Construction Products Resources

The OPSS Construction Products Business Compliance Team (BCT) has released a Product Information Pack as a resource to help Trading Standards, EHNI and other Product Regulators to understand Construction Products. These resources, aimed at boosting confidence and competence for regulatory work, is a continuation following the launch of these packs last year. Insulated Glass Units are a fundamental material in modern construction and refurbishment works.

Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is one of the most widely used types of cement in the construction industry valued for its strength, versatility and reliability. OPC is the primary binding material in concrete, mortar, and plaster. The product is used for building foundations, slabs, walls, bridges, and many other uses in building and civil engineering.

Plywood is a composite, engineered wood product made by stacking and gluing together thin layers (called "plies") of wood veneer.  Plywood can be made from softwood (e.g., pine, cedar, redwood) or hardwood (e.g., maple, oak, mahogany), or a blend of both. The choice of wood and glue affects the final product’s properties. There are various types, including marine plywood (waterproof, for wet conditions), fire-retardant plywood, moisture-resistant plywood, and decorative plywood for aesthetic applications. Plywood is one of the most popular and versatile building materials in construction, used for both structural and non-structural applications.

The OPSS Construction Products Business Compliance Team (BCT) have released four Product Information Packs (PIPs) as a resource to help Trading Standards, EHNI and other Product Regulators understand Construction Products. These resources, aimed at boosting confidence and competence for regulatory work, are the first step in creating a library of construction-specific resources for Regulators’ Companion.

Float glass is a type of flat glass produced by floating molten glass on a bath of molten tin, resulting in glass with uniform thickness, flatness, and high optical clarity. Widely used in windows, skylights, shopfronts and curtain wall systems, it is a fundamental construction product. The updated PIP provides information on terminology, manufacturing, standards, CE/UKCA marking, labelling and Declarations of Performance (DOP), and includes new clarification on the scope of regulated float glass products, related standards, and the use of commodity codes.

A smoke alarm is a self-contained safety device designed to detect the presence of smoke, typically as an indicator of fire. It consists of a smoke sensor and an audible alarm. When smoke is detected, the alarm sounds to alert occupants, giving them time to escape or take action. There are different types of alarm e.g. battery powered, mains-powered, and some types can be interconnected. Within residential buildings UK Building Regulations mandate at least one smoke alarm on every storey with habitable rooms.

OPSS offers Local Authorities access to internal OPSS expertise; including technical, scientific and risk associated with construction products.

Guidance providing practical information for placing construction products on the GB market.

Guidance providing practical information for placing construction products on the Northern Ireland market and unfettered access provisions.

How to place CE marking on your product, how to identify UK requirements relating to construction products, and how to apply to be a UK Notified Body or Technical Assessment Body.