Scheme ACRS Product Certification
Third-party product certification for steel products used in Australian and New Zealand construction, operated by ACRS under JAS-ANZ accreditation.
Full Description
ACRS Product Certification
The Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels Ltd (ACRS) operates an independent, third-party product certification scheme for steel products used in Australian and New Zealand construction.
About ACRS
ACRS is a not-for-profit organisation incorporated in New South Wales (ACN 096 692 545). It is accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) under ISO/IEC 17065 (Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services) and ISO/IEC 17067 (Conformity assessment — Fundamentals of product certification and guidelines for product certification schemes).
ACRS has operated since 2001 and certifies steel products manufactured and processed in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally.
Certification Overview
What ACRS Certifies
ACRS certifies that specific steel products — called Assessable Materials — meet the requirements of the applicable Australian, New Zealand, or international standard for the claimed product designation. Certification is product-specific: a firm is certified for each product designation it produces or processes, not for the facility as a whole.
Certificate Types
| Type | Applies To | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Producer Certificate | Stage 1 — Steel making | Issued to steel mills and manufacturers producing Assessable Materials from raw inputs |
| Non-Producer Certificate | Stage 2 — Processing / fabricating | Issued to firms processing or fabricating certified Assessable Materials made by a Producer |
| Technical Approval Certificate | Innovative / proprietary products | Issued for products that are innovative, proprietary, or not covered by a current Australian/NZ standard |
Certification Profiles
ACRS Product Certification is organised into four profiles, each covering a category of steel products:
| Profile | Key Standards | Products |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete Reinforcing Steels | AS/NZS 4671 | Reinforcing bar, coil, welded mesh/fabric |
| Hot-rolled Structural Steels | AS/NZS 1594, AS/NZS 3678, AS/NZS 3679.1, AS 3597, AS 1397 | Flat products, plates, bars, sections, Q&T plate, light gauge |
| Cold-formed Structural Steels | AS/NZS 1163, BS EN 10219, AS/NZS 3679.2, AS 4600 | Hollow sections, welded I sections, cold-formed systems |
| Structural Connectors and Anchors | AS/NZS 1252, ISO 15835, AS 5204 | Structural bolts, reinforcing couplers, GFRP bar |
Assessment Cycle
ACRS operates a 3-year certification cycle:
| Year | Assessment Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Full Evaluation | Comprehensive on-site assessment of production processes, quality management system, and LTQ data |
| Year 2 | Surveillance Evaluation | Shorter on-site assessment to verify continued compliance |
| Year 3 | Surveillance Evaluation | Shorter on-site assessment to verify continued compliance |
At the end of Year 3, the cycle restarts with a new Full Evaluation.
Product Designation System
Each certified product is identified by a product designation — a code defined by the applicable standard that specifies the product's key characteristics. Certification is granted for specific designations, not for product ranges or families as a whole.
For example, under AS/NZS 4671 (Concrete Reinforcing Steels):
- Bar:
D500N— Deformed ribbed, 500 MPa, Normal ductility, straight bar - Coil:
R250N— Round, 250 MPa, Normal ductility, coil - Mesh:
D500SL92— Deformed, 500 MPa, Square configuration, Low ductility, 9 mm bar, 200 mm spacing
See the individual profile documentation for the designation systems applicable to each standard.
Certification Outcomes
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Certified | All requirements met; ACRS certificate issued |
| Certified with Corrective Action Required | Certificate valid; minor nonconformities to be resolved via CAR |
| Suspended | Certificate suspended; major nonconformities or overdue CAR |
| Not Certified | Requirements not met; certificate refused or withdrawn |
Noncompliance vs Nonconformity
ACRS distinguishes between two types of findings:
- Noncompliance — a product failure: the product does not meet the requirements of the applicable standard for the claimed designation
- Nonconformity — a system failure: the firm's quality management processes do not meet ACRS requirements
The ACRS Mark
Certified firms are authorised to apply the ACRS Mark to products covered by their certificate. Use of the Mark is subject to ACRS licensing conditions and is only permitted for the specific product designations listed on the certificate.
Further Information
- Website: www.steelcertification.com
- Executive Director: Andrew Wheeler — awheeler@steelcertification.com
- Address: PO Box 1369, Crows Nest NSW 1585, Australia
Included Profiles (4)
Criterion Scoring Framework
ACRS certification status reflects the publicly registered state of a firm's certificate as shown in the ACRS Certificate Register. Status is determined by the outcome of Full and Surveillance Evaluations against the applicable product standard requirements.
CERTIFIED: Certified
Severity 1
Definition "All requirements met; ACRS Producer Certificate issued"
NON-PRODUCER: Non Producer
Severity 2
Definition "Non-Producer Certificate active; firm meets all requirements for a processing or fabricating facility"
VOLUNTARY-RELINQUISHMENT: Voluntary Relinquishment
Severity 3
Definition "Certificate voluntarily relinquished by the firm; certification no longer active"
SITE-CLOSED: Site Closed
Severity 4
Definition "Certified site permanently closed; certificate no longer valid"
TERMINATED-NON-COMPLIANCE: Terminated for Non-compliance
Severity 5
Definition "Certificate terminated by ACRS due to failure to meet applicable requirements"