Learning path covering the regulatory obligations for construction materials in Great Britain. Understand product marking (CE and UKCA), hazardous materials management under COSHH, aggregate levy, and timber sourcing compliance.
Construction & PropertyRunningUpdated 3 November 2026
What you will learn
Construction materials are subject to multiple regulatory regimes covering product safety, worker health, environmental levies, and sustainable sourcing. This learning path takes you through each obligation so you understand what applies to your business.
How CE and UKCA marking works for construction products after the 2025 regulatory changes
Your duties under COSHH when handling hazardous materials such as cement, silica dust, and solvents
When aggregate levy applies and how to claim exemptions for recycled materials
Timber sourcing due diligence under the UK Timber Regulation
What to have in place for each of these
It starts with product marking and ends with a list of what to have in place.
Understand the materials compliance landscape
Construction materials in Great Britain are regulated under several overlapping frameworks. The key ones are:
Construction Products Regulation (CPR) - requires CE or UKCA marking for products covered by harmonised European standards, ensuring they meet declared performance characteristics
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002 - requires assessment and control of risks from hazardous substances used on construction sites
Aggregate Levy - a per-tonne tax on virgin sand, gravel, and rock used in construction
UK Timber Regulation (UKTR) - requires due diligence to ensure timber is legally harvested before placing it on the GB market
Non-compliance with any of these can result in enforcement action, fines, or criminal prosecution. The following steps explain each obligation in detail.
Comply with construction product marking requirements
CE marking continues to be recognised for construction products placed on the Great Britain market until further notice, and UKCA marking remains voluntary - this has been government policy since September 2023, resolving years of uncertainty about whether businesses would need to switch to UKCA-only marking. From 8 January 2026, the Construction Products (Amendment) Regulations 2025 additionally recognise products complying with the new EU Construction Products Regulation 2024/3110 as satisfying the GB regime.
If you manufacture, import, or distribute construction products covered by a harmonised European standard, you must ensure those products carry a valid CE or UKCA mark and are accompanied by a Declaration of Performance (DoP).
How the 2025 regulations affect your CE and UKCA marking obligations, Declaration of Performance requirements, harmonised standards, and OPSS enforcement powers
Manage hazardous construction materials
Many common construction materials pose health risks. Wet cement causes dermatitis, cutting concrete generates silica dust that causes silicosis, and solvents emit harmful vapours. The COSHH Regulations 2002 require you to assess the risks from every hazardous substance on your sites and implement controls. This applies regardless of business size.
COSHH assessment procedures for cement, silica, solvents, lead paint, and wood dust, plus workplace exposure limits, health surveillance requirements, and dust suppression techniques
Understand aggregate levy obligations
The aggregate levy is a per-tonne environmental tax on virgin rock, sand, and gravel exploited commercially in the UK. If you extract or import aggregates, you may need to register with HMRC. Recycled and secondary aggregates are generally exempt.
Meet timber sourcing due diligence requirements
The UK Timber Regulation (UKTR) requires anyone placing timber on the GB market for the first time to exercise due diligence to ensure it was legally harvested. Due diligence involves gathering origin information, assessing the risk of illegality, and mitigating any risks identified. Records must be kept for five years.