Membership Terms & Conditions
Membership
1.1 AFI’s annual membership fee is dependent upon company type and turnover (contractors, suppliers, associates and affiliates: current membership fee for each category is available here)
1.2 Membership year runs annually from January 1st to December 31st.
1.3 Members joining before 30th June will pay for their first year’s annual membership pro‐rata based upon the number of months (full or part) to year end.
1.4 Members joining part way through a membership year pay 12 months membership. Subsequent years’ membership will then run from January to December in line with normal membership.
1.5 Payment can be made by BACS transfer, or cheque.
1.6 Membership fees are non refundable once paid.
1.7 All AFI members must meet and maintain the requirements of the AFI Code of Practice (CoP). Membership is granted once the member has provided evidence of meeting the CoP via a completed application form, a satisfactory credit and trading standards check and receipt of satisfactory supplier and customer references.
1.8 Once the necessary entry criteria have been met and evidenced, membership becomes active following final approval and sign‐off by the Management Board.
1.9 Membership fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Members will receive at least one month’s notice of any changes to the fee, which will become active at their renewal.
1.10 Members are encouraged to display the AFI logo on any letterheads and promotional material including websites and advertisements. Members can hyperlink from logos to their own profile on the AFI website member listing.
Benefits
2.1 A list of current member benefits and services is listed here. Members are encouraged to notify us of benefits they would like to see.
2.2 Benefits and services may change in order to provide best value and suit the needs of members and their marketplace. Members will receive at least one month’s notice of any changes, which will become active following the expiry of the period of notice.
2.3 Associate membership (see paragraph 6) is designed for the smaller company whose reduced annual subscription gives access to a reduced number of AFI benefits and services, specifically those which are designed to help them develop and grow.
2.4 Full members can access ALL benefits and services free of charge.
2.5 Benefits, including the use of the AFI logo, are only available to the member whilst a current subscription is in force.
Renewals
3.1 The renewal fee is due within 7 days of invoice. Invoices are raised at the end of each calendar year and dated January 1st of the new year.
3.2 Renewal requires that members complete an Annual Return to confirm continued eligibility and meeting the requirements of AFI’s Code of Practice.
3.3 It is the responsibility of the member company to keep AFI’s updated of any changes in their circumstances or contact details, and in particular any issue likely to affect their ability to maintain the AFI Code of Practice.
3.4 AFI accepts member declarations in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any consequence of inaccurate or false information provided. You may lose your subscription and membership (without refund) if information provided is false or inaccurate.
3.5 Late payment of renewal fees may result in an additional administration fee (currently of £15).
3.6 Any queries regarding membership/renewal payments must be made immediately to the Chief Executive.
Resignation of membership
4.1 Members wishing to resign must provide a minimum of 4 weeks’ notice, in writing, addressed to the AFI Chief Executive.
4.2 Member benefits, including the use of the AFI logo, cease on the last day of the notice period and may not be used from that date forward.
4.3 Resignation must include a declaration that the former member has removed all references to the Association from its printed and electronic stationery, livery and advertising media.
4.4 The misuse of logos denoting membership of, or approval by, an organisation can result in a commercial advantage enabling business to be acquired unjustly, and will therefore constitute a breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
4.5 AFI reserves the right to enforce removal of logos and pursue prosecution for any such misuse or misrepresentation.
4.6 Member fees will remain due until the date of removal of all references to the association from the former member’s corporate stationery, livery and advertising media, calculated pro rata from the beginning of the membership year until removal.
Standards
5.1 Members must abide by the AFI Code of Practice at all times.
5.2 Any change in status related to eligibility for membership must be notified to the Chief Executive in writing immediately. All cases will be considered on an individual basis.
Associate Membership
6.1 Any person, company or organisation who does not fulfil the criteria for Full membership may apply to become an Associate Member of the Association and will be required to comply with all other Terms & Conditions, as set out herein. Any Associate member that has been trading for more than two years must apply to the Association for Full membership.
6.2 Associate Members will not be eligible to vote at meetings or stand for election to the Board. They may be co‐opted to the Board or Sub‐Committees but without voting rights.
6.3 Associate Members are not eligible for all the benefits of membership.
Affiliate Membership
7.1 The Board may recommend any person, company or organisation who does not fulfil the criteria for Full or Associate membership to apply for Affiliate membership of the Association providing that only a minor part of their business activities, products or services is in the fencing industry. Affiliate members will be required to comply with all other Rules and Regulations as set out herein.
7.2 Affiliate Members will not be eligible to vote at meetings or stand for election to the Board. They may be co‐opted to the Board or Sub‐ Committees but without voting rights.
7.3 Affiliate membership renewal is subject to review on an annual basis.
Sub Groups
Membership of AFI sub groups is available only to AFI members. Sub groups and joining requirements are as follows:
Association of Safety Fencing Contractors (ASFC)
A person, firm or company shall be eligible to apply for ASFC membership if their business or a department of their business complies with:
a) Quality assurance BS EN ISO9001:2005 or any revisions thereof.
b) The requirements of the current issue of the Sector Scheme Document 2B for The Supply, Installation and Repair of Vehicle Restraint Systems.
Agricultural Fencing Association (AFA)
A person, firm or company shall be eligible to apply for AFA membership if their business or a department of their business is engaged in the agricultural sector of fencing.
Electric Fence Association (ESFF)
A person, firm or company shall be eligible to apply for ESFF membership if their business or a department of their business complies to:
a) Quality Assured BS EN ISO9001:2005 or any revisions thereof.
b) The requirements of the current issue of the Sector Scheme Document 2A for The Design and/or Supply, Installation and Repair of Fences ‐ category Electric Fencing.
c) The current version of the ESFF Code of Practice (PAS 47).
Environmental Noise Barrier Association (ENBA)
A person, firm or company shall be eligible to apply for ENBA membership if their business or a department of their business complies with:
a) Quality Assured to BS EN ISO9001:2005 or any revisions thereof.
b) The requirements of the current issue of the Sector Scheme Document 2C for the Design, Supply, Installation and Repair of Environmental Noise Barriers (Structural).
c) Ability to demonstrate capability to supply noise barrier products tested and assessed in accordance with BS EN 1793 Parts 1 and 2 Road traffic noise reducing devices – Test method for determining the acoustic performance or any revisions thereof.
d) Ability to demonstrate capability to supply noise barrier products categorized against the criteria contained in BS EN 1794 Parts 1 and 2 Road traffic noise reducing devices – Non‐acoustic performance or any revisions thereof. [NB: A supplier of environmental noise barriers in this context is a person, firm or company who manufactures or fabricates noise barrier products, or who installs noise barriers using noise barrier products manufactured or fabricated by another supplier.]
Gate Automation and Access Barrier Association (GAABA)
A person, firm or company shall be eligible to apply for GAABA membership if their business or a department of their business complies with:
a) Quality Assured to BS EN ISO 9001:2005 or any revisions thereof.
b) Installer, manufacturer or supplier of electrical/mechanical automated gate and/or access barrier systems and shall supply and/or install the same to the current statutory regulations and all applicable Codes of Practice.