Global leader in specialist building products, Sika has become one of the first UK manufacturers to achieve certification of Factory Production Control (FPC) for its range of concrete repair products.

The certification is part of the company's compliance with BS EN 1504 – the new pan European standard for concrete repair. The standard aims to ensure that all concrete repair products used in the UK and the EU are manufactured in an accredited factory.

BS EN 1504 provides guidance on the entire approach to concrete repair from suggested methods of assessing the extent of the problem through to the delivery of a repair package. This ensures the clear identification of products and systems tested and approved to European Standards.

Part of this identification is the use of CE marking on products – a declaration that the product meets all the appropriate provisions of the relevant legislation.

To meet the new standard, Sika's complete range of concrete repair products, which includes Sika Monotop and Sikacem were rigorously tested. The results, plus the company processes which include manufacture and provision of manufacturer instructions, were then verified by BSI.

Sika has been producing accredited concrete repair systems for over 15 years and meeting the new standard reinforces the company’s UK manufacturing capability and its market leading position. As an indication of the advanced nature of Sika’s manufacturing processes and products, none of the company’s factory processes or the physical products had to be adapted to meet the standard.

With the growing trend to source locally, as a way of reducing carbon footprints, ensuring cost efficiencies and avoiding what is all too often poor quality imports, being able to offer customers fully UK produced and CE marked products helps provide clear differentiation.