The Construction Products Association (CPA) has established a Working Group, supported by FIS, within the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) focussed on collaboration across the construction supply chain.  The key aim is to ensure that there is consistent intepretation, clear understanding and effective communication with Government on how regulation and legislation are amended to manage transition.

At the end of October it was confirmed that manufacturers would be given an extra 12 months to prepare.  This was communicated in the statement below from MHCLG (who have responsibility for aligning the Construction Products Regulations).

I am writing to let you know that Government has just announced plans to introduce legislation which will enable CE marked goods to continue being placed on the Great British market until 1 January 2023. Although we are in a different legislative situation for the construction products sector, this new date for the end of recognition of the CE mark in Great Britain will also apply to construction products. MHCLG have updated guidance on GOV.UK (GB and NI) for construction products to reflect this.

We have been working hard to support industry make the transition to the new UKCA regime and we are grateful for all the work the CPA have already done in order to facilitate business preparedness. However, we are aware that the pandemic continues to impact businesses, and this has made adapting to the new regime more challenging. As a result, we have decided to provide an additional year for businesses to adapt to UKCA requirements.

Whilst this is a welcome relief and allays initial concerns over capacity and availability of testing, it still does not address wider concerns related to mutual recognition of assessment and test reports that is creating a duplication of costs associated with testing and conformity assessment for the UK and the EU markets particularly for AVCP System 3 for CE marking (such as suspended ceilings and products requiring reaction to fire tests) which, according to interpretation now will require historic tests to be repeated.

To assist companies in managing change the Government has updated key parts of their Brexit guidance that impacts companies in the Finishes and Interiors Sector.

  • Using the UKCA marking – click here
  • Placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain – click here
  • Construction Products Regulation in Great Britain – click here
  • Construction Products Regulation in Northern Ireland – click here.

The Construction Products Association, through the working group, has produced a great summary of all outstanding issues impacting the construction sector and continute to work with MHCLG and the European Construction Products Association to find practical resolution you can view this summary here.

If you have any comments, examples or additions for this list, please send them to iainmcilwee@thefis.org or call the office on 0121 707 0077 if you want to understand better or discuss any aspects of the guidance or concerns being reaised.  

You can visit the FIS Brexit Toolkit here.