The UK Government announced on 14 November 2022 that the deadline to use the UKCA mark has been extended until 31 December 2024. However, it did not include construction products as these fall under different regulations.
The government’s announcement stated: “There will be different rules for medical devices, construction products, cableways, transportable pressure equipment, unmanned aircraft systems, rail products, and marine equipment. Government departments responsible for these sectors are making sector-specific arrangements….”
Therefore, at the time of going to press, the situation in respect of products from GAI members remains unchanged. Construction products falling within the scope of a harmonised/designated standard which are to be placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from 1 January 2023 must be UKCA marked. CE marking on relevant products will not be acceptable on its own but will remain permissible in Northern Ireland under the NI Protocol.
The Construction Products Association has raised the issue of this announcement not covering construction products. Peter Caplehorn, CPA chief executive, said: “We are not out of the woods yet. The status quo is not certain, and for construction product manufacturers and the wider construction industry to prepare for any impending policy changes, the government must expedite its decision on this critical issue for our sector.
“ The year-end is fast approaching, and Parliament will recess on 21 December, leaving very little time for government to enact the necessary legislation to make the policy and its deadline a reality. It also leaves the industry to face the increasingly difficult process through next year to re-test and re-certify new products where few or no UK facilities exist to achieve this.”
“With the longer term in mind, we must also ask government ministers to re-consider the usefulness of the CA Mark policy, and whether a more reasonable, practical solution exists to help achieve the right aims but avoid further and unnecessary loss of time, money and resources. This continues to have a significant impact on investment, innovation, and growth of the sector.”
Further detail on this topic can be found in the GAI Specifier’s Guide to UKCA and CE Marking on www.gai.org.uk/knowledge.
