The Property Care Association was established with the aim of promoting high standards of professionalism and also expertise within their industry, as well as helping to develop this through training and support services.
Members of the PCA – such as ourselves, Peter Cox Ltd – are viewed as the best of the best, providing the highest standard of service in their sector. Services provided range from site surveys and investigations right through to solving the problems diagnosed during these investigations and prevention of reoccurrence.
History
The PCA was founded in 1930 under the name of the British Wood Preserving Association (BWPA) whose aims were to spread knowledge of wood preservation and reduce the wastage of timber around the country. Their early work also included the standardisation of wood preservatives and their applications as well as looking for every possible new and traditional method to preserve wood. They also brought together their members to share ideas and formulate new ones.
In 1977, the British Chemical Dampcourse Association (BCDA) was formed and in 1989, the two associations became the British Wood Preserving and Damp Proofing Association or BWPDA. The new association’s members were key in the creation of the Guarantee Protection Trust in 1982 that gave customers an insurance-backed guarantee. This eventually became Guarantee Protection Insurance under the approval of the Financial Services Authority in 2002.
In 2003, the association created two divisions within itself – the Property Care Association and the Wood Protection Association. Three years later, members decided to separate these into two separate associations, each becoming an individual Trade Association in its own right.
Who can become a Member?
The following trades are represented by the PCA and those working in the fields can seek to become members. These include:
- Damp
- Condensation
- Timber decay
- Insect attack and invasive weed control
- Dampness and water penetration into basements
- Flood protection and flood water recovery
- Structural defects
What Membership Means
The PCA uses various means to promote excellence in its field. The primary of these is the guarantee that their members adhere to very strict criteria. To help members achieve this, the PCA provide a range of training courses across a number of specialist areas and a qualification is gained at the end of the course.
Audits are carried out of member companies to be certain that their businesses comply with the PCA standards. This involves checking everything from staff development and training programmes to health and safety practises and company procedures. Site inspections are also undertaken when an independent inspector ensures the desired practices are taking place on-site in both domestic and commercial premises.
The Property Care Association is a founder member of TrustMark so that its members are validated by this government-backed scheme. It is designed to ensure that all contractors working in people’s homes are trustworthy and competent to give homeowners the ultimate peace of mind.
Finally, the PCA support relevant opportunities for Continuing Professional Development, allowing members to continue to learn in their chosen trade, developing their knowledge and adding to it when changes come about as well as learning new skills in the areas of waterproofing, damp control and timber treatment.
Learn more about the PCA at their website – http://www.property-care.org/
