Dr Stephen Hamil of NBS explains why better data standards and Digital Product Passports are vital to fix the industry’s fragmented systems and safeguard its future.

For several years now, UK construction has been beset by issues around material quality, skills shortages and project delivery. These challenges have dominated the conversation and while there is no doubt that these are important issues, there’s something even more significant holding our industry back. Once we spotlight and solve this problem, it could unlock effective responses to all the previously mentioned issues and more; how we think about and manage our data.

Despite numerous initiatives, the way we handle data is still problematic. Too often, across our industry, information about construction products remains fragmented, outdated or unattainable to the people who actually need it. It’s a hurdle to successful project delivery, but worse still, it’s a roadblock preventing our industry from innovating.

There is a solution here, but it doesn’t involve adding more layers of box-ticking bureaucracy. What’s needed is genuine collaboration and a concerted move towards agreeing shared industry standards. To help us get there, we need to embrace Digital Product Passports (DPPs), which have the enticing potential to transform how we deal with the data on the materials we use throughout the construction industry.

From compliance to competitive advantage

In essence, DPPs are thorough digital datasets that accompany products from the factory floor through to their end-of-life. These digital companions contain crucial information including manufacturing details, performance information, compliance certifications, and environmental impact data. All accessible through a simple scan of a QR code.

This is more than a layer of compliance. It’s about making swift and assured decisions. With straightforward access to standardised data through DPPs, everyone in the supply chain can benefit; from designers and contractors to regulators and building owners.

Enter the regulator

Across the Channel, the European Union’s Construction Products Regulation (CPR) 2024 has made DPPs mandatory for critical construction materials including concrete, steel, and insulation products. This means manufacturers must provide comprehensive digital documentation covering technical specifications, safety, performance metrics, and environmental data such as carbon footprints and recycling guidelines.

While it’s true the UK no longer operates under EU authority, the interconnected nature of construction product markets means lining up with European data standards is effectively a must-do.

Looking closer to home, the Government’s ongoing consultation, the Construction Products Reform Green Paper, suggests the UK may adopt similar requirements, making early preparation essential for manufacturers looking to maintain access to key markets.

Breaking down data barriers

Unfortunately, construction data management practices often resemble a maze of disconnected systems. Product information remains trapped inside static PDFs, scattered databases, and perishable paper documents. Project teams often create their own data records, leading to inconsistent information sharing and limited functionality across systems.

This disconnect creates cascading problems: manual data re-entry increases error rates, inconsistent information leads to specification mistakes, with the wrong products turning up on-site, and compliance verification becomes a time-consuming drain on resources. It can become all but impossible to track environmental performance. These issues also hold back the successful implementation of digital tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

DPPs are set to transform this landscape by establishing machine-readable, standardised data formats that connect professionals to essential information. Designers gain instant access to verified, up-to-date product data. Installation teams receive clear guidance and compliance documentation. Facility managers obtain critical insights for efficient building operation and maintenance throughout the asset’s lifecycle. Everyone gets what they need.

Laying the foundations for change

Despite current headaches, or arguably because of them, the construction industry has begun laying the groundwork for digital transformation. The Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) provides essential guidance for data structuring, while digital platforms like NBS Source demonstrate how standardised product information can be effectively managed and shared.

The integration of global product identifiers and alignment with established standards, such as EN 15804 for Environmental Product Declarations, creates a helpful framework for lifecycle impact reporting. This supports the wider move towards implementing principles of the circular economy.

Strategic implementation

Successfully transitioning to a DPP-enabled environment will require more than just upgrading IT systems, it will involve fundamental changes in outlook, culture and processes. To achieve all that, companies must embrace transparency, work collaboratively, and make a sincere commitment to continuous improvement.

Manufacturers should run comprehensive audits of their current data management systems, flagging areas for development and actively participating in industry standardisation efforts. Specifiers and contractors must push for high-quality, accessible product data, while partnering with organisations committed to digital excellence. Over time, these efforts will yield results. Better data means more than compliance, done right, it can give your organisation a strategic edge.

Gaining a competitive advantage

The shift toward Digital Product Passports represents a strategic opportunity to solve construction’s stubborn data challenges. Organisations that welcome standardised digital collaboration will soon see the benefits in significantly reduced errors and far more efficient operations. What’s more, they’ll be ideally positioned to access the full potential of AI and other emerging digital technologies.

With regulatory momentum building across the UK and EU, now is the time for action. Companies that digitise their product data and prepare for DPPs will be poised to succeed in an increasingly connected construction ecosystem. The question isn’t whether Digital Product Passports will become standard industry practice, (they will); it’s whether your organisation will be ready to exploit the opportunities they create.

Dr Stephen Hamil is innovation director at NBS