The Construction Fixings Association has published its 2026 training calendar for anchor testing and construction fixings competence, with physical proof testing courses scheduled across the UK and e-learning available on demand for installers, supervisors and proof testers. The course dates give contractors, specialist testing firms and site teams a clear route to refresh competence before safety-critical anchor work becomes a programme issue. Physical courses include Proof Testing of General Purpose Anchors in Glasgow, Solihull, Wallingford and Ashford, with an Advanced Tester Training course also listed at Fischer in Wallingford.
While the CFA 2026 training calendar may appear to be a routine course update, London Construction Magazine analysis shows that anchor testing competence is increasingly becoming a live delivery risk where contractors cannot prove that post-installed fixings have been installed, supervised and tested by competent personnel. The CFA states that its training courses provide a strong level of understanding and knowledge, with successful candidates receiving a certificate valid for three years. Physical courses also assess competence and successful candidates receive a CFA Training ID Card in addition to their certificate.
For contractors working under BS 8539 expectations, that distinction matters. E-learning may support knowledge refresh, but physical training provides a practical competence layer that can become important where anchor testing evidence is reviewed by clients, designers, principal contractors or compliance teams.
| By the Numbers | Operational Reading |
| 16 July 2026 — Rawlplug, Glasgow | Proof tester competence route available for teams covering Scotland and northern project locations |
| 21 July 2026 — Rite-Fix, Solihull | Midlands-based course gives contractors a practical option before summer programme pressure increases |
| 12 August 2026 — Fischer, Wallingford | Proof testing route supports contractors needing recognised competence for general purpose anchor testing |
| 13 August 2026 — Fischer, Wallingford | Advanced tester training suggests a smaller competence pool for proof and allowable load testing work |
| 16 September 2026 — VJ Technology, Ashford, Kent | South East course may be relevant for London and Kent contractors planning autumn fixing packages |
Why the 2026 calendar matters to contractors
The 2026 training calendar matters because anchor competence is no longer just an internal training record. On safety-critical fixing work, the competence of installers, supervisors and testers can directly affect whether the project team accepts the installation evidence. The practical issue appears when anchors are already installed, access is closing, finishes are progressing and the project team then asks who installed the anchors, who supervised the installation and who is competent to carry out proof testing. At that point, training becomes a programme risk rather than an HR matter. This is where contractors can lose time. If competence evidence is not in place before testing or installation begins, the project may need additional checks, repeated testing, delayed sign-off or further technical clarification before the works can be closed out.
Where BS 8539 starts to affect site evidence
BS 8539-related expectations affect site evidence because anchor performance depends on the full chain of selection, installation, supervision and testing. A passed test result may not remove all risk if the installation process was poorly controlled or the competence trail is incomplete. LCM’s BS 8539 anchor testing guidance explains how anchor testing sits inside the wider fixing responsibility chain. That chain becomes especially important where anchors support façade systems, access equipment, temporary works, MEP supports, brackets, secondary steel or other safety-relevant elements. The hidden pressure is that anchor testing is often procured late. By the time testing is requested, the site may already be dealing with access constraints, sequencing pressure and commercial arguments over who owns the evidence gap.
Why installer and supervisor training cannot be ignored
Installer and supervisor training cannot be ignored because many anchor failures begin before the test equipment is connected. Poor hole cleaning, incorrect embedment, unsuitable substrate checks, wrong drilling technique or uncontrolled installation conditions can all affect anchor performance before proof testing takes place.
The CFA offers separate installer, supervisor and proof tester training routes, which reflects how fixing quality is created across different site roles. The installer controls the physical installation, the supervisor controls process and workmanship, and the tester provides verification evidence against the agreed test requirement. Where those roles are split between different subcontractors, the evidence gap can become harder to manage. A tester may be asked to validate anchors without full visibility of the installation assumptions, while the principal contractor may still need a clean record for handover or compliance review.
Where the programme risk appears
The programme risk appears when anchor testing is treated as a final quality check instead of a planned assurance activity. If load requirements, test method, sampling rate, acceptance criteria and competent personnel are not agreed early, testing can become a blocker rather than a controlled verification stage.
This is particularly important on live sites where access is temporary, areas are being handed over in sequence, or fixings are hidden behind finishes shortly after installation. A missing competence record or unclear testing scope can force the project back into areas that should already have been closed. The question of who can carry out anchor testing is therefore becoming more important for procurement teams. It is not enough to appoint a testing provider late and assume the evidence chain will automatically be accepted.
Why this goes beyond a simple training update
The CFA 2026 training calendar should be read as a planning signal, not just a course notice. It gives contractors an opportunity to align people, roles and evidence before anchor installation and proof testing become exposed under programme pressure. The risk is that anchor competence is only questioned after the fixing package has already moved forward. Where anchor testing becomes mandatory, unclear competence records can create delay, rework and unnecessary commercial tension between installers, testing providers and main contractors. The full contractor implications, sequencing risks and mitigation strategies are included in today’s London Construction Magazine briefing.
Evidence-Based Summary
The CFA 2026 training calendar is not only a list of anchor testing course dates but a signal that competence, certification and practical assessment are becoming more important in the fixing compliance chain. The visible issue is training availability, while the deeper operational pressure is the need to prove that installers, supervisors and testers are competent before safety-critical anchors are accepted. In practical terms, contractors that leave competence checks until late in the programme risk creating delays, evidence gaps and avoidable challenges under BS 8539-related workflows.
| Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
