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Dr Stephen Hamil of NBS explains why better data standards and Digital Product Passports are vital to fi x the industry’s fragmented systems and safeguard its future.
F
or several years now, UK construction has been beset by issues around material quality, skills shortages and
project delivery. These challenges have dominated the conversation and while there is no doubt that these are important issues, there’s something even more signifi cant holding our industry back. Once we spotlight and solve this problem, it could unlock effective responses to all the previously mentioned issues and more; how we think about and manage our data. Despite numerous initiatives, the way we handle data is still problematic. Too often, across our industry, information about construction products remains fragmented, outdated or unattainable to the people who actually need it. It’s a hurdle to successful project delivery, but worse still, it’s a roadblock preventing our industry from innovating.
There is a solution here, but it
doesn’t involve adding more layers of box-ticking bureaucracy. What’s needed is genuine collaboration and a concerted move towards agreeing shared industry standards. To help us get there, we need to embrace Digital Product Passports (DPPs), which have the enticing potential to transform how we deal with the data on the materials we use throughout the construction industry.
From compliance to competitive advantage In essence, DPPs are thorough digital
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
datasets that accompany products from the factory fl oor through to their end-of-life. These digital companions contain crucial information including manufacturing details, performance information, compliance certifi cations, and environmental impact data. All accessible through a simple scan of a QR code. This is more than a layer of compliance.
It’s about making swift and assured decisions. With straightforward access to standardised data through DPPs, everyone in the supply chain can benefi t; from designers and contractors to regulators and building owners.
Enter the regulator Across the Channel, the European Union’s Construction Products Regulation (CPR) 2024 has made DPPs mandatory for critical construction materials including concrete, steel, and insulation products. This means manufacturers must provide comprehensive digital documentation covering technical specifi cations, safety, performance metrics, and environmental data such as carbon footprints and recycling guidelines. While it’s true the UK no longer operates under EU authority, the interconnected nature of construction product markets means lining up with European data standards is effectively a must-do. Looking closer to home, the Government’s ongoing consultation, the Construction Products Reform Green Paper, suggests the UK may adopt similar
requirements, making early preparation essential for manufacturers looking to maintain access to key markets.
Breaking down data barriers Unfortunately, construction data management practices often resemble a maze of disconnected systems. Product information remains trapped inside static PDFs, scattered databases, and perishable paper documents. Project teams often create their own data records, leading to inconsistent information sharing and limited functionality across systems. This disconnect creates cascading problems: manual data re-entry increases error rates, inconsistent information leads to specifi cation mistakes, with the wrong products turning up on- site, and compliance verifi cation becomes a time-consuming drain on resources. It can become all but impossible to track environmental performance. These issues also hold back the successful implementation of digital tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) and artifi cial intelligence (AI) applications. DPPs are set to transform this landscape by establishing machine- readable, standardised data formats that connect professionals to essential information. Designers gain instant access to verifi ed, up-to-date product data. Installation teams receive clear guidance and compliance documentation. Facility managers obtain critical insights
ADF JULY/AUGUST 2025
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