CE Marking for Construction Products
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Role of CE marking
CE marking plays a role within European Construction Products Directive (soon superseeded by Construction Products Regulation). The objective of the CPD (and soon the CPR) is not to define the safety of construction products, but to ensure that reliable information is presented in relation to their performance - and all this in a harmonized manner all over Europe. This shall substitute national regulations and thus facilitate cross-border trade.
This is achieved by providing a common technical language, mainly in harmonized European product performance standards. This shall be used not only by manufacturers, but also by public authorities when defining their requirements on construction works, directly or indirectly influencing the performance classes and other specifications set out for the products for purchase and for use.
The actual requirements still are specified by each EU Member State on its own.
CE marking in this context means just and only a declaration that the information accompanying the product has been attained in accordance with the methods specified in the harmonized European standards, see a list of such harmonized standards. For some products this will be done by declaration of the manufacturer. For other products this will need involvment of independent third-party notified bodies and/or notified laboratories. Eurofins Group operates a number of notified bodies for construction products.
Your may also see some Questions and Answers on EU website.
Verification systems within CE marking
Different construction products will require different verification and monitoring systems for CE marking. These are laid down in the harmonized European standards. Not all construction products are under this regime.
Important note:
CE marking is possible only for products where the European Commission has issued a mandate to CEN for establishment of a harmonized product standard.
| Verification System |
Initial factory |
Initial factory inspection |
Initial type testing |
Continuous factory inspection |
Further testing of samples taken at factory |
Testing of samples taken at factory during audit |
| 1+ | + | +++ | +++ | +++ | + | +++ |
| 1 | + | +++ | +++ | +++ | + | |
| 2+ | + | +++ | + | +++ | + | |
| 2 | + | +++ | + | |||
| 3 | + | ++ | ||||
| 4 | + | + |
+ : Manufacturer
++ : Notified laboratory
+++: Notified body
The properties specified in harmonized European standards for CE marking typically can cover mechanical stability, resistance to fire, hygienic properties (such as emissions of formaldehyde and of VOCs) and environmental properties. The new CPR probably will include sustainability aspects as additional declared property.
Services
The Eurofins laboratories and notified bodies can help you finding your way through conformity declaration, certification and CE marking, and support with related testing.
Important note:
A manufacturer can select a notified body freely and is not restricted to notified bodies in his own country.
Eurofins Product Testing A/S is involved in the development and validation of a harmonized testing method for emissions of volatile substances into indoor air in CEN Technical Committee TC 351, Working Group WG 2. This allows to use the expertise of the world-wide largest VOC emissions testing laboratory also for CE marking as soon as the respective product standards have been released by CEN.
Contacts
Interior products:
Please see here contact information of Eurofins VOC testing laboratories in Europe, USA and China:
www.eurofins.com/voc-contacts.
Order forms and testing request forms are available for free download here.
Noise reduction products, doors, walls, blinds, shutters, and more:
Eurofins Modulo Uno, Via Cuorgnè, 21 - 10156 Torino - Italy +39 011 22 22 225
- Sales: info@modulouno.it.it
Stones and cement:
Eurofins LEM, 20 rue du Kochersberg - 67701 Saverne Cedex - France - +33 (0) 3 88 91 19 11
General contact:
Please send an email to producttesting@eurofins.com.