A comparison between UK and French reinforcement standards raises design and safety concerns about HS2’s decision to use non-UK CARES compliant reinforcement believes the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR). Furthermore, use of the French reinforcement also contradicts HS2’s – and the UK Government’s – own key supplier sustainability requirements.
In addition to importing non-approved reinforcement from French fabricator Sendin, it is understood that HS2 is in discussions for reinforcement supply from other French fabricators who also do not have approval that they fully meet British Standards. HS2 argues that it is having to go to French fabricators because the UK sector cannot meet their requests. This is denied by UK fabricators who cite the lack of meaningful early engagement by HS2 with the UK supply chain as to why HS2’s requirements could not be met.
All three French companies are certified to the French AFCAB reinforcement certification scheme however in several key areas the requirements for this are less robust than those required by British Standard BS 4449. Furthermore, the French fabricators do not hold either the CARES SCS sustainability or BES 6001 certificate – a key supplier requirement for HS2. On that basis alone they should be precluded from HS2 contracts as all UK Government infrastructure projects must be BREEAM compliant.
The AFCAB standard Procedure D33 accepts lower minimum yield stress than British Standard. Supplying AFCAB compliant material would compromise designers’ assumptions in terms of characteristic strength and factors of safety. Material produced to the AFCAB standard has a significantly lower sampling and testing frequency than the requirements of British Standards. AFCAB compliant material has a significantly lesser fatigue performance requirement. This would be of concern to a designer considering dynamic loading in their design.With regards to reinforcement welding CARES Appendix 11 & 12 work to the requirements of BS 8548 under which the requirements for welding are more stringent in every area of quality assurance and quality control when compared to the AFCAB Procedure E15, 1 & 2.
“HS2 argues that the UK does not have the capacity to provide the reinforcement as required. However, BAR members report a lack of meaningful early engagement with HS2. Had HS2 fully engaged with the UK reinforcement sector then UK fabricators would have made the necessary investment to enable additional capacity”, said Stephen Elliott, BAR Chairman. “The lack of proper early engagement is simply not the way to work with your supply chain.”
He continued: “As a result HS2 is importing reinforcement from France that is non-compliant and fails to fully meet the more stringent strength, testing and quality requirements of British Standards. Furthermore, it fails to meet the project’s own sustainability requirements.”
