Regulations

CE Marking

The Construction Products Directive (CPD) is a European Directive that seeks to remove barriers to trade. The CPD introduces the concept of CE marking for all construction products and profiled steel roofing and cladding products fall within the directive. Profiles from CA, CPP, Euroclad and Tegral meet the requirements of EN14782 and the legal requirements of the Construction Products Directive (CPD).

It is essential that those involved in the manufacture, supply, specification and installation of factory made self supporting metal sheets and tiles for roofing, wall cladding and lining, together with ceiling, soffits and cassettes are aware of the implications of CE marking.

What are the Construction Product Regulations?

The CPD is enforced in the UK through the Construction Products Regulations (CPR). The CPR describes two ways of complying with the regulations. The first is by CE marking and the second is by supplying, when asked, Trading Standards Officers in England, Wales and Scotland and Environmental Officers in Northern lreland, all the information available on the product to enable the authorities to satisfy themselves that the product complies with the CPR. If not CE marked the onus is on the manufacturer or supplier to prove that it does satisfy the regulations. The two methods of complying with the CPD given in the CPR, mean that CE marking is not mandatory in the UK, however it is the most appropriate way to approach compliance.

What is CE marking?

CE marking is a European product information label that indicates that the properties of the product have been tested according to European standards. The European Commission determines which properties for which building products in the EU are relevant and should be tested and what external verification is appropriate. The values of the tested properties must be stated or printed by the manufacturer on the product, the packaging or the accompanying documentation. The CE Mark includes information about the type of profile, gauge, coating type, material quality, year of manufacture, manufacturers name and fire performance. In the case of roof profiles the label also specifies a profiles spanning capacity under a 1.2kN concentrated point load.

When did CE-marking become mandatory for profiled roofing and cladding?

In November 2007, CE marking self-supporting metal sheet for roofing, external cladding and internal liners became mandatory and all products must comply with the product standard EN 14782 in all EU countries except UK, Ireland and Sweden. For these countries all products must comply with the CPD. The principle manufacturers of self-supporting roofing and cladding products in UK and Ireland, such as CA Group, Tata Steel Panels and Profiles, Euroclad and Tegral, recognise the importance of this and therefore, supply profiles to EN 14782 and prominently display the CE mark on all deliveries.

What do users and specifiers need to do?

It is essential that those involved in the manufacture, supply and specification of self-supporting metal sheets for roofing, external cladding and internal liners are aware of the implications of CE marking and the regulations associated with the CPD. Put simply, if the product is CE marked there is a presumption that it satisfies the regulations and the CPD, if not CE marked the onus is on the manufacturer, supplier or specifier to prove that it does satisfy the regulations.