A new national construction products regulator has been set up to ensure homes are built from safe materials.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced that home owners are set to be protected through the establishment of the new national regulator which will ensure materials used to build homes will be made safer.

Removing unsafe products from the market

The regulator for construction products will have the power to remove any product from the market that presents a significant safety risk and prosecute any companies that flout the rules on product safety.

This follows recent testimony to the Grenfell Inquiry that highlighted issues with unsafe products and practices.

The regulator will have strong enforcement powers including the ability to conduct its own product-testing when investigating concerns. Businesses must ensure that their products are safe before being sold in addition to testing products against safety standards.

Addressing the weaknesses of the present product testing regime

Robert Jenrick said:

“The Grenfell Inquiry has heard deeply disturbing allegations of malpractice by some construction product manufacturers and their employees, and of the weaknesses of the present product testing regime.

“We are establishing a national regulator to address these concerns and a review into testing to ensure our national approach is fit for purpose. We will continue to listen to the evidence emerging in the Inquiry, and await the judge’s ultimate recommendation – but it is already clear that action is required now.”

The regulator will operate within the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) which will be expanded and given up to £10 million in funding to establish the new function. It will work with the Building Safety Regulator and Trading Standards to encourage and enforce compliance.

Related read: Tougher regulator will ‘empower’ those living in social housing.

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