Substitution, traceability and why certificate checks matter

ACRS continues to see examples of product substitution, misleading certification claims and certificates that need closer checking.

The concern is not only whether a steel product is made to the relevant standard. It is whether the steel delivered to site is the steel that was specified, certified and approved.

This is where traceability becomes critical. A supplier may refer to an ACRS-certified manufacturer, process or mill. A certificate may be supplied with the order. But if the product cannot be traced back to the certified source, or if the certificate has been fraudulently altered, has expired, or if the certificate has been inadvertently or purposefully misapplied / applied outside its approved scope, the buyer may still be exposed.

Substitution can happen at several points in the supply chain. A product can be replaced during procurement, processing, distribution or delivery. It may be deliberate, or it may result from poor systems, weak documentation, product mixing or inadequate controls. 

The result is that the steel used on a project may not be the steel the subject of the steel milling, fabrication and handling process covered by the ACRS certification(s) being relied upon. This creates risk for builders, engineers, certifiers, asset owners and the wider community.

ACRS Traceability Certification is designed to strengthen the link between the product, the certificate, the supplier and the source of manufacture. It applies to suppliers such as traders, distributors, retailers and component suppliers operating between the steel mill and the final processor or fabricator, and helps validate the traceability of ACRS-approved processes through the supply chain.

It also gives specifiers, customers and approval bodies a clearer chain of certification when assessing whether critical steel milling, fabrication and handling processes are genuinely covered by ACRS certificate(s).

Certificate checking is an important part of this process. ACRS has seen certificates and certification claims used in ways that may look credible at first glance. Some documents use familiar formatting, logos or technical language. Others may be based on expired certificates, certificates belonging to another company, or genuine certificates used for products or suppliers outside their approved scope.

Buyers should not rely on how a certificate looks. Before accepting steel, project teams should check that:

1. the company is listed as a current ACRS certificate holder
2. the certificate applies to the product being supplied
3. the certificate is current
4. the supplier is covered for the relevant activity
5. the product can be traced through the supply chain.

The ACRS app allows certificates to be checked and concerns to be reported. The ACRS website also allows users to search certificate holders and confirm certification details.

This is especially important where the supplier is unfamiliar, the product has moved through multiple parties, or the certificate has been provided as a PDF, screenshot, price-list reference or marketing claim.

The ACRS Mark should only be used by firms that hold current ACRS certification.

Importantly, buying a product that originated from an ACRS-certified source does not automatically mean every supplier in the chain holds an ACRS certificate. 

ACRS encourages buyers, specifiers and project teams to make verification a standard part of procurement. For steel certification to be useful, it has to be current, genuine, relevant to the product being supplied, and supported by traceability through the supply chain.