New research from wienerberger highlights the need for greater product transparency as architects navigate the careful balance between creativity and compliance.

The introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) marked a decisive shift towards enhanced safety standards, redefining responsibilities and accountability throughout the build lifecycle. As part of its new whitepaper exploring the associated costs of compliance, wienerberger commissioned independent research among 80 UK architects, to better understand how the BSA has reshaped practice.

With the principal designer’s role now extending far beyond the traditional boundaries, the research found how architects are investing significant resources in managing risk and validating product information. As they navigate an increased compliance burden against legislation that is often ambiguous and open to interpretation, the paper highlights an urgent need for change to streamline the specification processes.

A profession under pressure
Since the Act came into force, 95 per cent of architects have reported an increase in compliance-related administration, with workloads rising by an average of 16 per cent. Almost all (99 per cent) of practices have increased training and upskilling budgets to help teams adapt to evolving requirements.

Meanwhile, professional risk has intensified with longer liability periods. 81 per cent of architects say they are now more concerned about indemnity or liability claims, and two thirds had experienced a rise in claims – either personally or within their practice – since the BSA came into force.

This has contributed to eroding confidence in the quality of information provided by manufacturers, with less than half of architects fully trusting product claims. Many cite missing, inconsistent, or unclear data as a source of delay and risk, with an average of four hours each week spent verifying product claims and certification – costing firms an estimated £16,700 per employee annually¹.

With more scrutiny from building control, architects may also default to trusted product combinations already known to pass inspection, prioritising certainty over experimentation, to save time and limit risk. However, this can narrow the scope for new design solutions. Four in five architects already believe that the added regulatory demands are hindering creativity, and without adequate support, this could significantly impact future innovation.

The search for clarity
Architects are not calling for less regulation; they are appealing for greater clarity. A single, digitally accessible source of verified information would allow practices to streamline specification with confidence and focus on meeting client demands.

The BSA has changed the expectations placed on everyone involved in the design and delivery of buildings, making accurate, traceable product information a legal and professional responsibility. While the Act is widely supported, wienerberger’s research shows that significant time is now being spent filling gaps in product information – time that could otherwise be invested in design.

The Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI), initiated by the Construction Products Association, sets clear standards for how manufacturers should record, verify, and communicate product data. The consensus is that its framework could ultimately become the long-sought single source of truth to work towards compliance.

Designing a solution
In 2025, wienerberger became the first UK manufacturer to achieve the CCPI assessment for its UK-manufactured bricks and pavers, helping to set a new benchmark for independently assessed product transparency. Combined with supporting tools like BIM objects, this provides architects with easy integration, clearer accountability, and the ability to maintain the golden thread.

Paul Instrell, Chief Commercial Officer at wienerberger, commented: “The current standards around communication of product information aren’t sustainable in a sector already facing tighter budgets and increasingly complex design challenges. That’s why we’re calling for industry adoption of independent product assessments, to help ease the burden of compliance for architects – enabling practices across the UK to focus on innovation without compromising on safety.”

In addition, wienerberger’s OneSpec service provides an all-in-one specification guide for the entire building envelope. This considers sustainability, performance and technical objectives for individual projects and pulls everything together in one place – so architects can focus on design, rather than documentation.

Paul continues: “At wienerberger, we believe that by easing the burden of compliance, we can help to raise standards and empower architects to specify with confidence, unlock their creativity, and design safe and sustainable spaces that inspire and innovate.”

To read the whitepaper in full, click here.

Contact Details
For further information, call 0161 491 8200, or visit the wienerberger website.

¹ Based on a 40-hour working week, at an average day rate of £643/day.