A new chief executive has been appointed at the company that oversees the Code for Construction Products Information (CCPI).
Amanda Long will take over CPI Ltd, a company owned by trade body the Construction Products Association (CPA), which is responsible for a new code of conduct for manufacturers and suppliers of construction materials.
He will replace Steve Marr, SIG’s UK compliance director, who has been CPI’s acting acting chief executive since January. Marr will now become CPI’s interim chief operating officer.
She has long overseen the emerging code from September 2021 to January 2023 from her then role as chief executive of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which she left in January.
The CCPI is a direct response to Dame Judith Hackitt’s 2018 call for substantial changes to the way products are tested, described and sold in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. It was prepared by the CPA.
Long has previously worked for companies including Unilever and Anglian Water and has been an independent consultant to the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I am incredibly excited to be working again on the Code for Construction Product Information. It is clear that this scheme will be a crucial change for the industry and fundamental to its success in the new regulatory environment expected.
“I look forward to engaging with more building product manufacturers, as well as distributors, customers and contractors, to ensure that the program delivers real value in terms of building safety.”
CPI Ltd chairman David Topliffe said it was “wonderful to welcome Amanda back to CPI Ltd”.
He added: “With CCPI’s recommendation in the recent independent review of the construction product testing regime… I am confident that Amanda has what it takes to ensure that we take the opportunity of this moment to improve building security by making more manufacturers through the incorporation and verification process”.
The code includes 11 clauses that are built around five “acid tests” of trustworthiness: product information must be clear, accurate, up-to-date, accessible and unambiguous.
Writing for Construction news in April, Marr said the code “intends to remove emotive adjectives such as ‘best’ or ‘market leader.'” In their place should be clear descriptions, supported by demonstrable documentation, of all certifications, ratings or industry standards to which the product conforms.
