A new code of practice and conduct for the testing, marketing, promotion and delivery of product data for all construction products.
Objectives of the consultation
Dame Judith Hackitt, in her Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, called for radical change in the regulation and marketing of construction products and set a challenge to the industry to improve the communication and promotion of construction product information.
The draft Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) will apply to all manufacturers who make products that are installed in buildings or civil engineering works. It will require to deliver specific information to support claims of compliance or achievement of the product with the requirements of any industry standard or certification scheme, but also to provide verifiable information to support any claims about the product. It will also require that the information provided is consistent with what is actually supplied to the market.
The consultation closed on 31 March 2021.
Supporting papers
To download the consultation document, follow the link below.
CIBSE response
CIBSE submitted a response to this consultation highlighting several topics, which do not seem to be as well integrated into the code as CIBSE would like to see:
- Relationship to the Code of Advertising Practice (CAP) - CIBSE believes that it should be absolutely explicit that compliance with the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) must be predicated on total commitment to the CAP. The Code already contains clear commitments upon advertisers and marketeers to provding accurate information that can be justified. Whilst the creation of a separate body to oversee the CCPI is a necessary and indeed essential element of the overall package, it is also essential that the CCPI works in complete harmony with the CAP to avoid any playing off or gaming of differences.
- Application of the Code to third party marketing or PR agencies - It is essential that all parts of the construction product information supply chain subscribe to the Code. Again, explicit reference to this expectation should be included in the Code, as part of the eleven robust ways of working.
- Accuracy, ambiguity, clarity and completeness - As well as being relevant to the five key requirements of clarity, accuracy, currency, accessibility and not being ambiguous, information needs to be at the very least adequate, or possibly sufficient, but best of all complete. The code must put a stop to the use of “tested to BS1234” and then not admitting that the product failed the test. Its also not clear on what legal basis some of the provisions in Clause 3 may be introduced. If a distributor operates an online catalogue or directory, then the manufacturer may have no control over that. Perhaps the solution is for the CPA and perhaps a wider industry grouping to engage with the distributors about online directories and “product codes” they often create, which are not standardised. Whilst the codes may be allocated clearly, accurately and transparently and be up to date, the variations between distributor databases creates ambiguity and potentially confusion at best, and at worst creates significant costs for those seeking to adopt information exchange standards.
To read the full CIBSE response, follow the link below.