Construction Innovation Hub project set to de-risk platform and offsite manufacturing approaches in construction

The Construction Innovation Hub has today launched the Construction Product Quality Planning (CPQP) framework. CPQP is a new quality assurance framework setting out a best practice approach for manufacturers to follow during the creation of new platform systems and offsite manufactured construction products.

Aimed at driving improved quality and safety standards, CPQP sets out a five-phase process, ranging from product definition to product launch. It also includes the creation of a live control document, which provides a digital audit trail that forms the basis of a building safety case. At launch, a set of guideline documents is being made available including the CPQP Guide, the Construction Product Approval Process (CPAP) Handbook and nine supporting guidelines to follow which help complete crucial aspects of the quality assurance process.

Amongst the benefits of using the new framework, CPQP will ensure that products and platforms are manufactured to the highest standards, in line with best practices and regulatory standards such as BSI 99001 and the Building Safety Act. QPQP also provides means for effective change control measures to mitigate risk, and product journey mapping from design through to manufacturing. CPQP also ensures accurate product data is managed and maintained throughout as per the golden thread recommendations.

The CPQP framework is designed to complement the Hub’s Product Platform Rulebook and Value Toolkit. It aligns with the ambitions of the Construction Playbook, where the Government is enabling more investment in innovation by committing its buying power to encourage offsite and platform construction. As part of the Hub’s Platform Programme, CPQP aims to support this approach.

Speaking ahead of the launch of CPQP, Dame Judith Hackitt said:

I am delighted to see this very positive response to the new regulatory requirements for quality assurance. Learning good practice from Manufacturing sectors is a smart way to accelerate the pace of change in Construction.”

Keith Waller, programme director at the Construction Innovation Hub said:

CPQP provides tools that will enable the accelerated adoption of platform approaches by helping to ensure quality and consistency across all of UK construction manufacturing. When applied in conjunction with the Product Platform Rulebook and Value Toolkit, the CPQP framework will improve the overall safety, performance, and quality of new construction products by identifying risks as early as possible in the design and development process, when the cost of change is lower.”

The CPQP guidelines, Industry case studies and other supporting materials are available here.

Further information

The Hub’s Quality Assurance ecosystem

Construction Innovation Hub guidelines and tools for the creation of new construction platforms and products through manufacturing-led approaches:

• Construction Product Quality Planning (CPQP) sets out a Quality Framework process, and provides a comprehensive set of guidelines, that should be followed during the creation of new construction products, to mitigate risk. It includes five phases, ranging from product definition to product launch.
• Change Control. The Building Safety Act requires that any change to a building’s design, specification or manufacturing process needs to be documented as part of a change control process. This project creates guidelines for a standardised process for the construction industry to assess risks when implementing changes to products and buildings.
• Product Validation and Testing (PV-T) has been developed to offer a clear route to product validation as part of a platform-based approach to construction to ensure all requirements set out at the design stage are met. This analysis and route to compliance offers MMC manufacturers an opportunity to create best-in-class construction platforms that exceed existing standards within the market and provide an extra point of differentiation when compared with traditional construction.