BS 8212 or Euro Finishing Standard

[amestaper]

A common snag for disagreements in finishing standards between clients and contractors in the UK drylining and plastering industry. The UK industry was expected to come into line with the continents current European standard CEN (Centre Européen de Normalisation) but this has been delayed for a further 12 months or thereabouts.

I've come across similar problems when clients expected to pay for a level 1 (fire tape) finish but demanded a level 4, or even a level 5 sprayed finish as the walls are to be coated with a high gloss paint or emulsion. The Level 1-5 grading system is a standard finishing specification that seems to work well for North American tradesman but not in the UK which can cause confusion and has been used as an excuse to withhold payment after a site inspection.

I say bring it on. It will surely bring some clarity to different finishing tolerances and help estimating a job as you know exactly what the client expects.

Ive added a few links for further reading before you make any comments.

http://www.specfinish.co.uk/p/h/Feat...t_c/378/?lang=

http://www.eurogypsum.org/?CategoryID=192&ArticleID=93

[Brian S]

Alex I quite agree it's got to be good for the housebashing taper.

Like you say they want a level 4 finish for firetaping money.

At least this way when you go on a new site and the Site Manager says I expect a level 4, you have the option of saying the tight bugger I'm working for is only paying for a level 1, so you can say bugger it get some other mug to do it, or you do it cause you need the work.

[USG]

This new standard has been put on hold as BG, Knauf and Lafarge cannot agree on how it should be put together

[amestaper]

Im more interested in the reason as to why the GPDA cant ratify an agreement for the UK unlike mainland Europe and the US have in place? We all know it isnt happening for the next 12 months, unfortunately nobody took the time to explain why, other than 'members of Eurogypsum objected'.

Maybe we are just to come to our own conclusions and speculate?

They do read here, but sometimes their silence is deafening.

[USG]

Who knows why !

But as a useful link you should take a look at their compatability statement which indicates that all GPDA members finishing compounds can be used on each others boards without having an effect on the boards performance

http://www.gpda.com/pdfs/product_com..._statement.pdf

How many times has a rep walked off a site without helping you when they notice its not their finishing compound ?

For me I would print this off and carry it in my tool bag all day to work to cover yorselves from any problems etc.

For reference - USG did look at joining the GPDA about 3 years ago and whilst we met the criteria at the time and still today all our products comply to the quoted BS or EU standards the membership fee was huge !!

[USG]

Euro finishing

standards
delayed

The much anticipated new European finishing
standard – which had been expected to come
to life in March – has been delayed after the
document failed to gain ratification following
objections from members of Eurogypsum, the
trade body representing continental dryliners.
Now split into ten parts, the document is
not expected to be approved for another year.
Steve Halcrow, FPDC’s technical consultant,
said: “This has been a long, laborious process
that has been a very contentious issue in the
UK. We went to a meeting in March having
been told to expect final ratification but it looks
like this won’t now happen for another 12
months or so.”
The standards could assume one of three
potential statuses: a full European standard
(CEN) which would have to be complied with
statutorily; a technical spec which could be
adopted optionally; or a technical report for
optional reference.

~ EDIT:
Copyright © FPDC SpecFinish magazine. http://www.specfinish.co.uk

[Brian S]

I don't know if a standard method of checking the work is included in this agreement, but that is something that needs to be agreed on.
For example the Site Agent that goes over a standard house finish (level 3 or 4 ) with a halogen lamp (level 5), instead of what it should be of 1 metre away, and in the light it was taped in

[Bossman]

Just so it's clear, the problem with getting the Eurostandard agreed was not because the GPDA can't ratify the agreement for the UK, it's not their job or in their power to do so. The problem was because the different ways of working throughout europe meant that by the time we had common agreement, the standard was so lacking in detail it wasnt acceptable and in the end one major country withdrew and without them there could be no Euro standard. That's when it came back to national level (UK) for review.