Westcountry Fabrication has successfully upgraded its Factory Production Control (FPC) certification following a recent audit by SCCS. We continue to comply with the Construction Products Regulations (CPR) and, with this upgrade, are now authorised to fabricate steel structures up to Execution Class 3 (EXC3). This expands our capabilities to include larger projects such as bridges, high-rise buildings and floating offshore platforms.

Certification Compliance for Structural Steel

Steel fabricators must hold the necessary certifications to legally supply structural steelwork in Great Britain. Specifically, manufacturers must possess both a Factory Production Control (FPC) certificate and a Welding Certificate from a notified body, demonstrating compliance with BS EN 1090, which permits them to apply the UKCA mark to their products.

Contrary to some beliefs, small-scale fabricators are not exempt from these regulations. All load-bearing structural steelwork and components—such as beams for dwellings, industrial buildings, and staircases—must be UKCA marked to comply with CPR. After July 1, 2025, only the UKCA mark will be accepted; before this date, products may carry either the UKCA or CE mark.

At Westcountry Fabrication, we maintain rigorous monitoring and certification compliance, ensuring that all our products are UKCA marked. Engineers, architects, and builders must be familiar with these standards to ensure safety and compliance in their projects. Learn more about the importance of BS EN 1090 here.

The BCSA (Home | British Constructional Steelwork Association | BCSA) recommends due diligence for anyone engaging a steel fabricator.

When selecting a steel fabricator, ensure they are compliant at the quotation stage, before placing an order, by:

Requesting copies of their FPC and Welding certificates
Verifying that certificates are issued by a UKAS-accredited body (Find an accredited body here)
Confirming the execution class of the certificates meets or exceeds project requirements (https://www.steelconstruction.info/UKCA_marking)
Requesting that a declaration of performance with UKCA marking is provided as standard.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failing to verify that steel fabricators are compliant can lead to serious consequences, including:

Invalidated home/ building insurance if non-compliant steelwork is used
Client compensation claims if issues arise
Suspension, fines, or imprisonment for non-compliant fabricators
Disruptions to project timelines due to investigations

The Future: Strengthening Compliance and Safety

Westcountry Fabrication is collaborating with industry leaders to address the growing concerns surrounding non-compliance. Over the past 13 years we’ve built a strong internal team focused on material traceability and staff training, and we have engaged expert consultant Michael Lunn for invaluable ongoing compliance support. We recognize the challenges small businesses face, especially given the time, administrative effort, and financial resources required for compliance.

While smaller or newly established fabricators may have limited resources, adhering to these essential regulations is vital. The safety of end users is the foundation of the standard, whether the steelwork is for multi-story buildings, family homes, fire escapes, or balconies, product integrity is imperative. We believe there is significant potential for greater industry-wide awareness and collaboration to ensure these regulations remain both relevant and enforced.

We support the proposals in the Construction Products Reform Green Paper, which advocates for stronger penalties against non-compliant manufacturers:

"The reforms will include civil and criminal penalties for those who neglect their responsibilities or engage in misleading practices regarding product safety."

The Green Paper also highlights the need for a stronger focus on sustainability and safety, as well as learning from past tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire. It calls for a culture of safety, transparency, and quality in the construction sector.

The consultation on the Construction Products Reform is open until May 21, 2025. For any compliance-related questions, contact Trading Standards or the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). Learn more here.

We call for increased collaboration among fabricators—particularly smaller operations—and encourage our peers to “showcase your certs” to proudly demonstrate commitments to safety and compliance.

Westcountry Fabrication Ltd

‘Steelwork: Grounded in Experience, Driven by Purpose, Built with Integrity”

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