Agrément South Africa Frequently Asked Questions
Agrément South Africa (ASA)was established in terms of a delegation of Authority from the then Minister of Public Works in July 1969. The organisation is currently a schedule 3A public entity under the Public Finance Management Act No. 11 of 1999 and is established under the Agrément South Africa Act No 11 of 2015.
The organisation is an entity of the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (NDPWI) and its mandate is within the domain of the built environment and as such, the legislation and mandates that impact on the built environment and public works guide the functioning and operations of Agrément South Africa.
The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and Agrément South Africa (ASA) are two independent organisations concerned with technical approvals in South Africa. The SABS operates within a wide range of areas and deals with standards and codes of practice relating to conventional products. The SABS is aligned with international organisations for standardisation. Unlike the SABS, ASA only operates within the construction industry. The agency was established to assess innovative, non-standardised construction products and systems. ASA is aligned with the World Federation of Technical Assessment Organisations. In terms of industry practice, when construction products or systems are concerned, the development phase of the product/system in its lifecycle determines whether the SABS or ASA gets involved.
The Agrément Certification process takes the form of 5 steps as described below:
1.1. Application
a. Client completes application form and submits to Agrément for processing (this phase is where the entity scrutinizes the subject for which Agrément certification is sought for appropriateness i.e., whether the product/system is a subject for Agrément approval).
1.2. Evaluation Offer
a. Upon acceptance of the application by ASA, the entity will prepare an evaluation/assessment offer stipulating various condition of certification.
b. The offer details information such as the scope of the evaluation programme, uses for which the subject is intended (as per SAN 10400), the certification process, conditions of certification, quality management system requirements, time estimate for the evaluation and related costs.
1.3. Assessment Process
a. The assessment/evaluation process commences once ASA has a contractual agreement between themselves and a client.
b. Upon acceptance of the evaluation offer, a client is required to have paid the assessment fee stipulated in the offer.
c. The assessment process is undertaken in line with the aspects of performance described in the offer.
1.4. Award of certificate
a. Once the assessment process is completed in terms of all aspects of performance and positive test reports have been received, an Agrément certificate is drafted.
b. The draft certificate and supporting test reports are then presented to the Technical Committee of ASA for approval and the Board of ASA for ratification.
c. The Board ratified certificate is then gazetted, and a final certificate awarded to the client.
1.5. Post-quality monitoring
a. ASA certificate holders are required to partake in the entity’s quality monitoring activities wherein an annual quality inspection is undertaken in relation to the certified subject, with the possibility of random audits each year.
b. Other post-quality monitoring requirements are detailed in Agrément’s Guidelines for preparation of a quality management system.
Other useful information concerning the ASA certification process is obtainable under the “Certification” tab on the ASA website: https://agrement.co.za/certification-process/
The main objective of Agrément certificates is to provide re-assurance of the fitness-forpurpose of construction products, systems, materials which are not covered by SANS Standards or codes of practice. Agrément certificates can be used to demonstrate compliance with regulations, as specified in the certificate. As per the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, unconventional building methods can only be deemed to satisfy by way of rational design or Agrément certification. Agrément certificates can also be used to facilitate acceptance and/or approval by:
- Designers and Specifiers
- Regulatory Authorities
- Government & Community-Support Organisations
- Financial institutions.
It takes about 6 months, but this is dependent on the type of tests required for that product or building system to be certified
There is a non-refundable administration fee of R6 581,80 for Product, building systems and Eco-labelling application fee R5 603,00 for Ecolabelling. An assessment fee will be determined based on the scope of assessment required for that particular application for a building construction product .
A certificate is valid for three (3) years, subject to payment of annual fees and annual audits.
EcoASA is an ecolabel for building materials and products that provides verification that a product meets certain criteria relating to the environmental impact of the product. An ecolabel will be awarded to building products or materials that are less stressful on the environment based on a scoring system. It is a Type I environmental labeling scheme making it voluntary in nature and awards an ecolabel based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
Licensee – Any person or company appointed by the certificate holder and registered with Agrément South Africa to construct or manufacture the product/system in accordance with the approved certificate and authorized to claim compliance with the certificate.
ASA Certificate – A certificate that has been issued by ASA after satisfying the client’s non-standardized construction-related product is fit-for-purpose. It is used to demonstrate compliance with regulations as specified in the certificate.
Active Certificate – A certificate under the Agrément certificate validity that has not lapsed, for which the certificate holder is actively participating in Post Certification Audits and paying annual fees according to the Conditions of Certification.
Inactive Certificate – A certificate that is inoperative and ASA does not conduct regular monitoring of the certificate holder’s implementation of the quality management system. A certificate may be inactivated if the market conditions or other circumstances become unfavorable, but the certificate holder wishes to retain the certificate until such time that circumstances have changed. If a certificate is inactive the client shall cease to use the ASA Mark.
Suspended Certificate – A certificate that is temporarily inactive due to non-conformance to the Conditions of the Certification or non-payment of annual fees. The suspended certificate may be withdrawn if there is no remedial or the non-conformances are not resolved within the suspension period. Should an Agrément Certificate be under suspension, the product may not carry the ASA Mark and no advertising or promotion of same shall be allowed.
Withdrawn Certificate – A certificate that does not comply with the conditions of certification or has been suspended without remedial action on the part of the certificate holder. If a certificate is withdrawn the client shall cease to use the ASA Mark.
For Technical Enquiries, please contact Thabang Motlanthe: tmotlanthe@agrement.co.za, 012 065 1934