Construction Products Regulation
On July 1st, 2013, the Construction Products Directive (CPD) that was in introduced in 1988 has been replaced by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
The goal of the CPR is to make sure that construction works are designed and build so that persons and domestic animals have a safe and sustainable property.
The initial objective to simplify the existing construction products legislation has not been reached at all. The number of articles increased from 24 to 68, the number of pages from 15 to 39, a fifth annex and a seventh basic requirement were added.
Scope
A construction product is any product which is placed on the market for permanent incorporation in construction works and that is related to the construction’s performance.
Annex IV of the regulation lists an overview of 35 product areas. Examples of construction products are: doors, gates, windows, thermal insulation, chimneys, gypsum products, fire alarms, sanitary appliances, masonry, timber products, cements, mortars, concrete products, floorings, wall and ceiling finishes, roofing products, heaters, fasteners and more.
CE marking compulsory
CE marking was voluntary under the CPD, but this has changed per July 2013.
The CPR requires that all construction products that are covered by Harmonised standards or that comply with a European Technical Assessment (ETA) must be CE marked.
For these products the manufacturer shall draw up a Declaration of Performance too.
By affixing the CE marking the manufacturer declares that they take responsibility for the conformity of that product with its declared performance.
DoC is now DoP
The Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is now the Declaration of Performance (DoP).
It is not just a name change, the DoP requires more information than the previous DoC especially about the "Declared performance" of the construction product.
Each CE marked construction product must have a Declaration of Performance.
Annex III of the CPR shows a template with the information that must be included on the DoP.
At least one of the essential characteristics of a construction product which are relevant for the declared use(s) should be declared.
Assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP)
It is important that all manufactured products meet the declared performance. The performance of manufactured construction product should be assessed and the production in the factory should be controlled and constancy of performance verified. There are five assessment systems defined in Annex V: systems 1, 1+, 2+, 3 and 4. The chosen system must be mentioned on the Declaration of Performance.
New: sustainability
The CPD had six basic requirements for construction works. With the CPR a seventh basic requirement is introduced: sustainable use of natural resources. The construction works must be designed, built and demolished in such a way that the use of natural resources is sustainable. The following shall be ensured: reuse or recyclability of the construction works, their materials and parts after demolition; durability of the construction works and the use of environmentally compatible materials in the construction works.