Construction products not covered in indefinite extension given to UKCA marking – June 2025 deadline remains

In an update to the ongoing developments on UKCA marking, construction products are not included in the Government’s Department for Business and Trade indefinite extension period for the use of CE marking announced today (1 August 2023). 

This means that construction products, which fall under the remit of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, will continue to face a deadline of 30 June 2025, after which CE marking will not be recognised and UKCA marking will be required.

The other 18 sectors that fall under the Department for Business and Trade have been given an indefinite extension to the use of CE marking.

Background to the CE-UKCA marking deadlines and extensions

The current CE mark, used by the EU to affirm a manufacturer’s conformity with European health, safety and environmental protection standards, has been set to be replaced by UKCA marking as a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union (Brexit).

It was originally set to apply to all goods and businesses by the end of 2022, but in August last year, the Government agreed an extra year’s transition period to meet their legal obligations, giving them until 1 January 2023 to ensure the UKCA mark is applied to their products. The move came after business groups, including the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and the Fire Industry Association (FIA), had highlighted significant challenges for UK businesses to meet the original target.

Early in 2021, IFSEC Insider reported on the ongoing concerns and how it was likely to impact the fire and security markets, particularly to avoid “last minute scrambles” for UKCA Certification.

Despite the extension, many continued to push for additional time – something that was awarded by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in December 2022, where 31 December 2024 was outlined as the deadline.

The department cited “difficult economic conditions created by post-pandemic shifts in demand and supply, alongside Putin’s war in Ukraine and the associated high energy prices”, as the reasoning for extending the deadline.

Now, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) – the new name for the department covering BEIS’ previous responsibilities – has announced an indefinite extension to the use of CE marking.

However, this announcement only applies to the 18 sectors that fall under DPT’s remit – construction products are not included.

Construction products deadline remains – 30 June 2025

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) announced on 9 December that construction products used in the GB market (England, Wales and Scotland), will have an extension until 30 June 2025.

This will likely affect the majority of products in the fire safety sector.

Responding to a request from IFSEC Insider for further information as to why construction products have not been included in the extension, a DLUHC spokesperson said:

“This announcement applies only to the 18 sectors that fall under DBT. It does not apply to construction products.

“We have previously stated that recognition of the CE mark for construction products in Great Britain will continue until 30th June 2025.

“We are committed to ensuring the testing regime for construction products is effective and inspires public and market confidence. We will set out our proposals for reform of the construction products regime in due course.”

Speaking a week after the extension was given in December 2022, Ian Moore, Chief Executive Officer of the FIA, commented:

“Last week’s Government announcement on the two-and-a-half-year extension is welcome news to our industry colleagues both here in the UK and across Europe. Although many of our fire detection and alarm manufacturing members are already on their way to, or have already achieved the requirements of the legislation, this extension will ease the pressure on those businesses who have yet to complete their legal obligations.

“Businesses were originally required to meet their legal obligations on product marking by the end of 2021, but after successful lobbying by the FIA, a one-year extension for construction products was announced in August 2021. Further lobbying meant that on 9 December 2022, the UK Government announced that businesses will have until 30 June 2025 to apply the product safety marking for construction products placed on the market in the UK. I am sure this will be the last extension.”

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