Construction products directive

The Commission of the European Communities has asked /5/ CEN TC 127 to produce the necessary standards concerning fire safety in support of the "Construction Products Directive" CEN/TC127 met first in London on 18-20 May 1988 and took some resolutions which may favour a rapid development of the interim solution mentioned in chapter 3. 

Certificates issued by the British Board of Agrement (BBA) cover new or innovative construction products not covered by existing British Standards and Codes of Practice. These certificates, which are the result of assessment by BBA based on manufacturers information and on independent testing, also provide information on projected lifetimes. In future, under the European Construction Products Directive, product performance details including durability will be given on the label of each CE marked product. An example of how this is applied will be described in the next section. 

The European Standards Agency (CEN), under TC351, is also working on harmonized horizontal test protocols which could be used to fulfil ER3 of the construction products directive under EC mandate M/366. 

The 1989 EC Construction Products Directive (CPD)-Essential Requirement (ER) 3 of the CPD states that The construction work must be designed and built in such a way that it will not be a threat to the hygiene or health of the occupants or neighbors, in particular as a result of any of the following o the giving off of toxic gas ... 

Continuing with the above example of ER3 of the European Construction Products Directive horizontal emissions test methods (i.e., applicable to multiple product types) have been developed by CEN and ISO for compliance with the CPD and are now available as parts 6, 9,10 and 11 of EN/ISO standard 16000 (see Table 6.1). Furthermore, a program of work led by CEN TC351 has now been instigated under European Council Mandate M/366 to amalgamate and validate these standards. Once this work is completed (estimated 2010) it is understood that chemical emissions testing will become a mandatory part of CE marking for construction products. 

EC Mandate (2005) M/366EN Development of Horizontal Standardised Assessment Methods for Harmonised Approaches Relating to Dangers Substances under the Construction Products Directive, European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG. 

The Construction Products Directive as regards the classification of the reaction-to-fire performance of construction products, Council Directive 89/106/EEC, 21 December 1988, Brussels, Belgium, 1988, European Commission, Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General, Construction. 

White paper Construction Products Directive (CPD), A European Directive to Ensure the Safety of Tomorrow s Buildings, Nexans, 2004. 

It will be permissible to apply the CE mark to sheets of High Pressure Laminate in accordance with the regulations contained in the European Construction Products Directive however, until European fire test methods and specifications are harmonized fire certification by individual countries still will be necessary. 

The use of PVC in cable in Europe may be affected if the EU s Fire Regulatory Committee incorporates an optional provision for an acid fume test in its construction products directive, as mged by Sweden. 

Within the European Union (EU),the Construction Products Directive -89/106/EEC has resulted in minimum standard test requirements for any geotextile that is to be utilised for the possible functions described above. These are referred to as the CE marking requirements. All manufacturers of building and construction products in the EU are required to comply with the CE marking requirements and provide the appropriate test certificates. This became mandatory for geotextiles in October 2002. The CE mark is therefore seen as a guarantee that, for application of a particular functionaUty, the properties of a product will match those claimed by its manufacturer. 

In the UK, sprinkler systems are installed in accordance with the Loss Prevention Council (LPC) Rules which incorporate Part 2 of BS 5306 °. Further requirements are contained in Part 1 of BS EN 12259. The Fire Protection Association has produced new guidance for the installation and use of sprinkler systems as a section of the LPC Library of Fire . The LPC Rules together with the Comite Europeen des Assurances (CEA) Rules are now being considered with a view to producing a European standard for sprinkler installations. This may become a requirement of the Construction Products Directive, Interpretative Document for Safety in Case ofFire. ... 

European Council, The Construction Products Directive (Directive 89/106/EEC), Interpretative document No. 2, Safety in case of fire, EU, Luxembourg. Available on http //europa.eu.int/ comm/enterprise/construction/internal/safire.htm... 

Adhesives for ceramic tiles are specified by the standard EN 12004 2007 (Adhesives for tiles. Requirements, evaluation of conformity, classification, and designation), and includes performance requirements for cementitious, dispersion, and reaction resin adhesive types for all internal and/or external wall, floor and ceiling applications. Annex ZA, of this standard, sets out the requirements, which address the provisions of the Construction Products Directive (see O Sect. 35.4 below), and include assessments of durability. Compliance with these requirements confers a presumption of fitness for purpose for the applications and form part of a CE mark. In these cases durability is assessed by elevated temperature and/or water immersion accelerated ageing or freeze-thaw cycling of test specimens and then determining tensile or shear adhesion strength against minimum requirements. 

The largest commercial market for adhesives and sealants is their use in building and construction. The Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC) (CPD) is currently undergoing review and will be remade as the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) probably coming into force in 2012 or 2013. European regulations, unlike directives, are translated directly into law in the member states without the need for national statutes and instruments (and the potential for differing national interpretations). Thus, the basic work requirements (formerly essential requirements in the CPD) of the CPR will become compulsory in all member states. 

EN 13744 2004 Surfeces for sports areas — procedure for accelerated aging by immersion in hot water European Commission, Guidance Paper F, Durability and the Construction Products Directive 2004 FprEN 15651 parts 1 to 5 2009 Sealants for nonstructural use in joints in buildings and pedestrian walkways... 

Ausschuss zur gesundheitlichen Bewertung von Bauprodukten, Committee for Health-related Evaluation of Building Products. A contribution to the Construction Products Directive Health-related Evaluation Procedure for Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions (VOC and SVOC) from Building Products,... 

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