There is no doubt that a business working in any area associated with equestrian activities will have special requirements when it comes to building and construction.
Stables, training arenas or horse riding schools all need a range of buildings and other constructions that have to deal with the demands of powerful horses and their daily activities.
Durability and robustness are essential for long-term use but other considerations such as safety must be taken on board in order to create a secure and protected working environment; for both horses and people.
Function and form
Because their settings are usually in rural or semi-rural areas, construction projects for equestrian businesses often have unique and individual demands.
Sometimes this will mean simply making sure any new buildings, extensions or repairs fit in with an existing aesthetic but in other situations more complex planning rules and regulations may need to be taken into account.
Overall, the best course of action is always to choose a supplier who is experienced in the field and offers a range of materials backed up by official certification.
Construction Products Regulation
Since July 01 2013, the Construction Products Regulation 2011 (CPR) has made it mandatory for manufacturers to apply CE markings to all of their products, which are covered by a harmonised European standard (hEN) or European Technical Assessment (ETA).
It isn’t just manufacturers that have been affected by the new legal obligations as distributors and importers of construction products used within the EU must also comply with these rules. This applies to any business working with constituent products such as steel beams and also to fabricated elements and systems made from CE Marked products.
Previously, participation by businesses was voluntary but now the UK has strict penalties for non-compliance, which include suspension notices, prohibition notices, notices to warn, and application for forfeiture. For certain offences the penalties may include a fine, imprisonment or both. This means it is more important than ever for an equestrian business to choose a supplier wisely.
Graham Heath Construction (GHC), the parent company of Graham Heath Equestrian (GHE), is not only one of the best known equestrian building suppliers in the UK but it has also been officially awarded CPR certification and subsequently all of their buildings are CE Marked. This makes them an obvious choice for projects of this nature.