Industry Meeting 2003

1
Industry Meeting 2003 The Commission View
Brussels 22 January 2003
Dr Helen Sutcliffe Construction Unit DG
Enterprise
2
The Construction Products Directive

• The CPD
• Progress to date
• Current situation
• Recommendations
• Commissions goal

3

• Progressive implementation
• 1989-94 Interpretative documents
• 1994-99 Mandates and decisions
• 1999- 03 Operation on EEA market
• create right conditions for marking
• problem solving / guidance
• transitional arrangements
• standards, standards, standards ...

4

• 31 Mandates to CEN for product families
• 30 transmitted to CEN
• 28 completed work programmes from CEN
• 2 Horizontal mandates for fire
• Reaction to fire
• Resistance to fire
• 31 Mandates for ETAGs to EOTA
• 99 cases without Guideline

5

• Commission Decisions setting Attestation of
  Conformity levels for all product families now
  published
• Commission Decisions setting fire
  classifications now published
• Legal framework in place -
• Now waiting for technical specifications from CEN
  and EOTA

6

• Availability of hENs (harmonised standards)
• Approx. 500 product hENs in the pipeline
• plus 1500 supporting ENs
• Projected Availability of hENs (Approx. 500)
• 2002 100
• 2003 100
• Well below target !

7
Progress to date

• 71 harmonised product standards referenced in the
  OJEC ... including ...
• Co-existence ended
• EN 197-1 Cement Apr 02
• EN 13249 series Geotextiles Oct 02
• EN 1337-7 Structural bearings Oct 02
• EN 12050 series Lifting plants Nov 02
• marking is now compulsory on these products

8
Progress to date

• Others include ...
• Co-existence started
• EN 12094 series Fixed fire-fighting Oct 01
• EN 12259 series Sprinkler/waterspray systems
  Jan 02
• EN 671-1 2 Hose sytems Feb 02
• EN 12839 Pre-cast concrete elements Mar 02
• EN 13162 - 13171 Thermal insulation Mar 02
• EN 12859 Gypsum blocks Apr 02
• marking is now possible on these products

9
Progress to date

• Others include ...
• Co-existence started
• EN 179 EN1125 Building hardware Apr 02
• EN 12416-2 Powder systems Apr 02
• EN 934-2/4 Admixtures for concrete May 02
• EN 459-1 Building lime Aug 02
• EN 588-2 Fibre cement pipes Aug 02
• marking is now possible on these products

10
Progress to date

• Others include ...
• Co-existence started
• EN 1341, 1342, 1343 Natural stones Oct 02
• EN 682 Elastomeric seals Oct 02
• EN 1344 Clay pavers Jan 03
• EN 681 series Elastomeric seals Jan 03
• EN 40-5 6 Lighting columns Jan 03
• marking is now possible on these products

11
Progress to date

• Others include ...
• Co-existence will start
• EN 13055-1 EN 13139 Aggregates Mar 03
• EN 13381-1 Armourstone Mar 03
• EN 13986 Wood based panels Apr 03
• EN 54-3/5/7 Fire detection systems Apr 03
• EN 12004 Adhesives for tiles Apr 03
• EN 13564-1 Anti-flooding devices May 03
• etc.
• marking will be possible after these dates

12
Progress to date

• European Technical Approvals
• 15 ETAGs published (some consisting of several
  parts)
• 85 ETAs issued (mainly on metal anchors and
  insulation boards)
• marking is possible on 85 products

13
Progress to date

• Where to find the information
• Standards referenced in OJEC
• http//europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/
• construction/index.htm
• Standards published by CEN - progress report
• http//www.cenorm.be/sectors/construction.htm
• European Technical Approvals
• http//www.eota.be

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Current situation

• However - some problems!
• Problems with standards
• Behaviour of Member States
• So called voluntary marks
• Industry input
• confidence in marking

15
Current situation

• Problems with standards
• FPC requirements
• liaison with Notified Bodies
• standards excluding products
• conflict with CPD requirements
• takes too long
• CEN have difficulties to deliver

16
Current situation

• Member States
• obligatory CE marking
• additional requirements at National level
• changes in regulations to discriminate against CE
  marked products
• lack of market surveillance
• flexibility
• decisions on important issues - fire

17
Current situation

• Voluntary marks
• de facto compulsory
• confusion with marking
• insurance industry requirements
• CEN keymark reintroducing National marks
• supporting National marks

18
Current situation

• Industry
• co-existence periods ending
• some products not covered in product standards
• questions asked by industry
• lack of understanding
• National view

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Recommendations

• SCC ad hoc group Recommendations
• GNB position papers - official status
• workshop for Notifying authorities
• GNB access to prENs
• improve TC GNB liaison
• reorganise operation of AGNB

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Recommendations

• SCC ad hoc group Recommendations
• alternatives to CEN standards
• asked CEN to develop fast-track mechanism for
  amendments
• asked CEN to correct errors immediately
• FPC requirements
• Fire issues urgent

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Recommendations

• Other things we need to do
• scrutiny of notifications
• amendment of the directive
• dissemination of information
• management of notifications of NBs
• consider transitional periods

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The Construction Products Directive

• The Commissions goal
• marking
• A passport to free circulation in Member
  States
• internal market for construction products
• products are fit for their intended use
• facilitate the free circulation of goods
• competitiveness of the sector

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The Construction Products Directive

• The Commissions goal
• Implement marking for construction products
• applying CPD in all MS
• products complying with harmonised European
  technical specifications - state of the art
• one assessment recognised and accepted throughout
  the EEA
• freedom for manufacturers to chose where to have
  products assessed
• benefits for the Community