Kitemark Concrete – What Does it Mean and Why is it Important?

At Madmix, we can say that we produce kitemark concrete. But what does the phrase mean, and why is it important?

Kitemark Concrete

Carrying the kitemark for concrete means that all our concrete admixtures – whether you are talking about waterproof, reinforced, pumpable, lean mix, sulphate resisting or any of the others – are all allowed to carry the BSI kitemark.

BSI stands for the British Standards Institution; this group awards standards or kitemarks to companies (not just in the concrete manufacturing sector) who meet certain quality thresholds.

In the case of concrete, the relevant standards are BS EN 206 and BS 8500-2.

The BS EN 206 standard is about the properties and specification of the concrete, as well as covering the areas of delivery and production control. It is part of a Europe-wide certification scheme.

BS 8500-2 is a complementary standard used in the UK only and is being updated at the moment; this is because the concrete industry recognises the need to be more eco-friendly and to help hit the UK’s net zero carbon emissions target.

So, the new definition is expected to allow admixtures to contain fly ash instead of Portland cement. Fly ash is the fine ash produced at coal-fired power stations and which develops many of the properties of cement when mixed with water; previously it was known as pulverised fuel ash. Fly ash can cut down the need for cement as it’s a partial substitute for it, but you will still need some cement. Using fly ash also reduces the amount of water you will need; and concrete produced in this way will also be less likely to crack or shrink.

An associated accreditation is ISO 90001 – this accreditation applies to management systems. Factory production control, including plant, personnel and equipment, and production processes all need to meet required quality standards to achieve this accreditation.

Possession of the kitemark also means our concrete is accredited – to check out our accreditation, follow this link. At Madmix, we meet all these standards, and so are entitled to say that our ready-mix admixtures are kitemarked (a scheme which was first introduced in 1903) and we are entitled to use the BSI logo (pictured) when promoting or describing any of our concrete.

What Does it Mean?

The possession of the kitemark is a guarantee of quality; it means you can be sure that any concrete you buy from Madmix will adhere to regulated standards, in terms of its ingredients and the way it has been produced. It also means that the ready-mix admixtures will have certain characteristics in terms of strength and durability.

This applies to all of the admixtures we supply, so whether you need a waterproof concrete in Ely, pumpable concrete in Royston, or fibre reinforced concrete in Newmarket, you will get the same high-quality ready mix.

It’s also an ongoing process, as kitemarked concrete suppliers are required to pass regular tests such as compressive strength testing on concrete cubes and aggregate ratio testing. A supplier’s manufacturing environment and processes are also regularly assessed to ensure they continue to meet the BSI’s very high standards. The whole process takes about six months to complete and if we fail any of the tests, then we lose our kitemark.

For more details on the testing procedures and the monitoring of the environment in which our concrete is produced, check out our previous blog here.

Why It’s Important

Anyone who buys concrete needs to know that it ‘does what it says on the tin’ and will have the admixture’s required characteristics – in effect, that it’s quality assured concrete.

This is particularly important for larger projects – you don’t want to lose any time or money by having to reorder. It also means your building work will be able to meet the standards set by professional architects, surveyors and inspectors.

Kitemark Concrete from Madmix

If you would like to learn more about the concrete we manufacture at our plant on the edge of Cambridge, check out our list of admixtures here along with information on what sorts of projects they are suitable for.

If you would like to get in touch with any questions, or to place an order, follow this link and fill in the online form; you can also call us on 01954 212212.

Image:bsigroup.com/Wikimedia Commons