Safety, compliance and clear technical evidence are becoming increasingly important across the construction and cable containment sectors, as manufacturers come under greater pressure to demonstrate their products are fit for purpose
The shift reflects the wider change in the industry since the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy, which claimed the lives of 72 people. The failures in building safety it exposed led to the Building Safety Act 2022, which introduced a three-stage process to make sure safety is considered throughout the design and construction of buildings.
Metpro Group, a cable containment manufacturer, says that around 90% of its technical enquiries now focus on safety, compliance and the evidence needed to prove it. Contractors and specifiers are asking increasingly detailed questions on everything from fire resistance and earth continuity to structural loadings, IP ratings and environmental information.
Paul Hopps, Specification Sales Director at Metpro, says, “The nature of the questions we receive has changed significantly. Customers are not simply asking whether a product is compliant; they want to understand why it is compliant and what evidence is available to demonstrate that.
“That puts a much greater responsibility on manufacturers to have the right technical information readily available. Contractors need to be able to make informed decisions about the products they are specifying and installing, and they need confidence that there is evidence behind the claims being made.
“The Grenfell tragedy was a significant point in the wider conversation around building safety. Since then, we have seen much greater focus on accountability across the supply chain, and on being able to demonstrate that the right products have been selected and used appropriately.”
Product performance in a fire has been a key focus since Grenfell, with the industry continually working to raise standards and protect workers, residents and tenants. This is reflected in the recent updates to the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations, which came into effect in October 2026.
Mike Holmes, Product and Development Manager at Metpro, says, “Around 90% of the technical questions we receive now come back to safety and, importantly, proving it. Customers want to know what standards a product meets, how it has been tested and whether there is documentation they can rely on.
“Fire resistance is an increasingly important part of that conversation, and ultimately, our role is increasingly that of a technical partner. The product itself is only part of the solution, as customers also need the information and expertise to use it correctly and demonstrate that it is appropriate for the application.”
