The Importance of Meeting Regulations: The Role of the OPSS and the GGF in Ensuring Compliance in the Glass and Glazing Sector

The Importance of Meeting Regulations: The Role of the OPSS and the GGF in Ensuring Compliance in the Glass and Glazing Sector

As part of its mission to ensure consumer safety and product compliance across various industries, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) plays a critical role in regulating products within the UK market. Operating under the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the OPSS oversees a wide range of sectors, from construction products to consumer goods and environmental regulations.

Recently, the OPSS has ramped up its inspections in the glass and glazing sector, with a specific focus on heat soaked thermally toughened glass. This increased level of scrutiny represents a significant development for the industry. The OPSS is conducting detailed inspections that assess manufacturers’ entire production processes, including factory production controls (FPCs), Declarations of Performance (DoP) and compliance with CE and UKCA markings. These inspections ensure that manufacturers adhere to the relevant product standards and construction product regulations, ultimately strengthening consumer safety and boosting confidence in glass products.

A key aspect of these inspections is ensuring compliance with the heat soak process for thermally toughened glass. This area is especially critical because failure to meet the heat soak process requirements could lead to a higher-than-expected number of glass products failing in service. By inspecting these essential safety measures, the OPSS ensures that manufacturers fulfil their obligations to produce heat-soaked toughened glass in full compliance with the product standard.

The increased presence of OPSS inspections is a significant development for the glass and glazing industry. Regulatory compliance has long been a central concern for manufacturers, and the OPSS’s active involvement strengthens the drive for higher industry standards. The checks on Factory Production Controls (FPCs), CE markings and UKCA compliance demonstrate the OPSS’s commitment to improving the safety and quality of glass products in the market.

In this context, the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has been instrumental in supporting the OPSS’s efforts. The GGF has worked closely with the regulatory body to communicate critical industry issues and ensure that its members stay informed about the importance of compliance. Through this collaboration, the GGF raises awareness within the industry, encouraging members to meet regulatory standards and continuously improve their product offerings.

The GGF fully supports the OPSS inspections, as they present an essential opportunity to strengthen compliance and promote higher standards in the sector. We are aware that several of our members have already been inspected and we’ve also received inquiries from non-members about these inspections. This shows that the message is reaching a broad audience and that the industry is taking compliance seriously.

For any GGF member who has concerns or needs additional information regarding OPSS inspections or regulatory compliance, we encourage you to reach out to us at technical@ggf.org.uk. The GGF also offers a calibration service for heat soak ovens through GGF Consultancy. Calibration of the heat soak oven in accordance with BS EN 14179 is mandatory and ensures proper operation of the heat soak process. Please contact Consultancy@ggf.org.uk for more details.

As we continue to work with the OPSS to raise the bar on product safety, the GGF is committed to supporting its members in navigating the regulatory landscape and ensuring their continued success in the market. By maintaining the highest standards of compliance, we can all contribute to a safer and more reliable glass and glazing industry.