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The UK is currently conducting the laborious task of swapping the EU-based CE markings with the post-Brexit British-based UKCA mark. The task of changing the markings involves re-testing thousands of construction products and could cost up to £50,000 per test. The EU version has certified construction products in the UK for nearly 40 years.
These construction products include many of the most-used materials, including steel, glass, and cladding.
The UK Government has conceded it may have to delay the transition period for getting new post-Brexit British building certification rules in place.
Representatives from the Ministry of Housing are now considering scrapping the 1 January, 2022 deadline for implementing the new UKCA marking.
It was originally planned for the UKCA markings to be introduced from 2022 on most building products.
The attendee at the virtual meeting said the UK Government was fully aware of industry fears about the impending deadline.
One contractor, speaking to Building Design last week, said: “The lack of clarity and clear direction means we can’t really plan mitigation measures effectively.
“We are also finding it difficult to estimate the impact on project planning and delivery.”
The UK’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has said it wants to align the removal of CE marking from UK law along with the introduction of the new Building Safety Bill.
However, this bill is not expected to come into force until after 2023.
The MHCLG has told UK businesses to “continue to prepare for the end of recognition of the CE mark in Great Britain”.
Richard Waterhouse, spokesman for products specification body the NBS, told Building Design: “You have to question whether any analysis was done on the volume of testing required and the capability and capacity of testing organisations to do that.”
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