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A guide to the Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
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Many construction products sold in Great Britain are subject to rules covering how their performance is assessed, declared and communicated. These requirements help manufacturers, specifiers and contractors understand how products perform and whether they are suitable for a particular application.
But the rules are currently changing. Since the UK left the European Union, Great Britain and the EU have begun to develop their construction product regulations separately, and reform is underway in Britain. It is increasingly important for manufacturers, specifiers, contractors and other construction professionals to understand which rules apply and what information should accompany a construction product.
In this guide, we explain what the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) is, how Great Britain and the EU differ and how CPR relates to the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI).
What is the Construction Products Regulation?
The Construction Products Regulation was introduced to create a consistent approach to assessing and declaring the performance of construction products across the European market.
In 2011, Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 established harmonised rules for selling or supplying construction products across member states, including requirements around performance assessment, declarations and conformity markings, such as the CE mark.
When the UK left the European Union, the 2011 CPR remained part of British law and was amended to cover England, Scotland and Wales. Britain continues to operate its own version of the framework, while the EU has since introduced revised regulation.
CPR only applies to construction products falling under a designated standard or technical assessment, such as windows, doors, insulation, roofing membranes, structural steel and concrete blocks.
Who does CPR apply to?
CPR places responsibilities on the construction supply chain, specifically manufacturers, distributors and importers.
Manufacturers
Manufacturers are responsible for assessing and declaring the performance of their construction products. They must ensure that the necessary documentation and conformity markings are in place.
In Great Britain, products can currently carry either a UKCA or CE marking, provided they meet the requirements associated with the relevant scheme. For products covered by a designated standard, manufacturers must also provide a Declaration of Performance (DoP) to supply to the GB market.
Where independent testing or certification is required, this must be carried out by a UK approved body. Once the necessary requirements have been met, the manufacturer can affix the UKCA mark. Manufacturers supplying the EU market must also follow the revised EU Construction Products Regulation.
Distributors
Distributors must check that the products they provide meet relevant regulatory requirements. This includes ensuring that appropriate markings and documentation are present where required.
They must also take action where they believe a product does not comply.
Importers
Importers must check that manufacturers have completed the necessary assessment and verification procedures before bringing a product to the GB market.
As with distributors, they are responsible for ensuring that the required documentation and marking are in place. They must not supply products that do not meet the legal requirements.
How CPR differs from EU regulations
Great Britain and the EU now operate separate construction product regulations, although there is overlap between them.
Importantly, CE marking continues to be recognised in Great Britain. This means relevant products that meet EU CPR standards and carry the CE mark can still be sold in Britain without reassessment or a UKCA mark.
The European Commission began a substantial overhaul of EU laws through Regulation (EU) 2024/3110. The revised framework, which was published in the EU Official Journal in December 2024 and came into force in 2025, strengthens requirements around safety, sustainability, monitoring and enforcement, and digital product information.
One of the most significant changes is the greater emphasis on environmental performance. The new Declaration of Performance and Conformity incorporates information about a product's environmental sustainability performance across its lifecycle, with requirements being phased in over time.
The revised regulation also introduces Digital Product Passports, which will bring technical, safety and environmental product information together digitally. These requirements are being introduced gradually as the system develops.
Great Britain is taking a different route, with its own programme of construction product reform.
What's next for the reform of the UK's Construction Products Regulation?
In February 2026, the government published its Construction Products Reform White Paper, setting out proposals to strengthen product safety, standards, testing, certification, information, monitoring and enforcement. It forms part of a wider programme of building and fire safety reform introduced following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which also included the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Building Safety Act 2022. The Building Safety Act provides some of the powers being used to reform construction product regulation.
The proposed regime will take two main approaches:
- Products covered by designated standards or technical assessments will continue to be subject to mandatory requirements, including declarations of performance and UKCA/CE marking.
- Products that are not covered by these standards are expected to fall under a proposed General Safety Requirement (GSR). This would require manufacturers to assess risks associated with the intended use of their products and take proportionate action to eliminate or control them. Importers and distributors will also have responsibilities for supporting product safety.
The government currently aims to introduce the GSR regulations by the end of 2026 and bring them into force in late 2027. Wider reform is expected to continue until 2029. This includes plans for a single construction regulator, with the current government timetable indicating that the legislative framework could be completed and the regulator established during 2028–2029.
This is an ongoing process and the timetable may change. The information in this article is accurate as of August 2026.
How is CPR related to CCPI?
The Construction Products Regulation and the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) both relate to construction products, but serve different purposes.
CCPI was initiated by the Construction Products Association following Dame Judith Hackitt's review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety after the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It was created to raise standards in the way construction product information and marketing are managed and communicated. Organisations voluntarily sign up to the Code and are assessed against its requirements, which aim to ensure that product information is clear, accurate and accessible.
As such, CPR and CCPI work alongside each other and assist the construction sector. CPR establishes legal duties around construction products, while CCPI is an additional framework intended to raise standards in the way product information is managed and presented.
The difference between CPR and CCPI
Legal status: CPR is a statutory regulatory framework, while CCPI is a voluntary construction industry code.
Purpose: CPR governs requirements including product performance, declarations and UKCA/CE marking. CCPI focuses on construction product information and marketing of construction products.
Who it applies to: CPR places legal responsibilities on relevant manufacturers, importers and distributors. CCPI applies to organisations that choose to register with the Code.
Oversight: CPR is enforced in Great Britain by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, alongside local Trading Standards. CCPI is administered by Construction Product Information Ltd.
Enforcement: Failure to achieve CPR compliance can result in regulatory action. CCPI instead uses assessment and ongoing conformance with the Code.
Why this matters for specifiers and contractors
For specifiers and contractors, CPR conformity marking is only part of the picture. They also need to know whether a product is appropriate for its intended application. For products covered by the relevant CPR requirements, this means checking the appropriate CE or UKCA marking and reviewing the accompanying Declaration of Performance.
Product information requirements are also evolving. Sustainability reporting is becoming more important, alongside existing requirements around product performance and suitability for construction works. As the UK and EU rules evolve, specifiers are likely to encounter more detailed and standardised information about the lifecycle environmental performance of products.
With the British system still undergoing reform, specifiers, contractors and procurement teams should stay informed of the changes to safety, product documentation and environmental requirements.
What happens if a product doesn’t comply?
In Great Britain, the Office for Product Safety and Standards, through the national regulator for construction products, leads market monitoring and enforcement. Local authority Trading Standards teams also have powers to investigate potential breaches.
When a product does not comply with CPR, enforcement action can include corrective measures, restricting or suspending supply, issuing a prohibition notice or products being withdrawn or recalled. Serious breaches can also lead to prosecution.
For specifiers and contractors, a non-compliant product that has already been incorporated into a project can be problematic. Depending on the product and how it has been used, further assessment or remedial work may be needed. This can result in additional costs, delays and problems demonstrating that the completed work meets the relevant requirements.
How Lignacite supports compliance
At Lignacite, we aim to make it straightforward for specifiers and contractors to access the information they need when selecting our concrete blocks.
Compliance with CPR requirements forms part of our BSI Kitemark certification, with both of our manufacturing sites audited annually. We hold BSI CPR certificate 0086 CPR 59972 and publish Declarations of Performance for our products, setting out their declared performance against the relevant characteristics. Operations and documentation are also subject to regulatory inspection by the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
Our products are also manufactured to meet relevant standards, including BS EN 771-3, and we provide supporting technical information online. This includes product datasheets, technical specifications, Environmental Product Declarations and details of our certifications and accreditations.
Bringing these resources together makes it easier to review declared performance and make informed decisions about the suitability of a product for a particular application.
You can explore our product certifications and technical information online or speak to the Lignacite team for support in identifying an appropriate concrete block for your project.
