UKAS welcomes the creation of Construction Products Regulator

UKAS welcomes the government’s announcement of the creation of a new Construction Products Regulator, which will be housed within the Office of Products Safety & Standards (OPSS) within the Business Department (BEIS).  The new Regulator’s role will be to ensure that products used throughout the construction sector are safe.  This move is intended to address the shortcomings and issues exposed by the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017.

Matt Gantley, UKAS CEO, said: “UKAS very much welcomes this important development.  The construction sector is not only complex and fragmented, but also spans multiple government departments.  This move will help to provide an overarching framework for safety and in many ways replicates the wide span of UKAS’ involvement across construction and related sectors.  Accreditation already plays a very central role with regard to testing and certification but there are areas where the system could be strengthened, which UKAS is keen to progress. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues in BEIS – our sponsoring department – to support the work of this important body”.