The term Construction Product can refer to any product or kit which is produced and placed on the market in order to be incorporated in a permanent manner in construction works hence affecting their performance with respect to the basic requirements for construction works (mechanical resistance and stability, safety in case of fire, hygiene, health and environmentally friendly, safety and accessibility in use, protection against noise, energy economy and heat retention, suitable use of natural resources)
Construction Products Regulation (305/2011), which replaces Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC), lays down conditions for the placing or making available on the market of construction products by establishing harmonised rules on how to express the performance of construction products in relation to their essential characteristics and on the use of CE marking on those products. Is designed to simplify and clarify the existing framework for the placing on the market of construction products.
CPR AIMS TO:
• Clarify the basic concepts and correct use of CE marking
• Simplify procedures in order to reduce costs incurred by enterprises, in particular SMEs
• Increase credibility & respectability for the whole system
CPR additionally ensures that reliable information on construction products in relation to their performances is available. This is achieved by providing a “common technical language", offering uniform assessment methods of construction product performance. These methods have been compiled in harmonised European standards (hEN) and European Assessment Documents (EAD).
This common technical language is to be applied by:
• the manufacturers when declaring the performance of their products
• the authorities of Member States when specifying requirements for them
• their users (architects, engineers, constructors…) when choosing the products most suitable for their intended use in construction works
CE MARKING
CE marking enables a product to be placed legally on the market in any Member State. However this does not necessarily mean that the product will be suitable for all end uses in all Member States.
CE marking indicates that a product is consistent with its Declaration of Performance as made by the manufacturer. The declaration varies according to the particular harmonised technical specification covering the product. In general there are three ways in which information can be presented for each relevant characteristic.
• Confirmation of achievement of a minimum performance or threshold
• The actual performance (a declared value)
• A particular class of performance reached
DECLARATION OF PERFORMANCE
When a construction product is covered by a harmonised standard or conforms to a European Technical Assessment which has been issued for it, the manufacturer shall draw up a declaration of performance when such a product is placed on the market.
Information in any form about its performance in relation to the essential characteristics, as defined in the applicable harmonised technical specification, may be provided only if included and specified in the declaration of performance.
By drawing up the declaration of performance, the manufacturer shall assume responsibility for the conformity of the construction product with such declared performance. In the absence of objective indications to the contrary, Member States shall presume the declaration of performance drawn up by the manufacturer to be accurate and reliable.