The global construction industry is one of the most lucrative and competitive. To successfully bid on projects, construction firms must run an efficient operation, one that is proactive about safety and sustainability, and flexible enough to respond to evolving industry demands.

Certification to any of several ISO standards is one of the best investments a construction firm can make. Certified construction contractors have built-in credentials that will help them grow their business, mitigate compliance and liability risks, and run a leaner, more responsive operation overall.

Construction Industry Standards Supported by NQA

The construction industry is multifaceted, comprising contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, designers, suppliers and other professionals in the private, government and military sectors. Depending on the nature of your organization, any of several standards may be relevant, including:

• ISO 9001 – the international standard for quality management — one of the most commonly used ISO systems in the world

• ISO 14001 – the international standard for environmental management systems

• ISO 50001 – the international standard for energy management systems, and ESOS, a mandatory energy assessment scheme for large U.K.-based organizations

• ISO 45001 – the international standard for health and safety management, which supersedes the older OHSAS 18001 system

• ​SSIP – Safety Schemes in Procurement is the mutual recognition scheme for occupational health and safety standards particularly within construction

• ISO 44001 – the international standard for collaborative working

Visit individual standard pages to learn more about the certification process and the specific benefits of becoming a certified organization.

SSIP Member Scheme 

You can use your NQA SSIP Registered Scheme certification to be recognised by other SSIP Member schemes, such as CHAS, EXOR, Safe Contractor. This saves time and money by reducing duplication within pre-qualification schemes.

SSIP registration can benefit construction companies and related businesses of any size. Whatever your role within CDM, there are a range of valid reasons to pursue SSIP registration along with or in addition to OH&S compliance. Find out more about the scheme, benefits and how to get certified here. 

Benefits of Certification for the Construction Industry

ISO designed each of the above standards to be broadly applicable to any organization, regardless of industry. Each contains a set of repeatable processes and benchmarks for monitoring performance and initiating a cycle of continuous improvement. While every organization is different, there are several concerns universal to the construction industry that standardization can help with. These include:

• Injury prevention: The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that each year, 2.78 million workers die from occupational accidents or diseases. In addition, 374 million nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses further drive up the economic and human costs of insufficient health and safety management. ISO 45001 is one of the most important standards for the construction industry, as it provides a proactive framework for both preventing and responding to health and safety incidents.

• Efficiency and accuracy: ISO standards can help construction companies run a cost-effective business — and deliver on their promises to clients. ISO 9001 improves predictability; transparency and internal communication, helping you win jobs without affecting the quality of the work you complete. Just as importantly, it provides a high-level framework for bringing other concerns — health and safety, energy use and asset management, among others — in line with your broader business goals.

• Regulatory compliance: As regulations governing energy use and green building become stricter, both government agencies and private companies will look for partners with demonstrated credentials in these areas. ISO standards such as ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 are known and accepted worldwide — they offer an effective way for contractors to meet their compliance requirements and grow their business in new areas and territories.