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News & Insights

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New regulator established to ensure construction materials are safe

Whilst construction contracts should already contain a "prohibited materials" clause to prevent professionals specifying or allowing dangerous or deleterious materials to be used on site, I'm pleased to see the Government establish a new UK national regulator to oversee building materials used and ensure that our homes are safe!

The regulator will operate within the Office for Product Safety and Standards which will be expanded with an extra £10m in funding and have the power to remove any product from the market that presents a significant safety risk. It will also be able to prosecute any companies who flout the rules on product safety.

This new products regulator is part the Government's wider reform of construction regulatory systems alongside the draft Building Safety Bill and a new Building Safety Regulator. I hope each is given the power to prevent another disaster similar to Grenfell Tower.

OPSS will work alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governments (MHCLG) to ensure that a new legal framework is established which sets out clear safety obligations that will be required of companies that supply construction products.

Tags

residential, construction