Product testing overhaul to follow Morrell review

Product testing overhaul to follow Morrell review

The government has published its Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime, which highlights gaps in the safety of construction products in the country.

The report reveals that the current regulatory system is “outdated, inconsistent or non-existent”. Only one-third of construction products are currently regulated under the Construction Products Regulation, leaving up to 30,000 products unregulated.

The current regime’s complex assessment process has also been criticised for being poorly understood, and there is a disconnect between those involved in the assessment process and those designing and constructing buildings. The report also revealed that enforcement has been “almost totally non-existent”.

To address these issues, the report offers several solutions, including bringing all construction products under the current CPR through a “general safety requirement”. The report also calls for a new National Regulator for Construction Products and encourages full disclosure from manufacturers to the approved body conducting the product assessment.

DLUHC Secretary of State Michael Gove has welcomed the report. He said, “I would like to thank the reviewers for the comprehensive and thorough assessment of the current system and for their report and recommendations. We recognise that more needs to be done and are carefully considering the recommendations put forward by the independent reviewers.

“I will also consider how our regulatory regime can ensure that only responsible businesses can make and sell construction products. It is unacceptable that cladding and insulation manufacturers have neither acknowledged their part in the legacy of unsafe buildings in the United Kingdom, nor contributed to the cost of remediating buildings.

“To deliver the change we need, I will set out our proposals for reform of the UK’s construction product regime in due course, building on the work of this review.”

ECA and the FSA work closely with the wider fire and security industry and government to improve standards and improve building safety. To learn more about our work and the benefits of ECA and FSA membership, click here.