Standards, CPR and the ‘CE’ marking

The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) requires that when certain construction products are placed on the EU market, the manufacturer must produce a ‘declaration of performance’ and place a ‘CE’ marking on the product. Third parties called ‘notified bodies’ perform assessments of products and provide ‘certificates of conformity’. They must be registered in an EU country.

UK ‘notified bodies’ (those registered in Great Britain or Northern Ireland) will lose their legal status as EU ‘notified bodies’ from the end of the transition period, 31st December 2020. Construction products relying on certification from a UK ‘notified body’ may not be placed on the EU market from this date. This may affect supply chains and the availability of certain products.

To limit disruption on construction sites, check your supply chain to ensure the construction products you need will be available after the UK leaves the EU. Check that the relevant product-related documentation is appropriate to demonstrate and ensure compliance with the Building Regulations. Further information on the Construction Products Regulation is available from the DHPLG here.

The National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, has established a Brexit Unit focused on examining and communicating the impacts of Brexit on the Standards and Certification of products and services. Its remit is to provide support and guidance to Irish businesses and industry, to mitigate Brexit effects on Standards and Certification. For more information, see their webpage here and webinar series here.