the British Board of Agrément proved their versatility when a market-leading manufacturer of wood care products submitted a range for BBA Certification.
The Ronseal Trade range, which includes 10 Year Woodstain, Ultra Tough Floor Varnish and Crystal Clear Exterior Varnish, was dispatched to the BBA’s hi-tech test centre in Watford, Hertfordshire, to be put through its paces in exhaustive testing conducted over a number of months.
As BBA Senior Test Technician David Durrant explained, each of the 10 products required precise assessment against a variety of standards and performance criteria and, while the number of tests carried out on each product wasn’t unusual, the sheer volume conducted across the entire product range required a versatile and hands-on approach.
“At one point we had more than 400 panels of Ronseal-coated substrate material being tested,” said Mr Durrant. “Our test technicians had to apply the product to each substrate (hard wood, soft wood, steel etc) in full accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, precisely measuring the exact grammes of paint to be applied at the right thickness and temperature. Many finishes required one or more coats and most days we had racks of substrates drying and two or three people dedicated to painting more. Almost every member of the team was involved in preparing the substrates at one point or another. It was quite an undertaking.”
For Ronseal, BBA Certification was crucial because it gives end users additional reassurance that the Trade Range, which achieves quicker drying times and a longer lasting finish, has passed verified, independent testing and delivered on Ronseal’s ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’ promise.
“BBA Certification is an important part of our on-going trade strategy,” said Ronseal Senior Product Manager Chris Morgan. “Its major benefit is that our claims are tested and verified by an independent body, delivering the trust and reassurance our trade customers seek when picking a product. Their reputation and quality of work is critical for on-going success and Ronseal is the only wood care brand to have BBA Certification across its full range of products. All BBA Certificated products carry the BBA logo and reference on the back of packs.”
The Trade Range was subjected to a wide range of tests pertinent to each product, including UV aging to assess fading and colour changes; fungal resistance, abrasion and scrubbability, extensibility, tensile strength, cross-cutting, resistance to hard-body impacts, water vapor permeability, gloss, hardness, ease of over coating, slip resistance etc.
“This was a large and challenging project due to the sheer number of test samples that had to be prepared and it drew on the expertise of a multitude of people,” said Mr Durrant, who led the work. “We also had quite a tight deadline to work to. The testing team was highly diligent in meeting the requirements of this deadline while also ensuring the work was carried out with the precision and due diligence that is expected of the BBA.”
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