Lavern D. Clarke, Builders Forum Co-ordinatorTHE BUREAU of Standards is under fire for the ad hoc approach it is taking to regulating the block making sector, particularly in relation to the standards to which it holds the producers of aggregates.
Both aggregates and cement are used in the block making process, and some in industry who are not fully compliant with the Bureau's standards say block manufacturers will never attain certification unless the standards agency first tackle the poor aggregate quality that gets on the market.
But certified block makers who are in full compliance with the standards have a different take on the issue. Two of the three firms certified said it was ridiculously easy to attain full compliance, with the process mainly requiring consistency in the quality of material inputs and proper records of material acquisition.
"It's not hard, but it is costly," says William Shagoury, adding that the real issue is that block manufacturers are unwilling to meet the cost of certification.
Mr. Shagoury owns and operates the May Pen based Shagoury's Vibrated Block and Crush Stone Limited. He pays $300,000 annually to the Bureau of Standards for certification.
Up to recently, he said, there were 12 certified companies but only Shagoury's, C&M Block Factory Limited in St. Catherine and Rogers Concrete Block Works in Kingston have opted to maintain their status.
The Bureau says it has another seven companies registered, which is a precursor to certification. Registration fees are $5,000 on each of the three block sizes the industry produces - 100mm or 4 inch, 150mm or 6 inch, and 200mm or 8 inch. It did not comment on the cost of certification.
The agency has launched a series of seminars to end June 12 aimed at bringing block makers into full compliance. It has also set a deadline date of July 31 for firms to comply.
Builders Forum was advised that while the aggregates used in the block manufacturing process have to be of a certain standard to produce blocks to the required JS 35:1998, the Bureau does not currently regulate or have a quality test for the quarries who sell to the block makers.
The Bureau agrees that the issue of aggregate quality needed its attention, and "is taking steps to implement JS124 to govern this element," said communications officer Norman Hall. "We have started the registration of some of the key suppliers of aggregates."
INITIAL PENALTIES
But Hall adds that it remains the block makers' responsibility to purchase good quality aggregate, and that there are simple tests that can be done to determine quality.
The Bureau of Standards has warned the industry that it intends to bring everyone into compliance and that failure to do so will bring initial penalties of $500,000 and $100,000 per day after.
Industry players have complained that the warnings are heavy handed. But Mr. Shagoury says the standards agency is doing the right thing in demanding compliance, as the issue had direct bearing on national safety.
"The Bureau is supposed to get heavy with them. If there is a disaster they are going to get blamed," said the block maker. "The Bureau is obligated to keep the country in good houses."
The Bureau itself says it is an issue of public health and safety. But there is some concern that the agency is not moving swiftly enough to rein in producers of sub-standard product, and is not sufficiently sensitising the end-users to the consequences of building with them.
"When we have a serious earthquake, a lot of buildings are going to come down," says Shagoury.
The businessman adds that the sub-standard producers are undercutting the business of the legitimate block makers.
Says his margins are a mere six per cent on three-quarters of his production capacity, and 10 per cent at full capacity.
He produces 'A' grade blocks at $21 and $22 per block, while the substandard product sells for $16-$20, he told Builders Forum.
The Bureau says its public education drive begins after its sessions with the block makers and will be targeted foremen and construction supervisors, as well as stakeholders such as building societies, architects, engineers, the insurance industry, the National Housing Trust, and other interests.
