BS 99001:2022 is a new British standard for quality management systems in the construction industry.
99001 is based on BS EN ISO 9001:2015, the international standard for quality management, but it includes additional requirements and guidance specific to the construction sector. In this article, I will compare the two standards and highlight the main differences.
Scope and application
BS EN ISO 9001:2015 applies to any organisation that wants to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. It is designed to be used by any industry and any size of organisation - from a sweet shop to a government department.
BS 99001:2022 builds on 9001 - it is designed for organisations that are involved in the design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of buildings and infrastructure. It covers the entire lifecycle of construction projects, from conception to completion.
Structure and content
BS 99001 follows the same familiar high-level structure as 9001 – the same 10 clauses: scope, normative references, terms and definitions, context of the organization, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement.
BS 99001:2022 does not replace 9001, in some clauses such as 4.4 Quality management system and its processes it just refers to 9001 – but in others it builds on it – relating the standard clauses to construction activities by providing more detailed and prescriptive requirements and using “Construction-speak” – these include the need:
for a successful constructor to identify and manage the needs and expectations of interested parties, such as clients, regulators, suppliers, subcontractors, and end-users.
for each project to establish and maintain its own quality plan that defines the quality objectives, processes, resources, and controls.
to implement and control the design and development process, including the verification and validation of design outputs and changes.
to manage the procurement process, including the selection, evaluation, and monitoring of suppliers and subcontractors.
to control the site construction process, including the identification, traceability, preservation, and protection of products and materials.
to plan to ensure the conformity and quality of the final product or service, including inspection, testing, and commissioning activities.
to provide guidance to the customer on the operation and maintenance of the product or service, including the provision of documentation, training, and feedback.
The new standard also establishes the concept of the “Project” and seeks to define the roles of senior management – and places a greater emphasis on knowledge/lessons learnt and sustainable delivery.
Summary
Many of us have always felt that the terminology of 9001 never reflected the construction world. BS 99001:2022 takes 9001 a step forward – with a tailored approach to quality management in the construction industry.
Construction Quality Australia welcomes this approach – it will be interesting to see whether Certification Bodies in the region will start offering audit and assessment against the new standard, or whether it will remain unavailable in Australia.
You can order BS 99001:2022 via the BSI Website
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