With its membership now nearing 450 joinery and manufacturing companies, and a growing number of suppliers, drawn from across England, Scotland and Wales, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) is firmly established as the representative voice of the woodworking industry.

To take on this role successfully, an organisation needs credibility in the eyes of the wider world. The BWF has always believed that this is founded on the standards of its members. Even when faced with a membership crisis in the mid-1990s, the BWF chose not to lower standards in the hope of more recruits; it maintained and tightened the criteria, so that BWF membership represented a mark of quality.

The expansion of BWF membership was underpinned by two product accreditation schemes, which aimed to raise the standards of timber products as well as promote and market them.

The BWF Timber Window Accreditation Scheme was devised to win back market share from rival materials.

BWF Accredited Timber Windows have to meet rigorous technical requirements under independent test conditions. These are being progressively ratcheted up, so that BWF Accredited Timber Windows are not just good products, but are becoming better and aim to be the best available.

Continuous development

Meanwhile, a programme of continuous product development and research seeks innovation and technical improvement. Most recently, a range of ‘best of breed’ windows produced by the accredited manufacturers and suppliers in the scheme have been installed at BRE in a three year ‘Showcase’ test project to prove the quality of their performance.

The BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door and Doorset Scheme set out to ensure that fire doors provided by scheme members could be relied upon to do the job expected of them by outlawing sub-standard products and manufacturing. This again has meant rigorous product standards, comprehensively verified by an independent third party, and the involvement of suppliers in the scheme.

The BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme has actively promoted the installation of complete fire door assemblies as the most effective means of guaranteeing the fire door’s performance.

Both schemes require manufacturers and suppliers to have recognised quality control systems and to undergo a regular audit process. They are also looking towards recruiting retailers and installers into the schemes to provide the total guaranteed supply chain.

The marketing of the schemes has focused on the importance of looking for the BWF label. These labels are permanent, tamper-evident and individually numbered to provide a fully traceable record back to the manufacturer.

Guaranteed products

Having guaranteed specific products, the BWF turned its attention to providing a guarantee of its members’ wider standards. Prospective members have always been vetted before joining to ensure that they met the Federation’s expectations. Now the BWF has developed a Code of Conduct, covering areas ranging from financial status through customer care to technical expertise, to ensure that its members continue to do so.

The Code’s objective is to set standards, and if anyone is found to fall short, to help BWF members achieve them. The BWF is adamant that the Code is not intended as a punishment device, although sanctions and ultimately expulsion are possible for those who are persistently found wanting.

The next step is implementation. All existing BWF members will be expected to comply fully with the Code by January 1, 2004, and will be subject to a regular inspection visit at least once every four years. The Federation is recruiting a team of expert assessors to undertake this task. All new members will be given 12 months to come up to scratch.

The BWF has played a pivotal role in rejuvenating the UK joinery industry, returning timber to its rightful place as both a vital structural and decorative material. The new Code and the product accreditation schemes mean that specifiers and consumers can continue to choose timber with confidence.