Importance of CE marking for construction products
1. Free movement: Any country part of the European community can produce and sell construction products bearing the CE marking.
Public authorities cannot request additional certifications or above and beyond such requirements.
2. Ease for manufacturers: products can be sold in the whole European market using a recognized standard and common documentation.
3. Comparability for users: CE Marking allows both customers & end-users to check and compare performances against other products using the Declaration of performance attached to the product. By placing the CE marking, manufactures guarantee that declared performances have been achieved using an appropriate European technical specification.
4. Information: The CE marking contains essential information of the certified product. Marking also refers to other documentation to detail all technical requirements.
When EN 1090-1:2012 certification is required?
In order to affix the CE marking on steel structures the manufacturing system shall comply with the requirements set forth on the European standard EN 1090-1: 2012: “Execution of steel and aluminum structures – Part 1: Requirements for the conformity assessment of structural components “.
This harmonized (1) standard has been prepared to fulfil the mandate M 120 – “Metallic products for structural use and their accessories” issued by the European Commission.
(A standard is defined as harmonized when its application intrinsically presumes conformity with the essential safety requirements (or also known as basic or performance requirements) defined in a European directive or regulation.)
For construction products, EN 1090-1 is harmonized with the European regulation 305/2011 EU (known as CPR Construction Product Regulation); issued on 2013.07.01 and supersedes the previous directive 89/106 / EEC.
The rules for the design and manufacture of structural steel parts are contained in the following technical standards:
a. EN 1090-2 for Steel
b. EN 1090-3 for Aluminium
While EN 1090-1 defines the conformity assessment criteria to the basic requirements of CPR the EN 1090-2 and EN 1090-3 standards contain the design and manufacturing rules of products.
A factory manufactured product can be CE marked under the CPR and the relevant EN 1090-1 standard when:
1. the product meets the requirements set forth on EN 1090-2 or EN 1090-3
2. the manufact is a structural construction product as defined on Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011, in detail:
- a. the product is intended to be permanently incorporated into construction works (buildings or civil engineering works)
- b. the product has a structural function which failure can affect the “Mechanical resistance and stability” (Basic requirement 1) and the load-bearing capacity of the building can be guaranteed for a specified period of time in the event of a fire (Basic Requirement 2 (a).
(POP-UP1)
Manufacturer requirements
FPC (Factory production control)
A workshop wishing to be certified according to EN 1090-1 shall implement a factory production control shortly FPC to ensure that the products placed on the market satisfy the requirements of CPR. (POP-UP2)
Initial type Testing and Execution classes
Sampling is based on a defined execution class ranking from 1 to 4 depending on the complexity of the structure.
Complex manufacturing processes require higher performance linked to the higher execution class.
(POP-UP3)
FPC evaluation
The FPC assessment requires the involvement of a Notified Body (such as C&P) on the basis of a 2+ certification system of conformity.
The assessment includes an Initial Factory Inspection and a Continuous Surveillance which frequency depends on the execution classes according to EN 1090-1 table B.3.
In order to meet customer needs (Continuous improvement and efficiency to the requirements) necessary to lead the market C&P carries out annual surveillance regardless of the certified execution class.
Based on a positive assessment of the FPC by the Notified Body, the manufacturer is authorized to affix the CE marking on the product and to issue the Declaration of Performance (DoP).
Manufacturer and Notified Body duties are set out in Annex ZA.2 of EN 1090-1 Standard.