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THE CHANGING FACE OF CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT CERTIFICATION ROUND TABLE REVIEW
The Changing Face of Product Certifi cation & Regulation
O
ne of the key industry shifts in the new building safety regime ushered in by the Building Safety Act, is a more robust product regulation and information culture, to drive a new level of rigour on product specifi cation. However, a multi- disciplinary round table recently staged at the Institute of Directors in London by netMAGmedia heard a variety of perspectives which challenged any perceptions that the industry is well on the way to such culture change. The Building Insights LIVE round table, a valuable chance to gain expert insights from architects, Tier 1 contractors, product testing experts and consultants, suggested there was lack of knowledge on the changes and a lack of engagement with the process. The Act brings a new set of professional competencies for all projects overseeing design and construction, and a set of procurement ‘gateways’ for higher-risk buildings, mandating when project submissions must be made to a new national Regulator. Alongside this is a potential new regime for product testing and certifi cation, under a further dedicated Regulator, at the Offi ce of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). This is changing the paradigm for both construction product manufacturers, and the specifi er contingent, bringing in an overarching body to ensure the reliability of construction products’ safety certifi cation. The round table set out some of the benefi ts and challenges of the new regime, with product regulation and certifi cation having been called into question in the Grenfell inquiry and the Government- commissioned Morrell/Day report ‘Testing for a Safer Future.’ The round table reinforced concerns highlighted in the report, such as gaps in testing, and the fact that “up to two-thirds of products were unregulated” (due to not being governed by the Construction Products Regulation). However, according to round table attendee Peter Caplehorn, chief executive of the Construction Products Association, the sector had made “huge progress” on product regulation, and told delegates it’s “moving the dial on confi rming and verifying what you have done.” Although he did caveat this by saying that manufacturers
could be divided into three categories; those who are “on the case,” those who are “pretending they are making changes but who want to tread water,” and those “who are happy to do what they have been doing for over 30 years.” The round table, being held in February, came shortly before the Government released its green paper setting out the consultation on improving the construction products testing framework, including minimum standards for third-party testing, new co-ordination
ROUND TABLE ATTENDEES • Peter Caplehorn, Chief Executive, Construction Products Association/Construction Leadership Council
• Bryan Cowey, Specifi cation Consultant/BIM Co-ordinator, SpecStudio
• Ross Newman, Technical Governance Manager & Regulatory Analyst, Warringtonfi re
• Seán McAlister, Pencil & Brick • Chris Gaze, Chris Gaze Associates • Mark Taylor, Technical Director, Allies and Morrison • Mark Wilkinson, Senior Technical Manager, Construction Products Association
• Neville Grunwald, Director of Facades and Roofs, Wates • Amanda Long, CEO, CCPI Ltd • Paul Morrell, Consultant & Former Government Chief Construction Adviser
• Gabriel Pierazzini, Head of Technical – Facades, Kier Group
FROM THE EVENT SPONSORS • Mike Vaczi, Technical Director, Soprema • Tony Ryan, Chief Technical Offi cer, Siderise UK
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF APRIL 2025
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