Table of Contents
From 1 July 2013, construction products affixing the CE marking must be accompanied by a declaration of performance in order to enable selection of the product depending on its intended use.
The CE marking isn’t affixed to all construction products.
The manufacturer must affix the CE marking for a product covered by a harmonised standard (hEn). As of the beginning date of the coexistence period he can, but does not have to, use the harmonized standard to draw up the declaration of performance for a construction product covered by this standard. As of the end date of the coexistence period, the harmonized standard is the only way to draw up a declaration of performance for a construction product covered by this standard.
The manufacturer may affix the CE marking to other construction products. In this case, he must be in possession of a European technical approval or a European Technical Assessment.
The European Technical Approval is an instrument established under the European Directive 89/106. It is a constructive technical assessment of the suitability of a product for its intended use. Each European Technical Approval is valid until its expiration date.
To evaluate the performance of a construction product, the Regulation provides for five systems of assessment and verification of performance constancy relative to the product's essential characteristics: 1+, 1, 2+, 3 and 4.
This classification takes into account the role of the products in the safety of facilities. Products considered to have the most important role in the system are classified 1+. Each system includes different tasks to be executed, according to the case(s), by the manufacturer or by the notified body.
Obligations of manufacturers, importers and distributors
When a manufacturer places a product on the market, he, by affixing the CE marking, takes on the responsibility for the conformity of the construction product with the declared performance.
The importers and the distributors ensure that the products, where required, bear the CE marking and are accompanied by the documents necessary for their appropriate use, among others the declaration of performance and the user manual.
An importer or distributor will be considered as being a manufacturer and will be subjected to the obligations of a manufacturer, whenever he places a product on the market under his own name or trademark or modifies a construction product already placed on the market in such a way that conformity with the declaration of performance may be affected.
Selecting or prescribing a construction product
A construction (a house or civil engineering) must comply with both the national provisions (federal, regional or municipal) applicable to it and the objectives defined by its construction, renovation, repair or maintenance. To comply with both, the constructions are made using products whose essential characteristics have a level of performance which must be adequate.
Based on the information contained in the product's declaration of performance, the user will decide to select among all the products available on the market and to buy the product which is most fit for the use he intends to make of it. He also takes on full responsibility for his decision, taking into account different criteria such as the functionality of the structure, the techniques used, the construction system, the level of innovation and sustainability, different economic aspects, as well as the appropriateness of the product's performance as compared to the use he intends to make of it.
The key issue in choosing construction products is their performance relative to the intended use. It is the connection between the basic requirements of the construction works and the essential characteristics of the products.
A product contact point has been established in order to deliver information to the various economic players in a transparent and fair manner.
PCPC (Product Contact Point for Construction)
Regulation 305/2011 provides that each member state shall designate a Product Contact Point for Construction. In Belgium, in the context of administrative simplification, it was decided that this role would be fulfilled by the product contact point for mutual recognition.
Its tasks are to provide the following information:
- national provisions (technical rules as included in Regulation 2019/515) to meet the basic requirements applicable to construction works for the intended use of each construction product (essential characteristics);
- the contact details of the competent authorities responsible for supervising the implementation of national provisions;
- the recourse generally available in the national territory in the event of disputes between the competent authorities and an economic operator.
It should be noted that its task is not to provide information on the implementation of Regulation 305/2011 as such, on standards and their content, and on notified bodies and technical assessment bodies.
The Product Contact Point replies within 15 working days of receipt of the request.
This service is free of charge.
How can you contact them?
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FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-Employed and Energy
Directorate-General for Quality and Security
NG II
Boulevard du Roi Albert II 16
1000 Brussels - Tel.: +32 2 277 93 47
- Fill in the application form
Application form
FAQ
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