There is an unfortunate truth that not all countries have the capability to enforce equal standards, either manufacturing standards or building standards. If you want to be confident about a product, then the country of origin can give an indication of standards in manufacturing control.

ISO standards 9001 and 14001 for example mean that the manufacturer has to have designed and implemented process and controls which provide quality assurance (9001) and Environmental Management Systems (14001) and to have been independently audited, annually against stringent criteria for achieving this accreditation. All products supplied from an accredited organisation must meet the quality standards. This accreditation comes at a cost but it is an assurance to the buyer about the quality and reliability of the product and the manufacturer themselves. Warranties provided by accredited companies also carry the backing of the ISO standard. Where does the manufacturer sell their products? For building materials quality standards the following counties are generally accepted to have the best enforced standards:

 Japan
 United Kingdom (BBA)
 European Union
 USA/Canada
 New Zealand

If your supplier claims international status, but is not able to sell their products in these markets, there is probably a very good reason why. If a product is 20% or 30% cheaper than another, buyers in the UK or USA would equally want to benefit from this price; so why does this manufacturer not sell in those markets? You will probably find that because standards are both high and enforced in these countries, these products are unable to be sold.

Other Certification:

There are various international bodies that provide performance test certification against agreed standards. For building materials and especially roofing, these standards cover things such as fire ratings, rain noise, rain penetration, collection of drinking water, wind uplift and security, thermal resistance, corrosion resistance, and impact resistance. A quality manufacturer should be able to provide information about independent performance testing in these areas.

Quality MRT manufacturers should be able to provide you with evidence of the following standards:

British Board of Agrément(United Kingdom)

Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment(France)

International Organization for Standardization Environmental Mgmt(United Nations)

International Organization for Standardization Quality Assurance (United Nations)

American Society for Testing Materials(USA & International)

UL or "Underwriters Laboratory Inc" (USA)

CE Mark, or Conformité Européenne(European Union)