PAS 55 first for National Grid UK and Lloyd's Register

National Grid officially recognised by Lloyd's Register for Asset Management

A Lloyd's Register Group company has awarded its first approval to the Publicly Available Specification for Asset Management (PAS 55-1) published by the British Standards Institution (BSI). The approval has been awarded to National Grid's electricity transmission business.

Gael Lewis, Lloyd's Register's Director of Energy & Transportation, presented the PAS 55-1 certificate to National Grid at the company's Warwick headquarters on November 11, marking the culmination of an intensive three week assessment.

Assessors reviewed National Grid's asset management system design and tested how well it is applied. Sample checks on the condition of assets indicated that the management system had been followed and is achieving its aims. Gael Lewis said: "Certification to the PAS 55 specification is a very significant achievement and confirms the connection between corporate goals and asset management activity at all levels - National Grid's system is well connected, risk based and focused on delivering the corporate objectives of the organisation."

Jon Carlton, Director of Network Strategy for UK Transmission at National Grid said "We have welcomed the introduction of a universal benchmark for asset management and have been actively involved in the development of PAS 55 since its inception. National Grid is delighted to receive this certificate after a comprehensive review of our systems."

Lloyd's Register's assessment procedures for asset management verification activities are closely based on those used for certification of management systems to the familiar international standards such as ISO 9001. Gael Lewis explained: "With any standard, a significant investment in training and development is required to ensure that verification activities can be carried out in a thorough and consistent manner. Not only are our procedures rigorous, but our assessment teams have a thorough understanding of PAS 55, audit best practice, risk management and domain specific skills. We tested our approach through a pilot programme with clients in a number of sectors.

"Lloyd's Register believes that PAS 55-1 is a useful framework against which organisations can structure and review their asset management activities. Independent assessment against this framework is a means of providing assurance both internally and to external stakeholders that corporate risk issues are being tackled properly and that the organisation is controlling its asset base from a position of knowledge."

Ends.

Notes for editors

1. National Grid is a leading international energy infrastructure business, owning and operating gas and electricity transmission and distribution networks in the UK and US. Through National Grid Electricity Transmission, the company operated the high-voltage electricity transmission network across Great Britain, and owns the network in England and Wales.
2. The Lloyd's Register Group is an independent risk management organisation that works to help improve
   its clients' quality, safety, environmental and business performance throughout the world, because life matters. Its expertise and activities cover shipping, oil and gas, railways, and other asset-based industries. The Lloyd's Register Group has an impressive track record in verification and related activities.
   The PAS 55 certificate was awarded to National Grid by Lloyd's Register Verification Limited, a member of the Lloyd's Register Group.
3. PAS 55 is published by BSI and provides a consistent set of requirements for asset management across industries. The Lloyd's Register Group supported the Institute of Asset Management (IAM) in the development of PAS 55, bringing to bear its worldwide experience of management systems and asset management expertise in a variety of industries.
4. In May 2004 , following the formal launch by British Standards Institution of its Publicly Available Specification for Asset Management (PAS 55), Lloyd's Register launched a suite of services related to this cross-sector specification. The Lloyd's Register Group has seen considerable interest from organisations around the world seeking to develop their asset management systems to be compliant with PAS 55 and has carried out verification activities in many sectors, including rail, electricity and gas. It has also seen interest from regulators, and national and local governments.
5. Electronic images of the certificate award ceremony are available from news@lr.org .
6. For further information on Asset Management and PAS 55 related services from members of the Lloyd's Register Group contact Rhys Davies, Lloyd's Register, Electra House, Electra Way, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 6GL. UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1270 270 165. email rhys.davies@lr.org

For more information

Rhys Davies
Lloyd's Register
T +44 (0)1270 270 165
F +44 (0)1270 215 898
E rhys.davies@lr.org

Louise Farrell
National Grid
T 01926 655373
F 01926 655633
E louise.farrell@uk.ngrid.com

National Grid House
Warwick Technology Park
Warwick CV34 6DA
www.nationalgrid.com

Supporting documents

Pas 55 5: 1.5 Mb - Jon Carlton, Director of Network Strategy, National Grid UK Transmissionand Gael Lewis, Director of Energy & Transportation, Lloyd's Register

Pas 55 6: 1.5 Mb - Terry Mundy, Manager - Utilities Group, Lloyd's Register; Rhys Davies, Asset Management Product Manager, Lloyd's Register; Chris Knowles, Head of Strategic Consulting, Lloyd's Register; Gael Lewis, Director of Energy & Transportation, Lloyd's Register; Jon Carlton, Director of Network Strategy, National Grid UK Transmission; Aled Williams, Business Management Manager, Network Strategy UK Transmission; Ursula Bryan, Asset Management Specialist, Network Strategy UK Transmission

These images should only be used in connection with the press release.

Services are provided by members of the Lloyd's Register Group.
Lloyd's Register, Lloyd's Register EMEA and Lloyd's Register Asia are exempt charities under the UK Charities Act 1993.