The Cost of Compliance whitepaper by Wienerberger is a review of the current state of regulatory requirements in the UK and the impact on architects. In particular, the whitepaper focuses on the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) and Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI).
We know from our own research that over 80% of architects said their biggest fear is compliance and even more important than design. Architects have been under pressure following the introduction of the Building Safety Act in 2022 and the changes that followed have caused the architect role to expand to meet compliance requirements.
What does the Cost of Compliance whitepaper say?
The whitepaper addressed the mounting pressure on architects and how manufacturers can adapt to support the new demands on architects. The Cost of Compliance whitepaper states architects are facing five key challenges:
- Financial pressure to invest in specialist staff or training in order to stay compliant.
- Pressure to educate clients as well as advance their own education.
- Finding incomplete data for product information.
- Balance the demands between design and compliance.
- Managing expectations to clients.
The Cost of Compliance Whitepaper explores how architects can solve these challenges to design compliant solutions within budget and without compromising on aesthetics.
What does the whitepaper say about compliance?
Wienerberger conducted research across 80 architectural practices to explore the impact of regulation upon architects.
One of the most significant findings from Wienerberger’s research was that 58% of architects don’t fully trust manufacturer data. The reasons for this were architects often found data to be incomplete, inconsistent or missing. In addition, many manufacturers do not have third-party certification which causes distrust from architects, particularly when many independent assessments are following different standards.
Architects want transparency and accuracy from manufacturers.
Building Safety Act
When the Building Safety Act was published in 2022 it began a series of major changes to building regulations to improve building and construction safety. A significant part of the change has been the requirement to maintain ‘a golden thread’ of information. Everyone involved in the design, supply and construction of the building must ensure key product information is recorded accurately and that information is transparent throughout the lifetime of the building.
This requirement means that the architect role from traditional principal designer responsibilities to now planning, managing and monitoring design work to ensure compliance and maintain ‘a golden thread’ of information.
CCPI and PAS 2000
Although not mandatory, CCPI is becoming increasingly more important for all those involved in procurement of construction products, including architects. CCPI aims to raise standards in construction product information by requesting companies within the construction industry to provide product information is clear, accurate, accessible, up-to-date and unambiguous. The CCPI promotes accountability and collaboration throughout the industry, which will greatly benefit architects when looking for accurate data to specify compliant products and systems.
Although not mentioned in the cost of compliance whitepaper, PAS 2000 also aims to bring safe construction products to the market. PAS 2000 is a construction products code of practice is scheduled for publication in Q1 2026 and covers the below:
- Pre-market risk assessment for potential risks and foreseeable misuse.
- Factory production control processes.
- Product information and collection, including market feedback.
- Product specific installation training.
- Testing and documentation.
- Product recall process.
CCPI and PAS 2000 outline a shift in industry change, to provide accurate information and bring safer products to the market.
Continuous Professional Development
Architects need manufacturers to be their partners, not just to provide accurate information but also to help upskill their teams. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training should provide value and be updated to include the latest change. Manufactures should invest in CPD training to ensure they are held regularly and accurately reflect the industry.
How can manufacturers support architects?
Architects are demanding more reliable and accurate information, either through a single trustworthy source, or through a third-party review like CCPI. Wienerberger states 4 steps the industry can change to verify product information for architects.
- CCPI: tackling data distrust
58% of architects do not trust manufacturers claims and spend valuable resource finding incomplete data. The CCPI provides third-party verification assessment and requires manufacturers to meet requirements for product information.
- BIM: bridging data and design
Architects want a single source of truth, or at least verification that the data they are getting is both accurate and complete. BIM files contain embedded CCPI-assessed product data, ensuring accurate and traceable data.
- Golden thread: whole-life accountability
Since the Building Safety Act in 2022, maintaining a transparent and accessible record of design and product decisions is a legal obligation. However, a lack of standardisation can make this difficult to achieve. CCPI assessed information can provide this standardisation that architects can trust.
- Simplifying specification
Architects are looking to simplify specification, to have confidence in compliance and deliver innovative designs within budget. Wienerberger offer their OneSpec solution to simplify specification. We offer specification support to offer and provide the extra advisory service to bring more clarity to the Stage 4 specification process.
Conclusion
The Cost of Compliance whitepaper provides a thorough review of the state of architects in the UK and addresses their greatest challenges. Manufactures can support architects by providing accurate data that is easy to find and by using third-party certification to give architects confidence in compliance.
The Cost of Compliant whitepaper supports recent change and new information such as CCPI and PAS 2000 which advocate training, better product information and safer products.
If you have any questions about the Cost of Compliance whitepaper, new changes or specification support, then please contact us 020 3880 0339 | sales@selo.global