CPA responds to independent review of construction product testing regime

In April 2023, the Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime led by Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day KC was published.

The purpose of the independent review was to identify any potential weaknesses in the system and to make recommendations for improvement.

It undertook a critical assessment of the system for testing and certifying construction products and made recommendations for how the system could be strengthened to provide confidence that construction products are safe and perform as labelled and marked.

The Construction Products Association (CPA) has now published its response to the independent review. Their latest technical briefing paper outlines how the CPA intends to respond to this report, as well as how they hope to work with the Government moving forward.

Peter Caplehorn, Chief Executive of the CPA, and co-chair of the CLC Building Safety workstream said: “We are very pleased to see the publication of this independent Review. The report should be required reading for policy-makers and industry leaders alike, coming at a critical time not only for the future of the UK product testing and certification sector, but for the wider culture and practices of UK construction as well.

“The recommendations cover a wide range of urgent issues, including uptake of the Code for Construction Product Information from industry.

“The CPA and its members will be focusing on developing the necessary responses and actions in consultation with department officials. Our analysis and briefing paper is the first step in this work.”

In its response, the CPA is asking the government to help address some of the complex challenges facing the construction products industry currently. There are many interrelated issues that the CPA hopes can be addressed off the back of this report.

These include:

• That government should respond and support the recommendations listed in the Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day KC Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime, including uptake across industry of the Code for Construction Product Information
• That government should work with industry to action its recommendations and create a shared roadmap for practical progress, including what constitutes a 'safety-critical' product
• That government move to address and give clarity to the CA Mark issue, ahead of the June 2025 deadline.