Catalogue description Records of the Building Research Establishment and predecessors

In the early 1970s, many research-based units were transferred to the Department of the Environment (DOE) from the Department of Trade and Industry. The Road Research Laboratory was brought under the DOE's control in 1970, and the Water Pollution Research Laboratory, the Hydraulics Research Station, the Forest Products Research Laboratory, and the Fire Research Station all followed in January 1971.

In January 1972 the Building Research Establishment was formed upon the amalgamation of the Building Research Station, the Fire Research Station, and the Forest Products Research Laboratory.

In 1982 the establishment was joined by the Civil Engineering Laboratory of the Property Services Agency which amalgamated with the Structural Integrity Division Building Research Establishment. In April 1990, the establishment formally became an executive agency. In April 1996, privatisation of the Building Research Establishment was announced, and was advertised for tender later that year. In January 1997, the Building Research Establishment management team was announced as the preferred purchaser and the privatisation was completed in March 1997.