The importance of digitising construction product information

In the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, Dame Judith Hackitt highlighted the importance of maintaining a “golden thread” of information throughout the design and construction process to “enable future building owners to better manage their buildings safely”. This is, essentially, about keeping a digital record of good-quality information across the supply chain, and also applies to the manufacturers of construction products. However, in a survey of product manufacturers commissioned by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), 92% of senior managers believed that digitisation was not a major concern.

What is digitisation of construction product information?

The CLC states that “a digitised construction product manufacturer has a holistic data strategy that applies to all parts of its business, from operations to sales and marketing to logistics and to its upstream and downstream supply chains. With structured data, you will not have conflicting or duplicate information.”

Examples of digitisation could be downloading a certificate from a website (instead of distributing manually via email) or ensuring that updated product information automatically pulls through to the manufacturer’s website.

Why it should be a priority

Digitisation is the key to ensuring that products are compliant. Concerningly, only 20% of manufacturers said that they update their information in real time. But, to prevent any inaccuracies, it is vital to ensure that consumers have the most up-to-date information about the products they are using.

Digital transparency is also essential for maintaining a reliable product testing regime, which confirms that products are safe and working as they should. The importance of this was highlighted in the Independent Review of the Construction Products Testing Regime, published in April 2023. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry found evidence of “default on the part of those manufacturing and assessing construction products”, alleging that manufacturers did not disclose all relevant information and those testing failed to follow proper procedures.

A pressing issue

In its report, the CLC highlighted the need for manufacturers to be educated about the importance of digitisation, as many did not understand what it is or why it’s useful. But, with 85% still using hard copies or PDFs, it is likely that the government will need to step in to make sure change does actually happen.

Here to help

The stakes are high when constructing buildings for public use, so it’s essential that contractors have the right insurance in place. Focus can help brokers source the most appropriate cover for their construction clients – just get in touch with us on 0345 345 4511 or email sales@focus-insurance.com.