Construction Products Reform: Why compliance must move beyond a tick-box exercise

In short:

• The reforms aim to close long-standing regulatory gaps and strengthen oversight.
• Greater accountability is expected across manufacturing, specification, installation and maintenance.
• Competence, testing and evidence-based compliance will become increasingly important.
• Businesses should review how they demonstrate compliance with relevant standards now.
• FireAngel supports the move towards verified competence and stronger resident safety outcomes

The Government’s Construction Products Reform White Paper marks an important step in the UK’s ongoing building safety journey. Published in response to lessons learned from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it recognises that weaknesses in oversight, testing and enforcement have contributed to a system that has not always given residents, building owners or the wider industry the confidence they need.

At FireAngel, we welcome the direction of travel. The reforms reflect what many across the sector already know – compliance cannot be treated as a tick-box exercise. If the industry is to rebuild trust, it must move towards a culture where safety, competence, and accountability are embedded at every stage.

From product compliance to whole-system accountability

One of the most important points is that the White Paper does not treat product safety as an isolated issue. It looks at the whole system around construction products, from how they are tested and certified, to how they are specified, installed and supported with clear information. Only around 37% of construction products on the UK market are currently covered by a designated safety standard, leaving the rest outside any regulatory regime

This matters because product safety does not end at the point of manufacture. Even high-quality products can fail to deliver the intended safety outcome if they are not selected appropriately, installed with competence or supported by the right documentation.

That is particularly important in domestic fire safety. Industry bodies including BAFE and NAPIT have acknowledged this gap: standard electrical certification doesn’t in itself assess the fire detection competence needed for Grade D systems, which is why a dedicated scheme, BAFE DS301, was introduced in 2021. In our experience, this can mean a certificate is issued without separate assurance the fire detection system itself is compliant. For social housing providers and contractors, that creates a practical risk around resident safety and accountability.

The White Paper proposes stronger enforcement, including significant fines and potential director disqualification for serious breaches, which is a welcome step up from where things stand today. It reflects what is a necessary shift in expectations: organisations should be able to show not only what they have installed, but why it was suitable and how competence was demonstrated.

What businesses should do now

Although the reforms will take time to progress, businesses should not wait for every detail to be finalised before reviewing their own approach.

There are practical questions worth asking now:

• Can we evidence that the right standards have been applied?
• Are installers competent in the specific systems they are fitting?
• Is compliance independently checked, or simply assumed?
• Do we have clear records across specification, installation and handover?

For social housing providers and housebuilders, this means looking closely at procurement, specification and contractor management. For contractors and installers, it means investing in relevant training and being ready to evidence competence beyond general qualifications.

Why FireAngel supports reform

The focus on competence is already translating into action. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Government Annual Report (February 2026) reports that more than 1,200 professionals across fire engineering, building control and construction completed updated competency training in 2025.

At FireAngel, I’m proud that our approach has always been about verified competence, not tick-box compliance. That means giving installers, specifiers and housing providers clear technical guidance and product evidence, so competence can be demonstrated at every stage.

No single initiative can solve the industry’s challenges alone. However, practical measures that strengthen competence, improve transparency, and provide independent assurance have an important role to play as expectations evolve.

The construction products reforms are not only about regulation. They are about culture, accountability and trust. If the industry embraces that shift now, we can help deliver safer homes and greater confidence for residents.

To find out more about compliant solutions, get in touch with our Technical Specification Managers.