Understanding clients’ needs

Build Check discusses its recent acquisition by Building Envelope Technologies (BET).

Build Check Limited, the Buckinghamshire-based, Ukas-accredited provider of product testing and certification services to the fenestration sector and the wider construction industry was born in 2004 when Richard Bate and David McKenna combined their 40 years of experience to realise a shared vision of the development of energy efficient, sustainable buildings by offering a fresh approach to building regulation compliance, testing and product certification.

Since then, Build Check has earned a reputation for honest impartial advice and the best in testing, certification and compliance.

In early 2020 the business was acquired by BET, which is headquartered in County Wexford, Ireland, and is a leader in the construction and fenestration testing sector.

The acquisition was supported by (and, as a result both companies became part of) the Phenna Group. Phenna’s aim is to build a global portfolio of independent market leading TICC businesses by forging partnerships and create more opportunities for businesses to grow and give customers access to the most comprehensive services available. This is Phenna’s fourth acquisition in 12 months.

Paul Barry, Phenna Group CEO, said: “I’m delighted to support BET with the acquisition of Build Check. BET has an ambitious growth plan, both in Ireland and in the UK, and the addition of Build Check’s Ukas-accredited and complementary service portfolio will be instrumental in them achieving their goals. I welcome David, Richard and the Build Check team to the group.”

Richard and David continue in their roles, reporting to Brian Shannon, managing director of BET, who said: “Build Check will bring a high level of technical experience, a solid client base and the highest international level of ISO accreditation by Ukas. This is a key moment in the expansion of our overall growth plan and we really look forward to working with David, Richard and their team to grow and expand the business; exciting times lie ahead in Ireland and the UK.”

Build Check’s David McKenna said: “We’re really excited to join BET and become part of the broader Phenna Group. The company has wide ranging experience in the TICC sector and has demonstrated a deep understanding of our business and the opportunities ahead.”

Richard added: “From the start of our discussions with the Phenna team, it became very apparent that they were experts in our market and understood our challenges, being an obvious and supportive partner for Build Check.”

The experience, abilities, expertise and resources of BET and Build Check complement each other and will allow both companies to extend and enhance their range of products and services.

At the time the companies merged, nobody expected virtually the whole world to close its doors, nor the business landscape to be fundamentally changed for the foreseeable future. However, the situation created an environment where creativity, versatility and availability has thrived.

Build Check wasted no time in identifying gaps in its laboratory and on-site testing portfolio, talking with clients about key issues they were dealing with. Build Check responded by ramping up a new range of services, ready to hit the road running as the fenestration and wider construction sectors came back to life.

Richard said: “Many companies experienced supply difficulties with hardware coming from overseas during the coronavirus crisis, so it makes perfect sense for window and door fabricators to now put their own testing and certification processes in place to ensure continuity of supply rather than rely on cascaded third-party testing that may not always satisfy legal or client requirements.

“Build Check was able to react quickly to lockdown, offering skeleton laboratory services throughout. This meant that we could continue servicing key clients while using the downtime to better understand our clients’ needs and build a new ready-to-go service offering as UK industry ramped back up.”

Build Check launched a new range of services including Ukas-accredited Site Hose Testing for curtain wall and sloping glazing systems (to Testing Standards CWCT:2006, BS EM 13051:2001, AAMA 501.2-15 and NHBC:2020).

The next phase of the plan, due to take place in the spring of 2021, will see Build Check’s launch of the UK’s first indoor facade testing facility to offer a more practical and professional solution for window fabricators and installers from first contact right through to accurate, timely and cost-effective reporting.

Build Check will also be writing a monthly column for Glass Times, the first of which appears on p42. info@buildcheck.co.uk