The Government has committed to establish a national regulator for construction products as part of wider reforms to address systemic failings identified by the Hackitt Review.
The regulator for construction products will have the power to remove any product from the market that presents a significant safety risk and prosecute any companies who flout the rules on product safety.
This follows recent testimony to the Grenfell Inquiry that shone a light on the dishonest practice by some manufacturers of construction products, including deliberate attempts to game the system and rig the results of safety tests.
The regulator will have strong enforcement powers including the ability to conduct its own product-testing when investigating concerns. Businesses must ensure that their products are safe before being sold in addition to testing products against safety standards.
This marks the next major chapter in the government’s fundamental overhaul of regulatory systems. The progress on regulatory reform includes the publication of an ambitious draft Building Safety Bill, representing the biggest improvements to regulations in 40 years, and a new Building Safety Regulator that is already up and running in shadow form.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “The Grenfell Inquiry has heard deeply disturbing allegations of malpractice by some construction product manufacturers and their employees, and of the weaknesses of the present product testing regime.
“We are establishing a national regulator to address these concerns and a review into testing to ensure our national approach is fit for purpose. We will continue to listen to the evidence emerging in the Inquiry, and await the judge’s ultimate recommendation - but it is already clear that action is required now and that is what we are doing.”
Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety Dame Judith Hackitt described it is another really important step in delivering the new regulatory system for building safety.
“The evidence of poor practice and lack of enforcement in the past has been laid bare,” she continued. “As the industry itself starts to address its shortcomings I see a real opportunity to make great progress in conjunction with the national regulator.”
The Construction Products Association’s Chief Executive, Peter Caplehorn, welcomed the announcement. “We have worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, & Local Government to progress the reforms to culture and practices outlined in the Dame Judith Hackitt Review,” he said.
“This marks an important milestone in those reforms, and we look forward to supporting the work of the regulator and Office for Product Safety and Standards to develop how this will be put in place in the coming months.”
The regulator will operate within the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) which will be expanded and given up to £10 million in funding to establish the new function. It will work with the Building Safety Regulator and Trading Standards to encourage and enforce compliance.
The government has also commissioned an independent review to examine weaknesses in previous testing regimes for construction products, and to recommend how abuse of the testing system can be prevented.
It will be led by a panel of experts with regulatory, technical and construction industry experience and will report later this year with recommendations.
