December 2023
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Total Talks: Brian Mack<br />
TACKLING TOMORROW’S FIXING<br />
CHALLENGES TODAY<br />
We put the questions to Brian Mack, Technical Business Development Manager at<br />
EJOT UK, discussing the new third-party approval for the much coveted Colorfast range,<br />
innovation in fixings, and key installation considerations for contractors...<br />
Total Contractor (TC): Tell us a bit about<br />
your path into the sector and to your<br />
current position…<br />
Brian Mack (BM): I started my career as a<br />
joiner, then returned to college and went on to<br />
study Architecture at what is now Birmingham<br />
City University, before working for several roofing<br />
and cladding contractors. I joined EJOT just over<br />
20 years ago as Technical Advisor and have<br />
progressed to my current position.<br />
TC: The Colorfast range has been in the<br />
market for 30+ years. Tell us a bit about<br />
the range of self-drilling fasteners<br />
BM: Colorfast integral nylon heads were<br />
developed to supersede plastic push on caps and<br />
to enhance the durability and corrosion<br />
resistance of the fastener component. The need<br />
to colour match the fastener to the cladding<br />
colour for aesthetic reasons is paramount, and<br />
adding the encapsulating of the fastener head<br />
provides valuable protection from the<br />
atmosphere. It also protects the washer beneath<br />
for a valuable performance enhancement to the<br />
product and the resultant application.<br />
TC: A big step for EJOT UK and Colorfast is<br />
the recent third-party certification through<br />
FM Approval for key products in the range.<br />
How does this benefit those specifying and<br />
installing roof and façade systems?<br />
BM: Promoting the benefits of a product’s<br />
performance and durability to aid the correct<br />
selection and specification of products is really<br />
important. However, third-party reassurance and<br />
clarification of what is being promoted is actually<br />
essential in supporting the designer / specifier to<br />
select the correct product to meet the application<br />
design criteria. Third-party accreditation<br />
like FM Approvals gives valuable proof<br />
based upon independent rigorous<br />
testing and assessment. And the<br />
independent audits which are part of the<br />
approvals process help to maintain the<br />
production and quality controls to ensure the<br />
quality of the product and the data provided.<br />
TC: What was the process like to gain FM<br />
Approval certification – I imagine quite<br />
intensive and a significant investment for<br />
the business?<br />
BM: The process starts with the fastener being<br />
assessed and tested to specific test standards,<br />
ensuring that the product meets the stringent<br />
requirements that the third party, FM Global, sets.<br />
Production and quality audits ensure that<br />
consistency and quality manufacturing<br />
procedures are followed. The addition of the<br />
Colorfast approval ensures that the fastener,<br />
when used with the integral head, meets the<br />
exacting requirements of the original FM approval<br />
that we already held for the metal fastener<br />
product, and maintains the performance aspects<br />
of the components.<br />
TC: How does FM Approval differ and<br />
compare to other certification bodies on<br />
the market? I understand it will help the<br />
company in terms of export opportunities?<br />
BM: The FM Global approach is more exacting<br />
than that of other product accreditations because<br />
the whole assembly, for example the composite<br />
panel, supporting structure and the fastener<br />
components, require approval. This can be<br />
achieved by a system test approach or from<br />
ensuring all the components meet the FM Global<br />
Left: Brian Mack, Technical Business<br />
Development Manager at EJOT UK.<br />
requirements. Many of our products<br />
have been tested within systems,<br />
which is reinforced by the product<br />
now having its own FM approval. The<br />
global part of the FM Global indicated that the<br />
approval system has been adopted in many<br />
countries around the world. So, to export our<br />
products we have to comply with not just local<br />
standards, but to international standards backed<br />
by third party accreditation such as FM Global.<br />
TC: This move seems to fit nicely with the<br />
current push to raise standards in terms<br />
of competence, traceability and ensuring<br />
the right products and systems are<br />
utilised on construction projects through<br />
the Building Safety Act / Building Safety<br />
Regulator. Do you feel the fixings utilised<br />
on, for example, sandwich panel systems<br />
or built-up envelope systems are given<br />
enough thought by those specifying and<br />
installing them?<br />
BM: We are a proactive company, so continuously<br />
raising our standards is a key aspect of our<br />
manufacturing philosophy. But we are also<br />
focused on innovating and investing in R&D to<br />
meet the challenges of the UK and global markets<br />
in construction, automotive and industrial<br />
components. Understanding customer needs and<br />
providing the support, product data, testing and<br />
third party accreditation has never been more<br />
important. At EJOT it’s part of our DNA to provide<br />
solutions by working collaboratively with our<br />
customers, and the industry as a whole, to meet<br />
the exacting needs of an ever changing and<br />
challenging industry.<br />
42 TC DECEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
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