How Does the Construction Products Reform Green Paper Affect You?

A seismic shift is taking place in the UK building regulation landscape, one with roots in the tragic Grenfell Tower fire (depicted above) and a vision for a safer, more accountable future. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has released its Construction Products Reform Green Paper, setting the stage for a fundamental overhaul of how construction products are tested, labelled, regulated, and trusted. For architects, building designers, and construction professionals, this is a call to embrace reform, rethink specification practices, and realign with a new safety-first, compliance-centric era. At Titon, we’ve been anticipating this moment, and we’re ready to help you navigate it with confidence.

The road from Grenfell to reform

The tragedy at Grenfell Tower in 2017 shook the nation to its core. In the wake of this disaster, which claimed 72 lives, the Grenfell Inquiry and Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review laid bare the systemic regulatory failings that led to dangerous materials being used unchecked.

Dame Hackitt’s conclusion was unflinching: the building safety system was “not fit for purpose.”

From this stark diagnosis, momentum gathered. The Building Safety Act 2022 began laying the groundwork for change, but the Construction Products Reform Green Paper is where the regulatory rubber is starting to hit the road for materials and systems used in construction.

What’s in the Green Paper? A framework for accountability

At its core, the Construction Products Reform Green Paper lays out the blueprint for a complete transformation of how construction products are governed in the UK. It's not just a tweak to existing standards but an end-to-end overhaul designed to introduce clarity, responsibility, and legal weight to an area long marked by fragmentation and inconsistency.

Here’s an overview of how it aims to clamp down on unsafe products and close the gaping loopholes in current legislation:

1. A new national regulator

The key proposal is the creation of a new national regulator for construction products, housed within the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). This body will be responsible for market surveillance, enforcement, and oversight.

It will have the power to:

• Investigate and remove unsafe construction products from the market.
• Demand technical information and evidence from manufacturers.
• Issue civil penalties or pursue criminal sanctions for breaches of safety or information requirements.

This marks a shift from reactive enforcement to proactive regulation, ensuring that unsafe products are identified and removed before they reach construction sites.

2. General safety requirement

The paper proposes a broad, overarching legal duty—a "general safety requirement"—that would apply to all construction products. In essence, every product placed on the UK market must be safe, and the manufacturer bears the burden of proof. Products that do not fall under existing designated standards (like CE/UKCA marked products) would now be caught under this new legal framework.

This removes ambiguity for designers. If a product is on the market, it must meet a baseline safety threshold, which will be legally enforceable.

3. Strengthening standards and traceability

Another significant proposal is a system of clearer, more consistent product information. The paper outlines mandatory:

• Testing reforms: Third-party testing must be robust, independent, and repeatable. Products must be tested once and demonstrate ongoing conformity throughout their lifecycle on the market.
• Declarations of performance (DoPs): Clearly stating how a product performs against specific criteria (e.g., fire, structural integrity, acoustics).
• Labelling and digital traceability: Allowing inspectors, specifiers, and regulators to verify origin, specification, and compliance instantly, potentially through QR codes or digital product passports.

4. Accountability across the supply chain

Accountability won’t stop at the manufacturer. Importers, distributors, specifiers, and contractors will all be held responsible for ensuring that the products they handle meet regulatory requirements. 

This tightens the net for building designers and architects, meaning that passive reliance on supplier statements is no longer sufficient.

You’ll need to actively verify that the products you specify are:

• Tested to current standards
• Clearly labelled
• Backed by third-party data
• Appropriate for the end-use application, especially in critical areas such as fire safety and ventilation.

5. Alignment with the golden thread and Building Safety Act

All these changes are designed to reinforce the "golden thread" of information, introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, whereby key design, specification, and construction data must be stored and maintained digitally throughout a building’s life.

This means every decision made during specification and construction must be evidenced and accessible, especially for high-risk buildings. The Green Paper’s reforms will feed directly into this framework, supporting traceability, accountability, and safe maintenance practices long after the building is handed over.

Reform on the horizon: What’s the timeline?

While the Green Paper itself is a consultation document, it’s expected to catalyse a white paper and eventual legislation by late 2025 or early 2026, with a 12–18 month transition period for compliance and enforcement.

The Government has signalled that implementation will not be left to chance; it will be structured, phased, and overseen by a newly empowered regulator. For architects and designers, that means the clock is already ticking.

Now is the time to begin aligning specifications with future-ready, third-party-tested, and fully documented products. The reform timeline may still be fluid, but the direction of travel is certain.

What does this mean for architects and building designers?

The implications for building design professionals are significant—and, we believe, empowering. Architects and specifiers are being placed back at the centre of product accountability. Decisions made at RIBA Stages 3 and 4 will carry more regulatory weight than ever. Gone are the days of vague assurances and opaque performance claims. Instead, your product choices will need to be validated by a clear audit trail.

There’s also an increased emphasis on collaborating with manufacturers who are transparent, responsive, and ahead of the compliance curve. In short, there will be no more taking suppliers at their word. You’ll be expected to specify with evidence, supported by certified test data and verified product performance.

While that might seem daunting, it’s also an opportunity. Those who embrace these changes will position themselves as trusted, knowledgeable professionals who design with both creativity and rigour. That’s a powerful regulatory and reputational advantage.

Titon: Your FireSafe, future-minded partner

At Titon, we haven’t waited for regulation to catch up. Our FireSafe® range of ventilation solutions has been developed specifically to meet the rising demand for third-party-tested, regulation-ready systems. Each unit in the range is backed by robust technical documentation, comprehensive performance data, and independent certification—all easily accessible to help you meet your due diligence.

But we don’t just supply products, we support your entire process. From design consultation to post-installation verification and CPD support, our team works alongside yours to ensure that everything specified performs as promised, and that every document submitted ticks the right boxes for Building Control. 

Now that compliance is no longer a footnote but a foundation, you need partners who are not just compliant but confident. That’s what Titon brings to the table.

Conclusion: Time to rethink, rebuild, and reform

The Construction Products Reform Green Paper marks the beginning of a cultural shift in construction that places integrity, transparency, and accountability at its core. For architects and designers, this is your moment to lead. Specify smarter. Ask the hard questions. Demand more from your suppliers.

And when you do, know that Titon is ready to back you up with the products, the paperwork, and the partnership to help you meet the moment.

Contact us to find out more or browse our FireSafe® Air Range for compliance-ready materials.