CE marking, declarations of performance and product certification of cements
|
Introduction
In the UK, the Cements have been CE marking their common cements conforming to European standard BS EN 197-1 since its implementation in April 2001, noting that the standard was revised in 2011. Some twelve years on, and CE marking of a wide range of cements, and related products, has, under the former Construction Products Directive (CPD), become established throughout the European Economic Area (EEA). On 1 July 2013, however, the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) came fully into force and its CE marking provisions, and requirement for declarations of performance (DoPs), replaced those of the CPD. The CE marking of cements, and provision of related information, is now facilitated via the procedures outlined below.
What is CE marking and what does it signify?
CE marking is the culmination of a process which leads to the affixing of the CE symbol (a regulatory mark) which indicates ‘fitness for intended use’ in the sense that it signifies, visibly, that appropriate, reliable information about performance, as required by relevant (generally EU Member States' national) legislation, has been declared in a DoP for the product. Accordingly, the CE mark is not a quality mark because the actual level of performance to be achieved for most construction products is permitted to vary across EU Member States. Only in a few cases – such as for cements - does the European standard set threshold, regulatory minimum/maximum levels of performance for mandated essential characteristics (i.e. legally required properties).
Since 1 July 2013 CE marking has become mandatory throughout the EEA (including in UK where it was considered by the authorities to be voluntary under the CPD) for products which conform to a harmonised European standard (or a European Technical Assessment), with just a few exceptions (derogations). In expectation that this would be the likely course of events, the UK cement manufacturers embraced the challenges of CE marking many years ago. Even so, the full implementation of the CPR has brought some changes to terminology and new documentation (see next sections) but no changes in practice for the conformity of cements.
What is a declaration of performance (DoP)?
When a construction product, in this case a cement, is covered by a harmonised European standard the manufacturer has to draw up a declaration of performance (DoP) when the product is placed on the market. The DoP, the content of which is prescribed in the CPR and codified in a cement standard, comprises detailed information about the product plus a list of its essential characteristics against which performance has to be declared by level, class or in a description.
By drawing up a DoP, the manufacturer assumes full responsibility for the conformity of the cement with the declared performances. The CE mark on a bag of cement, or a delivery document, is the visible sign that the product conforms to its declaration of performance, and hence to the requirements of its European standard. The EEA Member States' authorities are required to presume that the information in the DoP is accurate and reliable.
What is a Certificate of Constancy of Performance?
In respect of the accuracy and reliability of declared performances in the DoP, the appropriate level of scrutiny required for a product is established by the European Commission (EC) in the form of a System for the Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP). The System of AVCP sets out the degree of involvement of an independent third party in the AVCP (formerly, Evaluation of Conformity) procedures. In the case of cements, the highest System, 1+, was required because of the critical role that cements play in construction works. The detailed scheme for the AVCP is specified in BS EN 197-2 and includes requirements for assessment/surveillance of Factory Production Control (FPC) and independent Audit Testing of samples under the control of the third party - an EU Notified Product Certification Body. When the third party has reached a certain point within its (ongoing) tasks, it issues a Certificate of Constancy of Performance which enables the manufacturer to affix the CE mark. This 1+ level of scrutiny provides independent verification that cements conform fully to both their technical specification and regulatory requirements.
Which cements are covered by harmonised European standards?
EN 197-1 Common cements, now including sulfate-resisting Portland cements and low early strength blast furnace cements
EN 413-1 Masonry cement
EN 14216 Very low heat special cements
EN 14647 Calcium aluminate cement
EN 15743 Supersulfated cement
◆ Contact Us
Hotline：+86 25-8658 3475 +86 25-8658 3465
Website：www.hksmartps.com www.cprce.com
Email： info@hksmartps.com
Wechat： firetesting or 17714189018
...
|
来源：防火网 发布时间：3/11/2025 点击次数：53
上一条:
睿督欧盟CE认证｜铝酸钙水泥欧盟CE认证－EN 14647:2005/AC:2006
下一条:
GB14907-2018《钢结构防火涂料》标准重点有哪些？ |
| |
|
苏公网安备 32010502010088号
测试服务：
主要阻燃防火认证标准
