T0690 Product Certification Implementation Phase 2

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Description

Phase 1 of the Product Certification Review (completed in March 2025) provided an independent assessment of the "as-is" state of product certification/acceptance regime used by National Highways. It confirmed long-standing issues such as limited oversight and data on compliance, and uncertainties in how contractors verify product conformity. These findings reinforced the need for improvements to the system. In parallel, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's Phase 2 report and subsequent government initiatives have called for stronger regulation of construction products. The government's Construction Products Reform agenda (e.g. the 2025 Green Paper) signals impending changes such as a single construction products regulator, stricter accreditation of certifiers, mandatory competency requirements, and enhanced accountability for product safety. National Highways must proactively align its own product acceptance procedures with these evolving regulatory expectations to uphold safety and avoid the failures witnessed in tragedies like Grenfell. National Highways also remains committed to its obligations under its Technical Regulation Protocol to update the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW) ensuring that product certification schemes requirements in the MCHW are upheld against accredited bodies. By undertaking Phase 2, National Highways intends to implement a programme of improvements that will close the gaps identified in Phase 1, meet new regulatory requirements, and ultimately strengthen the assurance that all products used on the network are safe, compliant, and fit for purpose.

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