THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFICATION

When it comes to certification, whose responsibility is it to ensure that products have been tested and certified as safe for use?

In order for us to improve standards across the industry, and to help drive out the growing number of uncertified (and potentially unsafe) products from the market, we strongly believe that everyone in the supply chain should be asking for proof of certification — including wholesalers, contractors, and even end consumers.

Assuming that a product is safe and has been independently certified could be a dangerous game, and it’s only by talking openly and often about certification that we will see a reduction in the number of products on the market which have not been properly tested.

We have a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of electrical item failure in the form of the Grenfell disaster, the source of which was traced back to a faulty product (although other factors exacerbated the extent of the damage and loss of life caused).

Four years on, we are seeing a rise in the number of products which haven’t been tested, which are ultimately ending up in buildings where people work, live and visit. This is the exact opposite of what should be happening in the industry, and that’s why at Niglon we feel passionately about highlighting the problems in the hope that we can trigger these all-important conversations.

If the demand for properly certified products is coming from every single group within the supply chain (end users, installers, wholesalers and suppliers), then it is going to be incredibly difficult for manufacturers to shy away from the need for proper and visible certification.

While competition between businesses is natural in any industry, we believe there are times when this should be put aside – and ensuring no harm comes to customers is definitely one of those times. Sometimes this can mean opting not to supply, stock, or fit the cheapest option available – but when it comes to protecting life, cost should absolutely be a secondary factor.

Let’s not wait until something goes wrong, let’s make asking for proof of certification a routine question when sourcing a product.