With only a third of construction products currently regulated and as many as 30,000 still operating outside any formal oversight, the building technology supply-chain is confronting a serious credibility crisis. Offsite and industrialised construction specialist Darren Richards of Cogent Consulting shares his perspective and warns that testing and certification are far more than legislative tick boxes – they are commercial imperatives.
The Grenfell Tower fire laid bare deep systemic failures in construction product regulation. Former Chief Construction Adviser to the UK Government, Paul Morrell’s Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime delivered a stark verdict on the industry. A sweeping new regulatory framework takes effect on 8 January 2026, raising the stakes for building technology manufacturers. Enhanced powers and stricter rules will reshape how every construction product is tested, declared and monitored.
Why Certification Matters
The stakes are enormous and cannot be ignored. Without recognised certification, innovative components or building systems risk outright rejection from key decision makers. From investors and institutional funders to mortgage, warranty, and insurance providers, as well as developers, local authorities, housing associations, and public sector bodies across healthcare and education.
Paul Morrell’s report issued a clear ‘call for honesty’ – manufacturers must provide full technical documentation and information to regulators and enforcement authorities. Any breach is now a criminal offence, exposing companies to powerful new sanctions and decisive enforcement action.
Product & System Certification
Certifications such as NHBC Accepts and BOPAS Accreditation are essential to show that your system is robust, compliant and reliable – ready for real-world application and long-term performance.
Certification activity requires a clear tactical plan to ensure testing in the correct sequence and to the right specification to avoid costly re-testing or delays in assessment processes.
Our consultancy services provide end-to-end support to ensure your solutions are market ready and fit for purpose. We start by defining your product’s intended use across residential, commercial or mixed-use sectors. By identifying project types, risk profiles and performance expectations, our offsite experts can align technical features with end-user, investor and regulatory requirements.
Our team reviews compliance with UK Building Regulations (Part A to Part L and beyond) and provides guidance on fire safety, energy performance, acoustics, structural integrity, moisture resistance, and other performance standards. We map all required testing and validation, coordinating with UKAS-accredited laboratories. We also undertake bespoke testing design and management for facades, glazing, door and roofing technology.
Durability assessment evaluates component longevity, lifecycle performance and environmental exposure, ensuring warranties, service life claims and compliant standards are validated.
Finally, we guide clients through the most appropriate certification path – whether NHBC Accepts, BOPAS Accreditation, SCI Assess, or European Technical Assessment (ETA) plus many others. Cogent manages documentation, technical submissions, stakeholder liaison, factory inspections, quality system reviews, and audit preparation from initial consultation to awarding of certification.
In an era of heightened scrutiny and rising expectations, our expertise transforms certification from a hurdle into a strategic advantage – accelerating market access, building stakeholder trust and securing a safer, more resilient future for every project.
Cogent the Offsite Experts
Let us help you navigate the complex path to product and system certification with expert guidance and technical precision.
For more information, visit www.cogent-consulting.co.uk and head to our Product & System Certification Services.
