Construction materials

Approved Document 7: materials and workmanship, provides a very wide definition of ‘materials’:

Materials include manufactured products such as components, fittings, items of equipment and systems; naturally occurring materials such as stone, timber and thatch; and backfilling for excavations in connection with building work.

NB Materials might also refer to project information material.

Narrower definitions of materials such as 'physical substances that things can be made from' would seem to exclude manufactured products such as components, fittings, items of equipment and systems. For example, steel is a material, whereas a steel beam is a product.

Primary materials are the materials that make up the majority of the structural components, foundation and envelope of construction projects. Ref The Living Building Challenge.

Some of the more commonly used construction materials that might be considered to fall within this narrower definition are listed below. For a wider list, including products and components see: Products and components.