UKCA marking is Great Britain's post-Brexit conformity mark, the GB equivalent of CE marking. For structural steelwork it shows the fabricator's factory production control has been assessed against BS EN 1090-1 by an approved body, so the steel can be lawfully placed on the GB market.
UKCA and CE: the short version
Structural steelwork is a construction product, so it must carry a conformity mark and a declaration of performance. There are two marks in play:
- UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed): the mark for products placed on the market in Great Britain
- CE: the mark for products placed on the EU market (and, under separate rules, Northern Ireland)
Both are underpinned by the same harmonised standard for steelwork, BS EN 1090-1. The difference is which approved body assessed the fabricator's factory production control and which market the product is for. CE marking has continued to be accepted in Great Britain under transitional arrangements that the government has extended; the safest position for a specifier is to confirm valid certification rather than assume a deadline.
What it actually certifies
The mark is not a sticker the fabricator applies themselves. It rests on a Factory Production Control (FPC) certificate issued by an approved certification body after auditing the works, plus a declaration of performance for each job. It ties directly to the BS EN 1090-1 execution class the steelwork is fabricated to.
What specifiers should check
- The fabricator holds a current FPC certificate from an approved body, covering the execution class your project needs
- A declaration of performance is provided for the steelwork supplied
- The certification is valid for the market: UKCA, or CE which remains accepted in Great Britain
Where we stand
Our steelwork is fabricated to BS EN 1090-1:2009+A1:2011 under an independently assessed factory production control certificate, and the steelwork is CE marked (CE remains accepted for construction products in Great Britain). If you need to see our certification for a tender or pre-qualification, ask us with your enquiry.
Common questions
- Is UKCA marking the same as CE marking?
- They are the GB and EU equivalents of the same idea, both based on BS EN 1090-1 for structural steel. UKCA is for the Great Britain market; CE is for the EU. CE marking has continued to be accepted in GB under extended transitional arrangements.
- Does structural steel need UKCA marking?
- Structural steelwork placed on the GB market must carry a conformity mark (UKCA, or CE under the transitional arrangements) with a declaration of performance, backed by a Factory Production Control certificate to BS EN 1090-1 from an approved body.
- Can a fabricator self-certify UKCA marking?
- No. The mark relies on the fabricator's factory production control being assessed by an approved certification body, with a declaration of performance issued for the work. It is not self-applied.