Many of the products this sector makes are construction products — cement, aggregates, ready-mixed concrete and concrete products, bricks, blocks and tiles, glass for construction, and similar building materials. If a product is covered by a designated standard, you have conformity duties before you place it on the market. Goods that fall outside a specific regime must still be safe under the general product safety duty. This guide covers both.
A. Meet your construction-products conformity duties
Where your product is covered by a designated standard under the Construction Products Regulation, you must draw up a declaration of performance, keep the supporting technical documentation, and apply the conformity marking before placing the product on the Great Britain market. For the GB market this is the UKCA marking — but CE marking continues to be accepted on the GB market, so you can use either; there is no UKCA-only cut-off for construction products. Where a designated standard requires it, the assessment and verification of constancy of performance must involve an approved body. If you place products on the Northern Ireland market, check the position separately — different marking rules apply there under the Windsor Framework.
B. Meet the general product safety duty for other goods
For products outside a specific product-safety regime — for example domestic glassware, ceramics and decorative or abrasive goods sold to consumers — the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 require you to place only safe products on the market. The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 are a Great Britain regime enforced by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and Trading Standards; if you supply the Northern Ireland market, check the position there separately, as Northern Ireland follows EU product-safety rules under the Windsor Framework.
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1. Identify which of your products are construction products
Check whether each product is covered by a designated standard under the Construction Products Regulation — cement, aggregates, concrete products and construction glass typically are.
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2. Draw up your declaration of performance and apply the marking
Prepare the declaration of performance and technical documentation, involve an approved body where the standard requires it, and apply the conformity marking (UKCA, or CE which is still accepted on the GB market) before sale.
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3. Make sure other goods meet the general product safety duty
For consumer goods outside a specific regime, confirm they are safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Check the NI position separately if you supply there.
What to do next
If you run an energy-intensive kiln or furnace, follow Meet your environmental permit and emissions trading duties. Confirm everything with the compliance checklist, or start from the router if you are not sure which guides apply to you.
Official sources
Authoritative construction-products and product-safety guidance.