Vuba, a UK manufacturer of full resin bound flooring systems for exterior use, has recently achieved third-party Agrément certification with the British Board of Agrément (BBA).
Sean Scott founded Vuba in 2009, initially focussing on producing maintenance products made from resin and as part of this, produced some resin bound surfacing products. In 2018 the company introduced marble aggregates, which were previously considered to be too weak for resin bound flooring systems. However, after extensive testing of various marble aggregates, Vuba identified certain types that were highly durable and worked exceptionally well within their system. This innovation enabled Vuba to offer a wider range of attractive colours, which quickly gained popularity in the market on a global scale and became the core part of Vuba’s business.
The company made significant investments in research and development, conducting rigorous internal testing before pursuing third-party certification from the BBA. Their aim was to demonstrate the quality and durability of their complete system, facilitating further growth in the commercial sector.
Sean Scott commented, “As a company, we have always been innovative and focused on product testing. We found that BBA certification is an excellent way to demonstrate our product quality through a recognised independent third party. The BBA process was very thorough but highly worthwhile. Having the BBA’s third-party stamp of approval has already opened doors from specifiers for large commercial projects.”
The resin bound flooring industry is still very much in its infancy and has faced quality issues in the past, particularly concerning installation and the absence of British Standards. By undergoing the BBA certification process, Vuba has helped establish a framework that defines what high-quality entails. To further ensure quality, Vuba introduced an approved installer scheme, enabling consistent, high-standard installers with their system.
Sean further added, “We had to allow substantial time for the testing process, including site visits and inspections by the BBA team. Their responsiveness and technical expertise were invaluable, particularly during discussions about suitable tests for aggregates. They introduced us to new testing methods that we found both interesting and beneficial. Moreover, the work that we completed to obtain BBA certification has streamlined our application for ISO 9001 accreditation, which has been relatively straightforward as a result, because of the work already done with the BBA.”
In conclusion Sean further added, “The BBA has a really strong reputation, not just in the UK but internationally. In Ireland, for example, we were specifically asked for BBA certification, which validates the effort we’ve put in to achieving this standard. The certification reassures our customers that our product and system is fit for purpose. Since obtaining the BBA certification, we have secured more projects through specification, including a large residential development of around 8000 square metres. We won that project in part based on having the BBA certificate, which gave us an advantage over our competitors.”
Katy Roberts, Sales and Marketing Director for the BBA, commented, “With new, innovative Agrément products entering the market, and where no standards or criteria for quality and safety currently exist, it is crucial to establish standards and procedures early on to gain quality and trust in the market. This also helps provide suitable testing processes, consistency and quality for future products to meet, ensuring they are fit for purpose. The BBA aims to act as driving force to help innovative manufactures secure quality benchmarks, this can help companies distinguish their products from other competitors and improve trust within the sector.”
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