New guide supports safer construction product choices

A new free guide to safer product selection has been published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and several leading professional bodies, aiming to improve safety outcomes across the UK construction sector.

The Guide to Products Critical to Safe Construction is designed to help designers, specifiers, and installers make informed decisions about construction products. It includes case studies and best practice examples, and highlights tools such as the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI).

The guide is published in collaboration with the Construction Products Association, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and CCPI.

Paul Nash, chair of CIOB’s Quality Implementation Group, said: “The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire exposed a regulatory regime that was failing to ensure the safety of construction products. This guide is part of a wider effort to rebuild trust and improve accountability across the industry.”

It follows the 2025 Construction Product Reform Green Paper, which sets out Government proposals for a more robust and transparent system for manufacturing, testing and certifying construction products.

The guide aims to ensure that the products used in new and refurbished buildings are not only compliant, but also safe over the long term, supporting industry-wide calls for better regulation and clearer product information.

Download and more details at ciob.com/guide