European harmonization: The move to the Construction Products regulation (CPR), what difference will it make to the constrution industry?

Since the 1990s Europe has been implementing the Construction Products Directive (CPD) which introduced a harmonized system of test and classification system for construction products including fire safety aspects. This has meant developing and adopting European harmonised technical specifications for constructions which describe various performance aspects. This is about to change with the introduction of the Construction Products regulation (CPR) legislation, originally passed in 2011, and now becoming mandatory on July 1 2013. From this date, all European manufacturers will have to apply CE marking to any of their products which are manufactured in relation to harmonised European standards ( hENs) or European Technical Assessments. The most significant change will be for the group of countries including UK and Sweden which until now had voluntary CE marking. It should be noted that products previously placed on the market in accordance with CPD are still deemed to satisfy CPR. This paper will outline the differences between the CPD and CPR and the new elements which have been added in the move to continue to enable a free market for construction products in Europe. This will include not just changes for manufacturers but also for importers and distributors as well. Particular mention will be given to the changes related to the new declaration of performance which replaces the attestation of conformity approach under the CPD and what still needs to be resolved. An update of the development of fire standards in CENTC127 will also be given.