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When did the British Kitemark Start?
1903
The BSI Kitemark originated as the British Standards Mark in 1903 for use on tramway rails when standardization reduced the number of rail sizes from 75 to five. Today the BSI Kitemark can be seen on hundreds of products from manhole covers to condoms, from security locks to fire extinguishers and riding helmets.
Why is the Kitemark important?
The Kitemark is most frequently used to identify products where safety is paramount, such as crash helmets, smoke alarms and flood defences. In recent years the Kitemark has also been applied to a range of services, such as electrical installations; car servicing and accident repair; and window installations.
What’s the difference between conformite Europe and British Standards Institute?
The BSI Kitemark assures users that the product meets consistently high quality and safety standards. Conformite European ensures the product meets a minimum standard to be sold within the EU. The BSI guarantees a higher quality level than the CE mark.
What was the first British standard?
BSI Kitemark
The BSI Kitemark was first registered by BSI on 12 June 1903 – the same year in which Harley Davidson, Crayola crayons and the Tour de France were born. Originally known as the British Standard Mark, it has grown into one of Britain’s most important and most recognized consumer quality marks.
Is CE marking mandatory in the UK?
CE marking is mandatory, but only for those products which are covered by the scope of one or more of the New Approach Directives. Not all products sold in the EU need to bear CE marking. CE marking applies to products, ranging from electrical equipment to toys and from civil explosives to medical devices.
What is TQM Kitemarks?
TQM kite marks are nationally or internationally recognized quality standards. that provide discipline,external assessment. The best known TQM kite marks are ISO 9004,Japans Demin…
What does the Kitemark mean on glass?
Quality Marks The Kitemark symbol of quality was first conceived in 1903 to identify glazing solutions that were at the pinnacle of safety and reliability. Today, glass kite marks remain as one of the oldest product quality marks in the world still in use.
Why is British standards important?
Standards play an important role in promoting productivity and efficiency, reducing costs, removing barriers to trade, and driving economic growth.
Where did British Standards come from?
Most British Standards are developed at an international level, either through organizations that work globally (i.e. ISO and IEC) or just within Europe (i.e. CEN, CENELEC and ETSI).
Do British Standards still exist?
The role of National Standards Body in 2021 and beyond International and European standards are adopted for the whole of the UK as British Standards, alongside a diminishing proportion of national-only standards that meet purely local needs.
What happens to CE mark after Brexit?
From 1 January 2021, the UKCA mark will start to replace the CE mark for goods sold within Great Britain. The CE mark will continue to be required for goods sold in Northern Ireland. For all other goods, the UKCA mark will become mandatory at the end of 2021.
Is CE marking still required after Brexit?
The CE marking is only valid in Great Britain for areas where GB and EU rules remain the same. If the EU changes its rules and you CE mark your product on the basis of those new rules you will not be able to use the CE marking to sell in Great Britain, even before 31 December 2022.
When was the British Standards Kitemark first introduced?
First introduced in 1903, the Kitemark is the best known and respected mark of quality in the UK, and has been regularly voted as a ‘UK Business Superbrand’. Considered a sign of reliability and safety, the British Standards Kitemark can actually be a key differentiator between one company and the next.
Where does the name Kitemark come from and why?
Origins of the Kitemark The Kitemark was originally conceived in 1903 as a symbol to identify products manufactured to meet British Standards ‘ specifications. “Kitemark” came from the kite shape of the graphic device which was drawn up – an uppercase B (for British) on its back, over an S (for standard), enclosed by a V (for verification).
What is the kite mark used for in the UK?
The Kitemark is a UK product and service quality trade mark which is owned and operated by The British Standards Institution ( BSI Group ). The Kitemark is most frequently used to identify products where safety is paramount, such as crash helmets, smoke alarms and flood defences.
What do you need to know about Kitemark certification?
To obtain Kitemark certification, products and services are assessed by BSI Product Services to ensure that they meet the requirements of the relevant British, European, trade association or international specification or standard. In addition, delivery of the product or service is audited against an accredited quality management system.