#ReliableAgileETA – Construction Fixings Europe

The EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) is under revision:
The CE-marking based on European Technical Assessments (´the ETA-route´) remains essential to foster innovation and to maintain the competitiveness of the European fixing industry also in future. But, according to the legislative proposal, the basic documents (EADs) will no longer be considered as harmonised technical specifications! Will the member states re-introduce additional national requirements for CE marked products with EAD? Will the national approvals come back through the backdoor and de-harmonise a major part of the internal market for construction products?

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 on the legislative proposal. Please click here for details.

The original intention of the CPR is to ensure the free movement of construction products in the EU’s single market - vital for the European construction industry. Any fundamental revision of the CPR will lead to years of transition between existing and new CPR rules. Timing matters. #ReliableAgileETA

Obtaining a CE mark through the ETA process is an efficient alternative for providing clear information to customers in the construction sector. Sounds tough, but it’s actually quite simple. #StopChangingETA

Fire poses a great thread to tunnels and fasteners. Reliable rules, product specifications and transparent harmonized technical documentation. There are many reasons to stick with ETAs and CE marking. They work more than well! #ReliableAgileETA

In recent years, many countries all over the world have adopted ETA/EAD documentation or parts thereof to achieve similar levels of safety … and for good reason!
Why should we change a system that works? Unfortunately, this system is being challenged. Find out more about the benefits of the ETA system on this website. #ReliableAgileETA

A CE mark based on an ETA stands for a reliable and safe product, because it needs to comply with transparent and harmonized technical documentation requirements … Why would anyone want to change anything about that? #StopChangingETA

Reliable rules, transparent and harmonized technical documentation, no major accidents: There are many reasons to stick with ETAs and CE marking. Do we really need to change this agile process? It works more than well! #StopChangingETA

CE marking on fasteners – based on the ETA process – is an efficient way to provide clear information to customers in the construction sector. CE marking helps them decide which product to use in which application to ensure safe and reliable solutions. #ReliableAgileETA

In recent years, many countries all over the world have adopted ETA/EAD documentation or parts thereof to achieve similar levels of safety … and for good reason! Why should we change a system that works? Unfortunately, this system is being challenged. #ReliableAgileETA

” A revision of the CPR should be based on the two existing pillars of the current regulatory framework: a reliable standardization process with harmonized European standards (hEN) and an alternative approach to achieve CE-marking considering the technological dynamics regarding new products and / or applications.”
Ulrich Bourgund, Chairman
Construction Fixings Europe

The ETA-route: A success for European consumers and businesses alike

Stimulation to develop into technological leadership: The European anchor manufacturers are worldwide market leaders with the most innovative and reliable products. Compared to other regions, the European anchor industry has the biggest variety of manufacturers including a lot of SMEs, which use ETAs for their innovative products in the same way as bigger companies. More than 7.700 ETAs based on 439 EADs have been issued already until 2019.

ETAs stand for quality worldwide: ETAs have a good reputation worldwide. Important Non-European countries (Australia, Singapore, India, China, Japan, Hongkong, Korea, etc.) recognize ETAs for construction products (e.g. fastening systems) as accepted documents when national documents are not available. Some countries take reference to European EADs in an explicit way. This enables European manufacturers to sell their product in a lot of third countries without additional testing or assessment.

Safety in construction: Unlike in other countries there has been no major failure of fastening applications in Europe, qhich proves the quality of the ETA product assessment procedures.

The EAD/ETA route is suitable for manufacturers of all sizes: The close cooperation between the manufacturer and a Technical Assessment Body and the confidentiality during the development of an EAD/ETA makes the ETA-route a perfect tool also for SMEs to demonstrate the reliability of their products, to simplify the distribution throughout the EU and worldwide and to maintain competitive advantages. After the publication of the new EADs, this knowledge is free to be used by any other manufacturers to apply for own ETAs.

More details on the need to keep the ETA-route is available for you in Construction Fixing Europe´s Position Paper on the revision of the EU Construction Products Regulation.