GUEST ARTICLE: How Has Grenfell Reshaped the Regulatory Landscape of Today?

Since the Grenfell fire, the industry’s regulatory focus has shifted. With a full industry reform well underway and new regulatory frameworks being introduced, compliance is now being viewed as a priority. In response to the tragedy, a significant number of papers have been published with the aim of improving safety standards across the sector.

In this article, Dr Alex Boote, Product and Innovation Manager at ARC Building Solutions, explores how reform proposals in the Construction Product Reform Green Paper are reshaping the built environment, and why accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement must define our every move.

Eight years ago on 14 June, a devastating fire broke out at Grenfell Tower in London. One of the worst fires in modern UK history, it claimed 72 lives and became a catalyst for the most significant regulatory reforms in recent times.

In addition to the seven year-long public inquiry, two key reform papers were published. These are colloquially referred to as the 2018 Hackitt Report, discussing building regulations and standards, and the 2024 Morrell-Day Review, focussing on testing and certification. Each paper significantly contributes to the much-needed industry reform and regulation changes to drive improved safety standards. These include the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022, which banned the use of combustible cladding on high-rise buildings, and significant amendments made to the Building Regulations and the Fire Safety Act.

The latest milestone in the Grenfell journey, the Construction Products Reform Green Paper, published in February 2025, is far from being just a checklist for the industry. It’s a call for action. It challenges businesses to go beyond the minimum and lead the way in building a safer, more transparent, and more responsible sector. This paper may only be a recommendation today, but tomorrow it could become the law. So, by preparing for these potential reforms, businesses have the chance to get ahead.

Comprehensive Regulatory Coverage

The green paper suggests manufacturers should undertake a detailed risk assessment for each product which considers its lifecycle and foreseeable conditions of use. Currently, two-thirds of construction products are not covered by a designated standard and therefore do not fall within the scope of the CE or UKCA regulations.

Improved Enforcement Mechanisms

Since Grenfell, two new regulators have been created: the National Regulator for Construction Products (NRCP) and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Both will soon hold the power to enforce sanctions and penalties.

Enhanced Product Information and Transparency

This proposal suggests all products should be clearly labelled detailing performance and safety critical information. Using this information, a new national product library will be created, containing test results, certificates of compliance, and relevant academic research, providing the industry with full visibility. With this in play, manufacturers will be required to provide all available test data and if failed to do so, penalties will be handed out.

The Code for Construction Product Information (CPPI), a not-for-profit organisation created to raise standards in product information management and marketing, were given a special mention to support the critical need for clear, accurate, accessible, up-to-date, and unambiguous product information within the sector.

Digital Solutions for Enhanced Traceability

The green paper suggests we are most likely to follow the European Union by introducing digital product passports. These would feature all product information regarding sustainability, performance, and traceability.  Digital product passports will not only enable end-users to access the necessary information digitally but also provide the industry complete product traceability, from manufacturers to installations.

Strengthening Third-Party Testing and Certification

Third-party accreditation schemes offer product users confidence that all product performance information provided is accurate and free from conflicts of interest. This strengthening will be achieved through oversight from the national regulators, increasing competence and assessment reliability for all construction products.

Sustainability and Environmental Considerations

The green paper recommends that construction products should be required to undergo a lifecycle assessment. This reform would promote a circular economy, recycling and reusing products. Already, sustainability should be a priority within a business’s framework, integrated within their products and processes, and this proposal solidifies that approach.

A Strengthened Accountability Framework

The green paper encourages accountability within the industry, so the responsibilities of economic operators throughout the supply chain would be better defined, providing the industry confidence that the necessary duties are being fulfilled. If breaches were to occur, those responsible will be held to account either by fines, prevention of industry work or, where appropriate, criminal charges.

Strengthening Route to Redress

As the Grenfell Tower fire demonstrated, when unsafe products are placed onto the market lives are at stake. To simplify the process of identifying the companies that ‘cut corners’ and endanger the public, this paper proposes that those affected must be provided with an easy route to redress by streamlining the process for recouping financial losses from manufacturers.

As we embrace our industry’s future, the Construction Product Reform Green Paper offers an insightful vision of potential reforms and a path forward, with a strong emphasis on clearer engagement and regular reviews of regulatory frameworks , with businesses urged to continually seeking for new ways to improve.