LAPSED FENCING STANDARDS – A RESPONSE

We’ve had a comprehensive and informative response from Ian Ripley (Chairman B/201)to our anonymous letter titled “Highlighting the issue of lapsed fencing standards” in the August/September of Fencing & Landscaping News.

“I read with interest your article titled “Highlighting the Issue of Lapsed Fencing Standards”. Unfortunately, the article demonstrates a considerable lack of understanding of how British Standards work.

“First of all, none of the standards mentioned are “lapsed”, each standard comes up for review every 5 years and the standards to be reviewed are displayed on the British Standards website. Comments are requested for the standards being reviewed and those comments are then assessed by the committee which oversees that standard. In the case of BS1722 that is B/201, which is comprised of industry experts all of whom give their time free of charge to support the industry and its standards. A decision is then made as to whether the standard needs to be reviewed, amended, or simply requires a correction to be issued.

“Obviously, Industry Associations such as the AFI, WPA and others make every effort to make sure that members with significant industry expertise are offered the opportunity to join this committee but there are relatively few people who wish to give up their time free of charge to further these standards.

“If it is felt that a standard requires alteration, then a drafting committee is set up to make those alterations and produce a revision for the standard. Again, this group is made up of industry experts who give freely of their time and knowledge to produce a Draft for Public Comment, which is then published on the British Standards website. Any comments are then passed back to the drafting committee who make any alterations necessary and then pass the revised standard for publication.

“The date of the standard is the date it was issued, not the date it was last reviewed.

“The responsibility of keeping these standards current rests firmly with the industry itself not with British Standards who merely facilitate the writing and publication of the standard. Those who get involved give up a great deal of time and energy to putting the standards in place and if you want one reviewed get involved and make it happen. Working with your industry Association can get you involved in the process.

“Specification for Highways Works, series 300 is somewhat different as it is the responsibility of National Highways (who, in fact, are only directly responsible for trunk roads). National Highways do rely heavily on British Standards but where they vary it is the responsibility of the contractor to establish which standard he should be working to.

“The price of a British Standard is the responsibility of the British Standards Institute (BSI) and is meant to reflect the cost of publication. However, BSI is a private company and is expected to make a profit. Standards can be bought at a discount by members of some industry associations such as the AFI.

“The short answer is if you don’t like it, get involved and change it or leave it as it is and just moan about it. It is your industry after all. If you sit back and wait for someone else to do it, don’t complain when you don’t like the outcome.”