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Building Control

Construction Product Regulations

What is the Construction Products Regulation (CPR)? 

Under the European Union (Construction Products) Regulations, CE marking is mandatory for all construction products placed on the market for which harmonised standards are in place. The CPR is aimed at reducing technical barriers to trade and ensuring the free movement of certain construction products within the EU.  

It is essential that any construction product used in a building or works must be fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used. 

Where a construction product covered by a harmonised standard is being placed on the EU market, the CPR requires the manufacturer to draw up a ‘declaration of performance’ (DoP) and affix a ‘CE’ marking to the product. The CPR also places additional obligations on manufacturers, importers, distributors and authorised representatives (where applicable). 

Harmonised standards define the methods and the criteria for assessing performance of construction products and set out the degree of third-party assessment required to enable manufacturers to draw up the DoP and affix the CE marking. Third party assessment may only be undertaken by “notified bodies”. They must be established in a member state and be designated by the member state’s ‘notifying authority’. 

 

Brexit - Construction Products Regulations 

During 2020, the UK will continue to follow EU rules and the EU will continue to treat the UK as if it were a member state. This transition period is due to end on December 31, 2020. These months of transition allow time to plan and prepare. For more information, read the section on the implications of Brexit during 2020 below. 

 

Implications of Brexit during 2020 (the transition period) 

During the transition period manufacturers, importers, distributors and authorised representatives must continue to comply with the CPR when placing construction products on the Irish/EU market. UK ‘notified bodies’ continue to have the status of EU ‘notified bodies.’ Irish ‘distributors’ of UK construction products have the same obligations under the CPR as they had before Brexit. 

Builders, designers, specifiers, certifiers and construction professionals should prepare for possible impacts to supply chains when the transition period ends. They should examine their supply chains to ensure suitable construction products, with appropriate documentation demonstrating compliance, will be available after 2020.  

If you plan on trading with the UK in 2021 you will need a unique Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number. You can register for an EORI number through Revenue’s online services section. 

 

Implications of Brexit following transition period 

Manufacturers, importers, distributors and authorised representatives need to ensure they comply with their obligations and responsibilities, as set out in the CPR. Both authorised representatives and importers must be established in the EU-27. 

Manufacturers, importers, distributors and authorised representatives will need to continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that they hold certificates under the responsibility of an EU-27 ‘notified body.’ 

For construction products currently reliant on a UK ‘notified body’, the manufacturers, importers, distributors or authorised representatives may need to either: 

  • Arrange for a transfer of their files and the corresponding certificates from the UK ‘notified body’ to an EU-27 ‘notified body’ 
  • Apply for a new certificate with an EU-27 ‘notified body’ 

Further information regarding the impact of Brexit on Construction Products Regulations may be obtained at https://www.housing.gov.ie/corporate/brexit/brexit 

 

Further information:

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