1 July 2021
By Jeff Anderson

We don’t make claims lightly; as we see it, we stand behind what we say. So when we say we are serious in our mission of providing high-standard remedial services in Australia, we mean it. In fact, the team at Remedial Building Services are committed to staying abreast of industry standards and accreditations, using best-in-class products and working with reputable bodies. In today’s article – launched on the back of our new website – I wanted to dive into our certifications and why we are industry leaders after more than 50 years of service to the Eastern Seaboard.

What do we mean by accreditation?

Getting technical for a bit, accreditation is the process of assessing an organisation’s capability to perform specific tasks, tests, work, inspections or measurements and is conducted by an impartial and autonomous body through a pre-determined process. Whilst individuals may be accredited or qualified in a particular area (in fact, at Remedial a significant proportion of our staff hold formal training qualification) in this piece we refer to organizational accreditations.

Accreditation is the result of an assessment which:

is impartially undertaken;
is objective, transparent and viable;
uses highly professional competent assessors and technical experts in all relevant fields;
Undertaken on a continual or predetermined period of time to ensure ongoing compliance.

Accreditation is an affirmation of capacity, authority or credibility in a specific field of activity. When tradespeople, companies or societies are accredited, they have been certified against specific standards and norms by an accrediting body.

A roofing company, for instance, maybe accredited by the Metal Roofing and Cladding Association of Australia or a renowned roofing trade body or institution. The material organisation is then ready to tender for business with verification of its competence and give confidence to clients, proving the company will work according to the body’s specific standards. In addition, it may state and refer to this approval or accreditation by the particular body in question in its marketing documentation.

Accreditation schemes can provide career-improving education and keep up higher standards in a specific sector. It provides confidence in certificates and conformity attestations and underpins the quality of results by guaranteeing traceability, comparability, validity and commutability.

The public also gets greater confidence and trust in the capacity of dealers and different companies that have acquired accreditation. In addition, businesses can exhibit compliance with standards and regulations by utilising accredited services.

In an expanding number of activities and markets, it is necessary to utilise accredited services before setting products or services on the market. Using accredited services also provides market differentiation and is objective proof that a product or service is compliant and safe since it meets the relevant specifications.

Generally, accreditation is national – or international – stamp of approval that “tested once” means “accepted everywhere.” Practically speaking, accreditation improves acknowledgment and acceptance of products and services across borders without needing to repeat tests and certifications, creating a global foundation to support trade and confidence in the marketplace.

Remedial’s accreditations

At Remedial, we hold a number of independent accreditations and licenses as an organisation and are also members of a number of Trade Bodies, both signifying our commitment to ongoing best-practice service.

Below is a summary of the licenses and memberships which we have as a company and why they are important. In fact, we believe these are some of the mandatory things you should look for when considering a building rectification specialist.

Builder’s license, housing industry association (HIA)

Contingent upon your state or territory, you must have a license if you want to work as a builder or tradesperson in Australia. Before applying for your license or registration, we were required to demonstrate our combination of experience, technical qualifications, skills and knowledge.

As it stands at the moment, we have a number of qualified builders on staff, but further to that, have engineers, fire engineers and other qualified professionals.

To supplement our accreditations, we are also members of the HIA –the peak national industry association for the construction and development industry in Australia.

FMA accreditation

This is a competency recognition and skills program that is critical to ensuring an ongoing professional approach to the Facilities Management industry. The Facilities Management Association (FMA) offers professionals and organisations responsible for the operational management of Australia’s built environments support where it is needed.

At Remedial, our long-term commitment to the built environment, including commercial and industrial properties means we have continually exhibited the necessary degree of competency and a professional approach required to provide leading service and maintenance.

ACRA membership

We are proud and long standing members of of ACRA (Australasian Concrete Repair & Remedial Building Association) a forum which exists to promote discussion and the exchange of views and opinions which exist to advance work within the remedial building industry.

As members affiliated with this association since 2003, we are at the forefront of concrete repair and remedial technology worldwide and dedicated to the our role of leading the concrete repair and structural repair industry.

ISO 9001

Recognising our commitment to providing leading services, we obtained accreditation with ISO 9001:2015 standard, which is defined as the international standard that specifies requirements for a Quality Management System (QMS).

It recognizes we adhere to a required standard of excellence each and every time both as regards the work we do and adherence to regulatory requirements. It is the most popular standard in the ISO 9000 series.

Every one of the requirements of this standard is generic and applies to any organisation, regardless of the products and services it offers nor its type and size.

At Remedial, using the ISO 9001 standard helps us:

Organise processes and our capacity to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and
enhance customer satisfaction through the practical application of the system. It also allows us to give assurance to the customer that we are compliant with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

AS/NZS 4801

AS/NZS 4801 is defined as “… the Australian and New Zealand standard for safety management. Updated in 2001 – referred to as AS/NZS 4801:2001 – this standard is the benchmark in assessing Occupational Health and Safety across management systems.”

It is viewed as a yardstick that guides organisations in creating and carrying out strategies and goals designed to identify, mitigate (or as possible eliminate) hazards and risks present in its workplace(s). The internationally recognised standard is known as OHSAS 18001.

With changes in the presentation of the WHS Act in 2011, the duty of management regarding the health and safety of their employees, business units, and output has increased. As a result, this has made it increasingly important for an organisation to execute a management system to comply with the necessary obligations. Not all concrete and structural repair companies meet this standard but we do.

Benefits of AS/NZS 4801:2001

Recognising that safety should consistently be a key priority, this standard:

Encourages a culture of safety in the work environment
Proves the effective execution of an OH&S management system
Because of expanded control, it reduces the onset of workplace injuries, illness and incidents.
Enhances a company’s reputation as a safe and reliable partner, contractor or supplier
Demonstrates strong commitment to the ongoing improvement of safety performance.

ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is the global standard that defines the requirements for a viable Environmental Management System (EMS). It provides a framework for different organisations to comply with, as opposed to establishing environmental performance requirements.

According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it characterises an environmental management system as “part of the management system used to manage environmental aspects, fulfill compliance obligations, and address risks and opportunities.” Therefore, the ISO 14001 standard framework can be utilised within a plan-do-check-act (PDCA) approach to continuous improvement.

We obtained this certificate almost 15 years ago when we identified that environmental concerns were something we should be taking seriously and doing our best to limit our impact on the environment. Every site we work on has a comprehensive plan which works to reduce the harm on the environment.

What it all means

For over 50 years we have been dedicated to the repair of the built environment. Whether it is a large multi-dwelling apartment complex, an industrial facility requiring flooring upgrades, or a commercial building with concrete repair requirements, our focus has been doing the best job possible and ensuring your assets are enhanced and ready for the next stage of their life.

We are HBCF compliant and can provide Certificates of Currency, case studies and advice as needed to show you just how committed, how determined, and how ready we are to work with you. If you are looking for a contractor who is not only highly qualified but able to tackle your problem, get in touch with us today.

Remedial’s Industry Accreditations and Affiliations