Businesses with evidenced product claims to benefit from the proposals within Construction Product Reform White Paper

Businesses with evidenced product claims to benefit from the proposals within Construction Product Reform White Paper

The Construction Product Reform White Paper sets the future tone for the construction regulatory framework, the core of the reform is the principle of “safe products, used safely”. Moving away from a system that has in many ways helped facilitating trade toward one centred on product safety, accountability, and trust across the supply chain. Rather than representing another regulatory hurdle, the reform should be viewed as a necessary evolution following systemic failures highlighted by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

UKCA and CE marking are reaffirmed as declarations of performance against designated standards, not assurances of safety. This is not to say that two are not linked but we must move a focus to an understanding of how a product performs not just on its own but part of a system. Under the new regime, safety must be demonstrated through accurate, transparent, and verifiable product information, including clear limitations on use and evidence‑based performance claims.

A central focus of the White Paper is the overhaul of product information transparency. Consultation responses and inquiry findings exposed widespread issues with misleading marketing, fragmented data, selective disclosure of test results, and inconsistent oversight of voluntary schemes. These weaknesses have made it difficult for specifiers and installers to compare products reliably or confirm suitability. The reform introduces explicit duties around product information accuracy, traceability, and accessibility, creating a more level playing field by rewarding businesses that invest in proper testing, honest declarations, and clear installation guidance.

Where designated or harmonised standards do not exist, the introduction of the General Safety Requirement (GSR) provides a mechanism for products to be placed on the market but also how they can specify correctly and safely. Whilst the consultation for GSR has just launched, there are concerns on how this will work where manufacturers make components of wider systems, or where “white labelling” of products is carried out. That said it is likely it will require that manufacturers and suppliers demonstrate that products are safe for their intended and foreseeable use, supported by proportionate and documented evidence. This shifts reliance away from CE marking alone and places greater emphasis on clear product limitations, traceability, and substantiated claims. For the glass and glazing sector, whilst it begins at manufacture, the GSR reinforces that safety must be actively demonstrated, documented, and communicated throughout the supply chain.

The paper also highlights the need for a system-based approach that is supported by competent workforce, who understand the importance of compliance to design, particularly for safety‑critical applications such as fire‑resistant glazing. Installer knowledge, correct specification, and system level assurance are positioned as integral to delivering the safe outcomes.

Regulatory intent is further underlined by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) report on heat‑soaking. While focused on a specific process, it highlights that documentation errors are no longer minor administrative issues. Inaccurate declarations of performance can directly result in misspecification and unsafe installations. Factory production control, initial type testing, production testing, and evidence‑supported claims must all be accurate, current, and auditable.

Importantly, responsibility extends across the entire glass and glazing supply chain. Substituting products, altering fixings, or deviating from approved systems without evidence now carries clear regulatory risk. Informal or undocumented changes are no longer defensible, the person that makes a change carries design responsibility.

Call to Action for GGF Member Companies

GGF Members should act now. Audit all product information, declarations of performance, and marketing claims for accuracy and alignment with test evidence. Ensure product limitations and conditions of use are clearly communicated and digitally accessible. Review competence in your business, prioritising gaps for safety‑critical work. Construction Product Reform demands not only compliance, but a cultural shift toward transparency, integrity, and evidence‑led decision‑making. Organisations that respond early will not only meet regulatory expectations but set the benchmark for trust and professionalism in the sector.