Watch the presentation of the CFE Chairman Dr. Ulrich Bourgund “How EU expertise can develop into worldwide market leadership” on the high-level EOTA Stakeholder Conference on 23 November 2022. You can download his presentation here.
Author: thomas-hl
“Qualification of construction fasteners under the current and future CPR: The manufacturers’ view”
Read the article by Ulrich Bourgund, CFE Chairman, in the lastest issue of the Fastener + Fixing magazine. For more information on the revison of the Constrcution Products Regulation (CPR) please visit our special section #ReliableAgileETA.
CFE position on the legislative proposal for the CPR revision
On 30th March, the European Commission has published a proposal for the revision of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
CFE has contributed to the public consultation with the following core positions:
- CFE appeals to include EADs again in the definition of harmonised technical specifications, which would mean that they become also part of the new introduced Harmonised zone.
- CFE appeals to maintain the current practice of the publication and citation of EADs after the first ETA was issued, in order to maintain agility and momentum in the ETA process.
- CFE appeals to maintain the current regulation that a DoP and CE marking is required for products covered by an ETA.
- CFE appeals to allow the reference to more than one ETAs/EADs in a DoP, as this is the case for references on Harmonised technical specifications (Annex II 8.).
- CFE appeals to limit the influence of the European Commission on the EAD development process to clearly defined exceptional cases.
- CFE appeals to modify Annex III 6. in a way that member states are obliged to introduce national requirements in the EAD development process to make sure that EADs and ETAs cover all national requirements on the respective product.
- CFE appeals, that for cases, where the design methods for products covered by ETAs are not fully covered by Eurocode standards, the EAD format should allow to include information on specific design methods for the products covered by this EAD.
- CFE appeals to introduce conflict resolution mechanisms on EU level. The EU wide validity of such solutions would provide legal certainty for all stakeholders and a level playing field for all manufacturers.
DIBt Technical Reports on job site tests for fixings in masonry
The German construction institute and Technical Assessment Body DIBt has published English translations of its Technical Reports on the execution and evaluation of non-destructive job site tests:
- Execution and evaluation of job site tests of injection anchor systems for use in masonry with EAD 330076-00-0604 or ETAG 029 and
- Execution and evaluation of job site tests of plastic anchors for use in concrete and masonry with ETA in accordance with EAD 330284-00-0604 or ETAG 020
Both Technical Reports are referred in the German Technical Building Rules. Their application in other countries requires a prior clarification with the national and/or local building authorities.
Brexit info: EADs to be valid as a basis for UKTA/UKCA
CFE welcomes the statement of EOTA, that EADs can now ne used as basis for UK Technical Assessments (UKTAs) without a prior conversion of the EAD into a UK Assessment Documents (UKAD).
Please find more detail under https://www.eota.eu/news/brexit-info-eads-will-continue-be-valid-basis-uktaukca.
New EADs and EAD versions cited in the OJEU
The references of 14 European Assesment Documents (EADs) have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 11 October 2021 (L 359/117). Among them are some EADs for construction fixings:
- EAD 330087-01-0601 Systems for post-installed rebar connections with mortar (superseding technical specification EAD 330087-00-0601)
- EAD 330232-01-0601 Mechanical fasteners for use in concrete (superseding technical specification EAD 330232-00-0601)
- EAD 330232-01-0601-v01 Torque-controlled expansion fasteners for use in concrete with variable working life up to 50 years (this is the former EAD 331612-00-0601, which has never been published)
- EAD 330250-00-0601 Post-installed fasteners in concrete under fatigue cyclic loading
This enables now the CE marking of the constrcution fixing products covered by ETAs granted based on those EADs.
The citation of the EADs demonstrates, that the EOTA route to CE marking works.
Safety, agility and productivity in fastening technology
The Fastener&Fixing Magazine published an article on the benefits of the ETA route to CE marking for constrcutiion fixings in the light of the upcoming CPR revison.
Read the full article under https://www.fastenerandfixing.com/construction-fixings/safety-agility-and-productivity-in-fastening-technology/
EAD on plastic anchors cited in OJEU
CFE welcomes the citation of EAD 330284-00-0604 “Plastic anchors for redundant non-structural systems in concrete and masonry”. This EAD will superseed ETAG 020.
With this step, the conversion of ETAGs, which were developed under the previous Construction Products Directive, into EADs are finalised for the products area of construction fixings. CFE experts played an active role in the conversion process as members of the relevant EOTA WG.
Please find a listing of all EADs for constrcution fixings under Technical Specifications.
Brexit and anchors: facts on UKCA marking
After Brexit, the UKCA mark will replace the CE marking for construction products sold in England, Wales and Scotland.
What does this mean for construction products which are fully covered by a UK designated standard?
For such products, the UKCA marking is mandatory from 1st January 2022. The UK designated standards are identical to the harmonised European standards. (Note: This situation may change in future).
What does this mean for anchors and other construction products covered by Technical Assessments?
For anchors and other products covered by ETAs (European Technical Assessment), UKCA marking is voluntary (as it is the case with the CE marking). For such products, an UK Technical Assessment (UKTA) can be issued by manufacturers’ request. Such an UKTA is based on an UK Assessment Document (UKAD). Unless no UKTA is issued for a product, which is not covered by a standard, it is legal to sell it without UKCA marking in England, Wales and Scotland after the 31.12.2021. According to our information, the use of a CE marking for such products in the UK will not be prosecuted, because the CE marking has no legal meaning in the UK. Future UK construction laws or codes may require the use of UKCA marked anchors.
Which design method for anchors will apply in UK?
The Eurocode design standard BS EN 1992-4:2018 “Eurocode 2. Design of concrete structures. Design of fastenings for use in concrete”, which refers to ETAs, is still valid in the UK and can be used to design anchor applications, independent if the respective anchor is UKCA marked or not.
Will EADs and ETAs be converted into UKADs and UKTAs?
CFE is in close contact with BBA (British Board of Agrément) to clarify the conversion of EADs European Assessment Documents into UKADs (UK Assessment Documents) and of ETAs into UKTAs (UK Technical Assessments).
Additional information can be found under
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/construction-products-regulation-in-great-britain
- https://www.bbacerts.co.uk/ukta/
- https://www.bbacerts.co.uk/ukca-mark/
- CFE members area (login required)
Disclaimer: The information above is based on our best knowledge. CFE accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the information on this site
Ulrich Bourgund new chairman of the ORGALIM CPR Task Force
We congratulate Dr. Ulrich Bourgund on his election as chairman of the ORGALIM CPF Task Force.
ORGALIM represents Europe’s technology industries at EU level: innovative companies across the mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and metal technology sectors that develop and manufacture the products, systems and services that enable a prosperous and sustainable future.
ORGALIM’s CPR Task Force deals with all issues of the implementation and revision of the European Constrcution Products Regulation (CPR).