BS 99001 and ISO 9001: What’s the difference?

To continue creating a safer future for the construction industry, changes are made to certifications, standards and safety thresholds. Consequently, quality management systems (QMSs) in construction have been reviewed since the shift in building safety legislation, such as the Building Safety Act. 

This blog seeks to explain why these QMSs are important, what BS 99001 and ISO 9001 are, the key differences between them, how they are used in the built environment – and how BS 99001 coincides with the Common Assessment Standard.

What is a quality management system?

A quality management system, or QMS, is a set of processes that lay out how a business does what it does^1, and sets expectations to be met to ensure quality in products and services delivered to stakeholders.

There are multiple Quality Management Systems available for companies to use and apply for, where they obtain a certification to demonstrate they meet certain thresholds. QMSs can be used across various industries, where some certifications may be more applicable than others (e.g. BS 99001 for the built environment and construction industry).

What are the benefits of quality management systems?

It poses the question of why some companies need quality management systems more than others and why they’re important: in times of growth, it can be tricky for a business to manage change. In period of rapid change, procedures can become loose. As a result, some companies may decide to train their employees, instil procedures, and mandate internal quality policies and objectives, to stay on track. 

Having a Quality Management System shows a commitment to sticking to organisational processes to ensure consistency in the quality of their products and services. They can be implemented with cycle of training; following internal systems and processes; and responding to feedback from customers. As industries change, so should company processes: reviewing QMSs on an ongoing basis demonstrates a business’s competence to monitor, assess and refine internal procedures to stay lean, competitive and reliable to customers. 

For example, when dealing with multiple external stakeholders, such as a main contractor outsourcing work to subcontractors, they need to demonstrate they’re able to manage them appropriately and in line with their processes (according to ISO 9001, Clause 8.4). Fortunately, tools like our Supplier Performance Management solution can help. 

That’s where QMSs like BS 99001 and ISO 9001 are important, particularly in light of events in the construction industry. 

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What is BS 99001?

Created after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, BS 99001 was created as a benchmark for the built environment sector. It is an enhanced version of ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) requirements, but focuses more on challenges found in built environments around the UK.

Why is BS 99001 important?

BS 99001 can’t be achieved without ISO 9001. Together, BS 99001 acts as a way of applying the requirements of ISO 9001, but to build projects.

BS 99001 addresses the multi-discipline and multi-stakeholder environment in delivering built assets^2, whilst ISO 9001 focuses on delivering high quality products and services in accordance with industry regulations and customer expectations³.

Building Safety Section Questions

When answering the Building Safety section questions on our platform, users will be asked: 

Customers who have been assessed to the standard BS 99001 are exempt from completing this section and should provide a copy of their BS 99001 certificate. 

Please note, ISO 9001 is not equivalent to BS 99001 and will not be accepted for this question on our platform. This is because ISO 9001 lacks specifics for the built environment, whereas BS 99001 has been developed in a post-Grenfell world. 

How to master the Common Assessment Standard questions

 

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised Quality Management System, which provides a framework to consistently deliver quality products and services, improve performance, and demonstrate commitment to quality.

Why is ISO 9001 important?

ISO 9001 standards help companies demonstrate to customers and stakeholders that they have a commitment to quality. This enhances customer satisfaction, improves operational efficiency, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. Ultimately, this can lead to increased revenue and a stronger reputation, providing strong foundation for companies to win business with larger customers.

What’s the difference between BS 99001 and ISO 9001?

BS 99001 is a built environment sector specification document aimed at building on ISO 9001’s requirements.

Meanwhile, ISO 9001 is a quality management system used across multiple industries and is not building-specific.

How to get ISO 9001 certified?

Whilst we don’t provide ISO 9001 certificates, with our Supplier Performance Management solution, we can help you align with Clause 8.4: Control of Externally Provided Processes, Products and Services. 

This deals with the control of externally provided processes, products, and services within an organisation’s QMS. 

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Key Takeaways

• • BS 99001 is an enhanced version of ISO 9001’s requirements, focused on delivering high-quality products (or services), but specific to the built environment 
  • BS 99001 cannot be obtained without ISO 9001 
  • Common Assessment Standard: show your BS 99001 certificate to work on build-specific projects