Strasbourg, 05/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - The regulation on construction products and building materials that has been in force since 1 July will facilitate the extension of companies' activities to other member states.
Adopted in 2011 and in force since early this month, Regulation 305/2011on construction products replaces Directive 89/106/EEC on the same products in order to smooth out the last regulatory and technical obstacles that hinder their free movement within the European Economic Area, where the requirements regarding employment, the environment and safety may differ from one country to the next.
The regulation will help construction product manufacturers to market their products according to a simplified common legislative framework that uses EC marking to show the reliability of performance data given on the products. It also introduces specific measures for small manufacturers and micro-firms.
The term “construction products” covers over 40 families of products such as doors, thermal insulation products, cement, roofing materials or bricks. The regulation provides for a common technical language to be used by the manufacturers when they declare how well the products that they market in Europe function. Based on harmonised standards, that language is used in all member states and by all stakeholders in the construction sector (authorities, engineers, contractors and final users). The aim of the regulation is to ensure that reliable, precise information based on harmonised technical specifications is available in relation to product reliability, and also that clear and strict criteria are introduced for bodies notified, and for technical evaluation. The regulation also reinforces the role of market surveillance.
In using the EC marking system, manufacturers declare that they are ready assume responsibility for compliance of their products with the declared performance rating and requirements applicable. These are set out in the regulation in force or other EU legislation on harmonisation, providing for such marking.
The building industry represents 9.5% of GDP and 10% of labour within the EU. (EH/transl.jl)