11.1.10 Verification
Documentation shall be provided in a clear and understandable format to confirm that the system has been supplied and installed in accordance with the System Manual and the design.
In addition to system certification and structural design checking (see Clause 11.2.3 and 11.3.3), NHBC requires verification, comprising documentation in a clearly understandable format, to show that MMC systems have been manufactured, stored, transported, and installed:
- in accordance with the design
- in accordance with the Quality Management System (QMS)
- to an acceptable standard
- in accordance with the System Manual and manufacturers instructions
- in accordance with statutory requirements.
Verification plan
A verification plan should be provided to NHBC before construction works commence on site.
The verification plan should:
- name duty holders
- define competence and responsibilities of duty holders during the factory production and construction phase
- outline key inspection stages and hold points, covering pre-installation, installation, and post-installation phase checks
- refer to the System Manual and system Installation Manual.
Verification reports should clearly state which elements of the system have or have not been subject to inspection and verification. The report should also record where verification is based on photographic evidence or other information supplied by a third-party.
Systems are assigned risk categories according to the complexity of the system and installation, see Table 3.
Table 3: System risk categories
| Risk category | System type |
|---|---|
| 1 | Closed panel (no factory installed external claddings) — See Chapter 11.2 |
| 2 | Closed panel (factory installed external claddings) — See Chapter 11.2 |
| 3 | Volumetric (houses up to 4 storeys) — See Chapter 11.3 |
| 4 | Volumetric (apartment buildings and buildings above 4 storeys) — See Chapter 11.3 |
The verification reporting requirements will be appropriate for the risk category of the system. Inspection stages and verification requirements will vary according to the system but should consider activities listed in Table 4. The manufacturer should determine the verification activities appropriate to the system, and present these in the verification plan for submittal to, and agreement by NHBC.
Table 4: Verification stage activities
For systems incorporating specialist materials or complex construction methods not covered by NHBC Standards that are critical to the structural stability of the building, NHBC may also require additional verification from an independent third-party engineer in accordance with Technical Requirement R5.
Suitable persons for the level of verification
The manufacturer of the system should specify the requirements for specialist installers and verifiers.
The manufacturer should clearly establish the roles and responsibilities of verifiers within the verification plan, recognising that installation teams may be responsible for providing information to support the overall verification strategy for the system (for example concealed fire-stopping and cavity barriers or tolerance surveys).
The registered builder’s site team should be fully aware of the installation procedures and hold points for inspection.
Last updated: 2nd January 2025