Protecting the ACRS Mark

The ACRS Mark is widely recognised across the steel supply chain, but ACRS is seeing more cases where the Mark and ACRS certification claims are being used incorrectly.

This includes use by businesses that are not certified, or on products outside the scope of certification and in marketing that may give a misleading impression of ACRS approval.

Relevant usage

The ACRS Mark is not a general endorsement. It may only be used by a firm holding current ACRS certification and in accordance with the scope and conditions of that certification.

Incorrect use can mislead purchasers, undermine confidence in certification and disadvantage businesses that have invested in meeting ACRS requirements. ACRS monitors use of the Mark and will take appropriate action, including legal action where necessary, when misuse is identified.

Correct usage

Certified firms should follow the ACRS guidance, Using Your ACRS Mark of Conformity.

The guidance requires the official ACRS artwork to be used, with the correct proportions and certificate number. The Mark must remain clear and legible and must not be redrawn, recoloured, cropped, distorted or combined with other material in a way that changes its meaning.

Hard copy and offline usage

While ACRS recognizes the move to digital traceability, the construction industry continues to rely on physical documentation. To meet this current need, Product Certification and Technical Approval certificate holders now display the relevant Mark on identification associated with certified products, including tags, labels and other approved identification methods. ACRS also strongly encourages use of the Validation QR Code, which allows the validity and scope of certification to be checked digitally through the ACRS Cloud App.

Upholding the Mark's integrity

If certification is suspended, withdrawn or expires, the organisation must stop applying the Mark to products, remove it from digital platforms and stop using it on new documentation.

Protecting the Mark is a shared responsibility. Suspected misuse should be reported to ACRS with as much detail as possible, including the business, product and location.

Protecting the integrity of the ACRS Mark helps maintain confidence in certification and supports those businesses that meet ACRS requirements.