In a surprising development, the government has decided to extend the CE marking indefinitely and has mandated the installation of sprinklers in all new care homes. This announcement follows an independent review of construction products testing and has significant implications for the construction industry.
- The UK government announced the indefinite extension of CE marking, a crucial EU product regulation, no longer ending in June 2025.
- Changes to the CE marking system will undergo a two-year transitional period for industry adaptation, ensuring the continuity of essential supply chains.
- Building-safety minister Rushanara Ali highlighted the need for ‘system-wide’ reform, taking into account the final Grenfell Inquiry report set to release recommendations.
- A mandate has been issued for sprinklers in new care homes, effective 2 March 2025, with specific requirements for compartment sizes and self-closing doors.
The UK government recently announced the indefinite extension of the CE marking, a product regulation previously set to end in June 2025. This decision marks a significant shift from earlier plans where construction products were expected to align with a new UK Conformity Assessed Mark. Building-safety minister Rushanara Ali, in a statement, noted the government’s responsiveness to findings from an independent review conducted by Paul Morrell and Anneliese Day, which scrutinised the existing construction products testing framework.
The CE marking extension hinges on the government’s commitment to a ‘system-wide’ reform of construction products regulation. The upcoming recommendations from the final Grenfell Inquiry report, scheduled for release shortly, will also play a crucial role in shaping these reforms. Ali emphasised the necessity for the industry to have adequate certainty to support supply chains, acknowledging that any changes to CE marking recognition will involve a minimum two-year transitional period.
Ali underlined the critical importance of ensuring product safety, considering their pivotal role in the nation’s building and infrastructure sectors. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry had previously exposed significant concerns about the inadequacy of the systems overseeing construction products. To address these, the government will collaborate with UK conformity assessment bodies, the UK Accreditation Service, and industry stakeholders to fortify the conformity assessment market.
Additionally, updates to Approved Document B (ADB), statutory fire-safety guidance accompanying building regulations, have been announced. From 2 March 2025, manufacturers will no longer be able to test products using the National Classes system, which will be replaced by the ‘more rigorous’ European standard. There will be a transition period—six months for reaction to fire and five years for fire resistance—for manufacturers currently employing National Classes to retest their products.
A significant update in fire safety regulations mandates the installation of sprinklers in all new care homes, effective from 2 March 2025. These new buildings must also limit compartment sizes to ten beds and have self-closing doors installed. This mandate aims to enhance the safety of vulnerable residents in care homes. Projects already under construction before the specified date and making considerable progress within six months will not be compelled to incorporate sprinklers.
The government’s decision aligns regulatory practices with safety priorities, marking a pivotal step in construction industry standards reform.
