Standards, certification, compliance and approvals – your assurance of performance
Terminology
Standards, certification, compliance and approvals are common terms in manufacturers’ literature, detailing the performance of their products. Standards are the rules and guidelines that prove quality of construction. They are normally developed by official bodies such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
Certification is independent confirmation that the product meets the standard that the manufacturer claims. Certification is normally conducted by 3rd party auditing bodies such as the British Board of Agrément (BBA) who provide the manufacturers with appropriate certification such as UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA).
Compliance is the ongoing commitment that manufacturers make to ensure that their certified products continue to meet the agreed standards. This compliance is normally audited by specialist external consultants (e.g. The Building Safety Regulator) listed as an UK Market Conformity Assessment body.
Approvals are the formal authorisation or permission granted by an authority to proceed with a project or plan. Approvals can be dependent on compliance, certification, and meeting required standards.
The Standard sets what quality looks like, the Certification is the official recognition of achievement. Compliance is the audited commitment to continue reaching that Standard and Approvals are the permissions to proceed, all the above requirements having been met.
Why Standards Matter
Stormwater management assets, such as SuDS attenuation and stormwater treatment systems must do more than safeguard water quality and provide storage capacity. Long-term performance, safety, and compliance are critical to ensure systems remain fit for purpose years after installation.
Standards are integral to this process. The British Standards Institution (BSI) states that Standards provide trusted frameworks for quality, safety, and efficiency, acting as benchmarks that boost trust, open global markets, drive innovation, reduce waste, and help meet sustainability goals.
Full compliance with the relevant standard(s) is essential. Some manufacturers may select specific parts of a standard and claim compliance, misleading users into thinking that a product meets the entire standard. Manufacturers’ claims therefore, must be supported by credible, independent audits that are transparent in detailing the full scope of the assessment.
Due diligence insists that anyone involved in the design, installation, or adoption of SuDS systems ensures that the specified products are compliant with relevant industry standards, are certified to pertinent industry specifications and meet applicable certifications and approvals. This provides the reassurance that the products are fit for purpose and will perform as expected.
Certification & Compliance
Certification is the third-party proof that an organisation, product, or person meets Regulatory rules and Standards, acting like a quality stamp or diploma.
- CE/UKCA Marking: Conformité Européenne or UKCA marking is required by law for all construction products in the UK.
- British & International Standards: British Standard (BS), British Standard European Norm (BS EN), and BS ISO ensure functional and structural integrity.
- Independent Certification: Where no product standard exists, evaluation by an United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) -accredited body, such as BBA, Water Research Centre (WRc), or BSI validates performance and safety.
Regional Compliance
- England: Water Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT)’s Sewerage Sector Guidance Appendix C Design and Construction Guidance (DCG), plus Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) approval.
- Scotland: Scottish Water is the adopting body and SuDS must meet the requirements of Sewers for Scotland (4th edition) and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) oversight.
- Wales: Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010, with SuDS Approval Bodies applying statutory standards and the requirements of the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) SuDS Manual.
- Northern Ireland: SuDS approval in Northern Ireland is evolving, moving towards formal regulation with new legislation in the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill. The current process involves a planning application following specific council guidelines.
Highways Compliance
Drainage devices for highways must meet National Highways’ Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) specifications. Departures from DMRB requires a formal approval process.
Mitigation Compliance
CIRIA’s SuDS Manual C753 provides hazard indices for each type of pollutant in a range of site types. Mitigation Indices (MIs) are provided for vegetative SuDS components (green infrastructure) such as ponds, swales, detention basins, etc whereas proprietary manufactured treatment devices (grey infrastructure) require independently certified metrics evaluating the effectiveness of manufacturers’ stormwater treatment components in removing pollutants from surface water runoff.
The globally recognised test protocols for manufactured treatment devices:-
- British Water: Assessment of Manufactured Treatment Devices Designed to Treat Surface Water Runoff
- DIBt (German Institute for Construction Technology) tests for stormwater devices
- NJCAT (New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology) protocols for stormwater devices
To determine MIs from results derived from the test procedures above, follow the calculation methodology set out in British Water’s How To Guide: Applying the CIRIA SuDS Manual (C753) Simple Index Approach to Proprietary/Manufactured Stormwater Treatment Devices.
Designers must then include SuDS components in the treatment train which have combined Mitigation Indices equal to or exceeding the hazard indices. This is essential for both meeting regulatory requirements and safeguarding public health. It also helps designers and engineers, by ensuring that all manufacturers’ products are tested and evaluated to the same standards.
Beyond Compliance
Due diligence extends beyond certification. For example, attenuation devices must integrate with wider SuDS systems, supporting treatment capability and effective maintenance.
• ADS StormTech – Certification, compliance and approvals
• ADS Arcadia – Certification, compliance and approvals
