A failure to get the new post-Brexit system for certifying construction products up and running by next year could be “devastating” for the industry, the former boss of a major products specification body has warned.

Richard Waterhouse, who was chief executive and chief strategy officer for the NBS until last year and previously the boss of RIBA Enterprises, said getting the new marking system ready in time is “not achievable”.

The government is currently in the process of switching from the Europe-wide CE marking for certifying construction products to the new UK-only UKCA marking as part of a regulatory divergence agreed in last December’s Brexit deal.