The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has commenced enforcement activities against substandard steel products in different parts of the country.
The enforcement exercise follows expiry of the January 31st, 2022 ultimatum issued by UNBS to all manufacturers of steel products to recall all substandard products on the market.
During a steel sector meeting on standards held on 19th January 2022 convened by UNBS, attended by Steel sector manufacturers and Hard ware dealers, it was resolved that all steel products manufacturers liaise with their downstream supply chains to recall all substandard products by 31st January 2022
It was also resolved that any substandard steel products found on the market starting 1st February 2022 shall be seized by UNBS and that manufacturers of the substandard products will be prosecuted in courts of law
Despite the ultimatum issued, UNBS says it has so far seized approximately 15,500kgs of substandard ribbed steel bars and hollow sections worth over UGX 640 Million in the Kampala Metropolitan area.
UNBS says the operations that kicked off in Kampala last week are to continue to different regions in the country.
UNBS developed quality standards for steel products available on the UNBS website for public knowledge of good quality construction materials.
Some of these include; US EAS 412-1; Steel for the reinforcement of concrete — Part 1: Plain bars; and US EAS 412-2:2019 Steel for the reinforcement of concrete — Part 2: Ribbed bars
Others are US EAS 412-3; Steel for the reinforcement of concrete — Part 3: Welded bars; US 194-1:2016; Nails – Part 1: Steel nails – Specification; US EAS 914:2019 – Mild steel nails – Specification and US EAS 11:2019 – Hot-dip galvanized plain and corrugated steel sheets – Specification (3rd Edition)
US EAS 468:2019 – Pre-painted metal coated steel sheets and coils – Specification (3rd Edition) and US EAS 410: 2005 – Hot-dip aluminium-zinc coated plain and corrugated steel sheets – Specification are also part.
UNBS has urged all manufacturers of steel products to ensure that their products meet the quality standards and are certified by UNBS, and all middlemen, hardware dealers and importers to ensure that they deal in only certified steel products and consumers to verify the quality of materials before purchasing them.
UNBS encourages the public to report any dealer of substandard products using toll free line 0800133133.