Do Industrial Access Platforms Need to Meet BS EN 1090?

When planning a new access platform for a manufacturing facility, processing plant or industrial site, one question frequently arises during the design phase:

Does the platform need to comply with BS EN 1090?

It's an important consideration. Compliance not only helps ensure the structure is manufactured to recognised quality standards, but also provides confidence that the finished steelwork is suitable for its intended application.

At Engineering Systems & Projects Ltd (ESP), BS EN 1090 compliance is built into our structural steel fabrication process wherever applicable, allowing clients to integrate safe, compliant steelwork into wider engineering projects with confidence.

The Short Answer

If an industrial access platform forms part of a permanent structural steel installation, then in many cases the fabricated steelwork will need to comply with BS EN 1090.

The standard governs the manufacture of structural steel and aluminium components, setting requirements for quality management, welding procedures, inspection, material traceability and factory production control.

Not every platform falls under the same requirements, however. Whether BS EN 1090 applies depends on factors such as how the platform is designed, where it will be installed, its structural function and the loading it is expected to support.

For this reason, compliance should always be considered during the early design stages of a project rather than after fabrication has begun.

What Is BS EN 1090?

BS EN 1090 is the recognised European and UK standard governing the execution of structural steelwork and aluminium structures.

Since July 2014, structural steelwork placed on the market has generally been required to comply with BS EN 1090, with manufacturers operating an independently certified Factory Production Control (FPC) system to demonstrate compliance.

The standard covers every aspect of structural fabrication, including:

• Material traceability

• Approved welding procedures

• Welder qualifications

• Inspection and testing

• Quality documentation

• Factory Production Control (FPC)

Together, these requirements help ensure structural steelwork is manufactured consistently, safely and to a recognised level of quality.

Which Industrial Access Platforms Typically Require BS EN 1090?

Many of the permanent steel structures found within manufacturing and process industries are likely to fall within the scope of BS EN 1090, including:

• Access platforms

• High-level maintenance platforms

• Tank access platforms

• Pipe bridge structures

• Permanent steel walkways

• Equipment access structures

• Mezzanine floors

• Fixed access staircases

• Tank farm ladders and catwalks

These structures are often installed to provide safe access for operators and maintenance personnel, making structural integrity and manufacturing quality essential throughout their service life.

Why Does BS EN 1090 Matter?

Structural Integrity

Industrial access platforms are frequently installed around heavy process equipment, vessels and production machinery. They must safely support personnel, tools and operational loads while remaining reliable over many years of service.

Designing and manufacturing these structures in accordance with BS EN 1090 helps ensure they perform as intended.

Material Traceability

The standard requires documented traceability of structural materials throughout the fabrication process.

This provides confidence that certified materials have been used and allows steel components to be traced throughout manufacture if required.

Welding Quality

Structural steelwork relies heavily on high-quality welding.

BS EN 1090 requires approved welding procedures alongside appropriately qualified welders, helping ensure consistent fabrication standards and reducing the likelihood of structural defects.

Execution Class

Every structural steel project is assigned an appropriate Execution Class (EXC) based on the complexity of the structure and the potential consequences of failure.

Engineering Systems & Projects Ltd is accredited to manufacture structural steelwork up to and including Execution Class 2 (EXC2), covering a wide range of industrial platforms, walkways, staircases and structural support steelwork commonly found within manufacturing facilities.

Factory Production Control

One of the core requirements of BS EN 1090 is a certified Factory Production Control (FPC) system.

Rather than relying solely on final inspection, an FPC system ensures quality is embedded throughout every stage of manufacture, from procurement and fabrication through to inspection and documentation.

ESP maintains an independently certified Factory Production Control system that is assessed annually, providing clients with confidence that structural steelwork is manufactured in accordance with current standards.

How ESP Delivers BS EN 1090 Compliant Steelwork

Structural steelwork often forms an integral part of the larger engineering projects delivered by ESP.

Whether installing new process equipment, constructing elevated maintenance platforms or providing safe operator access around manufacturing machinery, our structural steel fabrication team works closely alongside our mechanical and installation engineers to deliver complete engineering solutions.

Our BS EN 1090 capabilities include:

• Industrial access platforms

• Mezzanine floors

• High-level maintenance platforms

• Pipe bridges

• Walkways

• Tank farm access ladders

• Access staircases

• Structural support steelwork

By combining in-house fabrication, qualified welding procedures, detailed engineering drawings and experienced on-site installation teams, ESP is able to deliver structural steelwork that integrates seamlessly with wider process engineering projects.

This coordinated approach simplifies project delivery, reduces interfaces between contractors and helps ensure every element of the installation is designed and manufactured to the appropriate engineering standards.

Planning a New Structural Steel Project?

Whether you're installing a new process plant, expanding an existing production facility or upgrading maintenance access, considering BS EN 1090 requirements at the earliest stages of a project can help avoid costly redesigns and ensure structural compliance from the outset.

With experience delivering structural steelwork alongside complex mechanical engineering projects across the food, beverage, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, ESP provides a complete service from design and fabrication through to installation and commissioning, giving clients a single engineering partner for both structural and process engineering requirements.