CE marking under the CPR What is CE Marking?
The letters CE stand for “Conformité Européenne” which means “European Conformity”. It is a declaration by the manufacturer that his product meets the requirements of the relevant standards which are recognised across Europe, these are referred to as harmonised European standards (hEN) or European Technical Assessment (ETA).
What is CPR?
The letters CPR stand for Construction Products Regulation. The regulation is directly applicable in UK law.
Whose responsibility is it to apply the CE mark?
The organisation which brings the complete product to market has the responsibility for CE marking. Using the example of a branded item such as Timber Drive, we are the organisation who would apply the CE mark. Using the example of a Yale lock, Assa Abloy would be responsible for applying the CE mark where appropriate. In both cases, a Declaration of Performance (DoP) will need to be produced and made available on 1st July 2013.
What is a DoP?
A DoP is a document declaring the essential characteristics of the item. By making a DoP, the manufacturer, importer or Distributor is assuming legal responsibility for the conformity of the construction product with its declared performance. Together with the technical specification, the DoP should give all information required by specifiers and regulators to judge whether the product meets all relevant regulations in the Member State upon whose market it is to be placed.
When is it happening?
CE Marking will be mandatory from 1 July 2013. Therefore, from this date, if a company does not declare the performance of their products in line with the CPR when it brings them to market, will be breaking CE Marking will be mandatory from 1 July 2013.
Therefore, from this date, if a company does not declare the performance of their products in line with the CPR when it brings them to market, will be breaking European law.
Which products need to carry CE marking?
There are a number of steps to go through, in order to answer this question.
- Decide if the product is a construction product as defined under the CPR
- Check if a Harmonised Technical Specification exists for the product
If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then the product needs to carry the CE marking. If the product is not covered by a hEN or does not have a European Technical Approval Guidline (ETAG) then CE marking is not possible unless the organisation bringing the product to market, voluntarily requests the development of a European Assessment Document (EAD) and hence an ETA.
What about existing stock?
Some Construction products were placed on the UK market before 1st July 2013 without the CE marking, because of the way the Construction Products Directive (CPD) was interpreted in the UK, such products which are already on the shelves will not need to be withdrawn but the same items manufactured after that date will be subject to the CE marking requirements of the CPR.
What are we doing?
We have been selling CE marked product such as Architectural Ironmongery and Assembled HT for several years, and as a consequence, are well prepared for the 1st July.
A list of product available from Owlett- Jaton carrying the CE mark will be made public on or before the 1st July 2013. For further information relating to CE marking, please refer to the Construction Products Association website.
