Requirement for Third Party Certification Continues

June 22, 2020

As of the first of June 2020, a significant milestone was achieved – when BS 5930_2015+A1_2020 went live on the BSI system! This updated standard continues to be linked to BS 22475-3 document which references the British drilling Association Audit (BDA) as “third-party certification” as well as its “desirability”.

BS 5930_2015+A1_2020 was prepared by Subcommittee B/526/3, Site investigation and ground testing, under the authority of Technical Committee B/526, Geotechnics. The BDA would like to thank once again Dick Gosling who has continued to represent the BDA in this updating and review process.

BS 5930_2015+A1_2020 replaces all previous versions, which are now withdrawn. The first edition of this British Standard (published as CP2001:1957) covered basic guidance on effective ground investigation. This was replaced by full editions in 1981 and 1999, which covered the subject matter in greater detail and each of which was brought up to date at the time of publication. The 1999 edition was amended twice to incorporate changes necessary to maintain compliance with BS EN 1997-1 and BS EN 1997-2 and their related standards.

BS 5930:2015 was a full revision of the standard. The majority of changes arose from the further implementation into UK practice of BS EN 1997-1 and BS EN 1997-2 and the related test standards cited therein and the need to conform to these standards. Together with the revision of material that was out of date.

Additionally there was new information on geophysical surveying and ground testing and updated guidance on ground investigations on contaminated ground, changes to accommodate the requirements of data capture in the field and the inclusion of this in reporting as well as other amendments throughout the standard.

The main 2020 changes are an update to ground investigation and geotechnical design in accordance with the latest BS EN ISO test standards and thereby users should not have to resort to different methods of work when operating in other countries. There are updates to description of soils and rocks in accordance with BS EN ISO 14688 and 14689 standards and updates to accommodate changes in BS EN ISO 17892 standards and related BS 1377 parts

Users of this British Standard continue to be advised to consider the desirability of third-party certification with this Standard. Appropriate conformity attestation arrangements are described in BS 22475-3.

BS 22475:3: Part 3: Conformity Assessment of Enterprises and Personnel by Third Parties – was adapted by UK in 2011 when first issued. However this Standards has not been supported by all clients and consultants (even though they often refer to them in their own operating standards and specifications). The drilling industry in the UK continues to be well positioned with BS 22475 Part 3 due to previous initiatives taken by UK associations in developing for example

  • Registration of Engineering Professional (ROGEP) by the ICE
  • NVQ in Land Drilling and third-party audits i.e. the British Drilling Association (BDA) Audit

Both these require initial assessment for qualification by an independent third party and a regular time period review by the third party to maintain qualification. Both are now well established in UK and the numbers of qualified and conforming personnel are increasing. However, as stated earlier a significant number of client and consultant organisation need to give significantly greater support and policing to further increase numbers and compliance.

Author: Mark Toye, Chair of BDA Technical & Standards Sub-committee.

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