LABC starts 2019 with quality management success

LABC is celebrating the new year with the news that 135 of its local authority teams have received their UKAS accredited ISO 9001 certification for quality management in just the first year.

Just under 200 teams in total have joined up for the certification process so far and the remaining teams are expected to gain accredited status in the third phase later this year.

The process began back in December 2017 when Alcumus ISOQAR conducted a full document review of LABC's quality management system to determine conformance to the standards and suitability for purpose.

A further audit began in February with a two-person day audit at LABC offices. This audit continued with a sample of eight authorities (out of 45) before the final audit in May at LABC in Vauxhall.

Every aspect of building control is subject to audit from leadership of teams to individual commitment of team members, controls to ensure smooth running of processes and tasks, training and competency across every service under the public-sector building control remit.

Phase two got underway in April 2018 with events across England and Wales and external audit of a further ten local building control teams including London, metropolitan, unitary and district councils.

It is testimony to these teams that not a single item of non-conformance was identified, demonstrating the LABC network's full compliance with the International Standard for Quality. Each participating team will shortly receive an ISO 9001 Certificate with the scope 'The provision of public sector building control and public protection services'.

Commenting LABC Chief Executive, Paul Everall, who has personally written to each successful team, said, "All the work on standards, competencies and validation will mean our network can contribute to the transformation of the construction sector being demanded by the government.

"This ISO process is a vital part of LABC's development – it illustrates to government, the LGA, decision makers, the wider industry and our partners in fire safety that public service building control has the expertise, standards and capacity it needs for the future."