ACRS is regularly requested to assist in verification that the steel used in construction meets the required end-use stipulated by Australian and New Zealand standards after construction has been completed as part of the sign-off requirements.

In most instances, the enquirer has a test certificate supplied, often not in English, or has taken a few random samples and sent those for independent testing either in Australia or New Zealand, or at overseas test laboratories.

Regrettably, ACRS cannot assist with this type of enquiry as our product certification scheme conducts sample testing at the certified mill's manufacturing source on their full adherence to the specific AS/NZS standard. In addition, ACRS also undertakes testing at each certified rebar processing, mesh producing, or welded section fabricating facility to ensure that the finished steel product supplied to the construction site has not been adversely affected during these subsequent processes.

The risks for the certifier signing off steel based upon random test pieces taken from finished product is as follows:

• Is the sample/s taken representative of the product?
• Who has selected the sample for testing and is it representative of the steel supplied, are they from the same heat as the supplied test certificate?
• Has the sample been taken in the correct position as required by the applicable AS/NZS standard, if not then the test result is not valid?
• What are the credentials of the test laboratory used? Structural steel standards require test laboratories to be ILAC certified; is that laboratory ILAC certified, not all test laboratories in Australia are ILAC certified so those results are not valid. ACRS when certifying manufacturing sites where the standard stipulates ILAC certification ensures that the laboratory in their ILAC certification scope has included the stipulated AS and AS/NZS test procedures. Why is this important? Unless product is tested as per the requirements stipulated in the standard then one cannot compare test results, overseas steel standards have different methods of testing and position where test samples are taken. It is like comparing apples with oranges.
• Manufactured components can potentially have product from multiple heats or in some cases product from multiple manufacturers. A simple example is a Welded I Section; it has 2 flanges and a web so where do you take a test piece from as those 3 components could potentially come from 3 different heats? Once end pieces and gussets are added the potential for the steel coming from multiple heats and multiple manufacturers increases.
• Has welding if undertaken been done to the AS/NZS standards?
• Is the test certificate in English, a requirement of AS/NZS Standards? We have seen comments on certificates when translated into English stating that the steel should not be used in structural applications where it was sold as a structural grade.
• Certification stating that a manufacturer has the capability to manufacture to AS/NZS standards. Capability is different to actuality.

How do you know the steel you are certifying matches the supplied test certificate? The AS/NZS Structural steel standards stipulate the following:

• The product supplied must have unique markings, which allows traceability back to the manufacturer and their issued test certificates. If you cannot verify the manufacturers markings how do you know where the product comes from?
• We have seen examples where the tonnage attributed to a heat of steel exceeds the tonnage that can be manufactured in one heat.
• Reinforcing steels, AS/NZS 4671 requires product to have unique markings indicating the grade of steel and the manufacturer. Overseas standards have significantly different markings and some standards do not stipulate a manufacturers mark. How do you know the correct grade has been used or is it actually from where you have been told?

The ACRS certification process is undertaken at the steel mill and our verification process ensures the following:

• The site manufacturers to the applicable AS/NZS standard.
• The site tests and is accredited to test to AS/NZS standards. Verifies its laboratory certification.
• The site marks the product as per the AS/NZS standards.
• The site issues test certificates per the AS/NZS standards.
• The site supplies all test data to ACRS on an continuing basis to demonstrate compliance and capability with the relevant standard. ACRS reviews that test data every 3 months.
• ACRS selects all samples at an assessment and witnesses testing at site and compares paired samples tested at ILAC certified laboratories in Australia.
• ACRS verifies sites have manufacturing procedures unique for applicable AS/NZS standards. We do not allow sites to manufacture to a common procedure and then select product for AS/NZS standards (“grade selection”). Materials must be manufactured per the methodology stipulated in the specific, relevant standard.
• ACRS verifies the site Quality System regardless of whether that site has independent certification to ISO 9001.
• ACRS is JAS-ANZ accredited (see JAS-ANZ website for ACRS scope). ACRS is assessed annually by JAS-ANZ who witness ACRS assessments to ensure our ongoing compliance with both the ISO 17065 basic framework for certification bodies, and the more rigorous requirements of the ACRS expert product certification scheme.
• ACRS undertakes annually assessment at all certified sites and will and has revoked certification if a site is not complying fully with the requirements of both the AS/NZS standards certified and the ACRS Scheme rules.
• ACRS Assessors are specialists, tertiary qualified metallurgists and engineers with vast industrial and technical experience in the product they assess and certify.
• ACRS has an independent Committee that reviews all assessments and issues certification/recertification. Those committee members are all recognised as end-user specialists and are not representative of suppliers. ACRS is different from other certifiers; all ACRS certification decisions are taken at arms length from the assessment process.

ACRS is aware of statements in the market where some parties have been claiming that the steel materials being supplied, that have been manufactured to overseas steel standards, are “equivalent” to steels manufactured to AS/NZS standards, when in fact they are not. AS/NZS standards are designed for the specific requirements of the Australian and New Zealand market, and Australian and New Zealand design standards rely on materials meeting at least the minimum requirements of the steel materials standards.