UK Government establishes construction materials regulator

02/02/2021

As one of the policy responses to the Grenfell tragedy, the UK Government has established a new national construction products regulator to ensure homes are built from safe materials.

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 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.

The UK Government has made the announcement and RSUA has confirmed that the regulator will have jurisdiction in Northern Ireland, and new regulations are being brought in to cover products that don’t already fall under the existing NI regime.