The most frequently asked questions about CE marking of construction products. As Notified Body no. 2685 CPR (EU) 305/2011 for the issue of Certification and Classification Certificates, CertiMaC carries out all the tasks assigned to it by the third party assigned to it in the evaluation and verification of the constancy of the benefit and for which it has been notified by the Ministries responsible: measure , examines, verifies, calibrates or otherwise determines the characteristics or performance of materials or construction products in terms of quality and efficiency.

1. [ Organismo Notificato ]
[ Founded by ] [ Notified body ]
Notified Body N. 2685
Construction Products Regulation
CPR (EU) 305/2011
Notified Body n. 2685
(EU) 305/2011
CE MARKING
CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS
15 Frequently Asked Questions
by
CertiMaC | www.certimac.it

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What is CE Marking?
CE marking is a mandatory process for the Manufacturer to be able to market a construction
product within the European Economic Area (EEA). This process involves carrying out two
necessary and inseparable "steps":
• Drawing up the Declaration of Performance (DoP)
• Affixing the CE Mark in a visible and indelible way on a product or on its packaging or on the
accompanying documents. to certify that it meets the essential health, safety and environmental
requirements set by one or more EU regulations.
In brief the CE marking is a "passport" which allows a construction product, regardless of its origin,
to be legally and freely placed on the market of the member states of the EEA.
What is the purpose of the CE Marking for a product?
CE marking gives a product the right to free movement throughout the EEA territory (wider than
the EU territory, since it also includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
CE marking does not have the purpose of specifying all the technical characteristics of the
product (it is not a quality mark). It assumes that CE marked products are suitable for the intended
use in relation to the verification of the seven essential requirements set by the Regulation:
• Mechanical resistance and stability
• Safety in case of fire
• Hygiene, health and environment
• Safety & accessibility in use
• Protection against noise
• Energy economy and heat retention
• Sustainable use of natural resources
Who is responsible for CE Marking?
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The Manufacturer is responsible for affixing the CE marking. The Manufacturer (i.e. the person who
places the product on the EEA market) assumes responsibility for the conformity of the construction
product with the performance declared in the Declaration of Performance (DoP).
Through the DoP, the Manufacturer guarantees the conformity of a product with the essential
requirements of the EU harmonization legislation that apply to the product.
If importers or distributors place a product on the market under their own names or brand or modify
a construction product already on the market to an extent that could influence its compliance
with the declaration of performance, they take over the Manufacturer’s responsibility and are
subject to the same obligations.
What is s the Declaration of Performance (DoP)?
The “DoP” is the legal document that describes the performance of construction products in
relation to their characteristics, established by harmonised European standards with specific
reference to the seven essential requirements of construction work (referred to in Annex I of the
CPR Reg.).
With the “DoP” the manufacturer assumes responsibility for the conformity of the product itself to
the declared performance. This declaration must necessarily be prepared by the manufacturer
when placing the product on the market.
What is a harmonised standard?
The European Standards are technical regulations developed by the CEN (European
Standardization Committee) on mandate / request from the European Community. They are
identified with the abbreviation «EN» (for example: UNI EN 998-1: 2016. Specifications for mortars
for masonry works - Part 1: Mortars for internal and external plasters) and harmonisation can be
deduced from two structural elements:
-the publication in the OJEU - Official Journal of the European Union - where the harmonised
standards are periodically published in accordance with the European regulation CPR (EU) 305 /
'11
-the presence of Appendix ZA which contains the prescriptions and requirements of the material
under examination.
Where should the CE Mark be placed?
The Manufacturer must affix the «CE» mark in a VISIBLE, READABLE and INDELIBLE way on the
construction products or on a label applied to them or, if this is impossible or unjustified due to the
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nature of the products, on the packaging or on the delivery note.
How can you understand if a material or product is subject
to mandatory CE marking?
The obligation of the «CE» and DOP Marking for construction products is directly connected to the
publication on the Official Journal of the European Union of the references of the related
Harmonised European Standard and to the expiry of the «co-existence period», and not to the
implementation of the Standard itself by the standardisation bodies of the individual Member
States (in Italy the UNI - Italian Standardisation Body).
Are there any specific cases in which it is possible to sell
the product without affixing the CE Mark?
There are some exceptions and simplifications in the following cases:
•Construction products manufactured individually or according to customer's specifications
•Products custom-made for a given use
•Products made using a non-industrial process (handmade products) or in the context of
conservation and restoration interventions on the architectural heritage.
•Construction products, even if manufactured in series, but not covered by a harmonised
European standard, are excluded from the obligation of the "CE" and DOP Marking until the
publication of the Standard on the OJEU and the end of the co-existence period.
What is non-mandatory CE marking?
It is still possible to affix the CE mark on a voluntary basis when the product to be sold is not subject
to mandatory CE marking, and therefore is not covered by any harmonised standard. First of all, it
must be checked whether the product is covered by an ETAG standard, a document prepared
by the EOTA (European Organization for Technical Assessment) containing guidelines on the
voluntary CE marking of some products (e.g. ventilated facades, external cladding systems, etc.).
If the product does not fall within any of the published ETAG standards, it is possible to check
whether it is covered by the current European Assessment Document (EAD).
These documents represent harmonised technical specifications in accordance with the
Construction Products Regulation n. 305/2011 (CPR), and contain a general description of the
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product, its intended use and the methods for assessing its performance, on the basis of the
essential characteristics relevant to the intended use. If there is no EAD applicable to this product,
it is possible to request a technical assessment body (TAB - Technical Assessment Body) to develop
a specific one.
The adopted EADs are used by the TABs for the release of the European Technical Assessments
(ETA) or European Technical Approval, which allows the manufacturer to obtain the CE marking
of the product, since it represents the basis for drawing up the declaration of performance (DoP)
from the manufacturer.
How must the Declaration of Performance (DoP)
be issued?
The DoP must be issued by the Manufacturer to the buyer in paper or electronic form, together
with construction products.
When must the DoP Declaration of Performance be issued?
The DoP must accompany construction products during transport to the construction site.
* It can also be made available by manufacturers on their websites (Delegated Reg. 157/2014).
However, companies are advised to request a hard copy, in order to simplify the acceptance of
the materials on site by the construction management, in compliance with Ministerial Decree
1/14/2008 (NTC).
The PDO must be drawn up in accordance with Articles 4 and 6, as well as with the model set out
in Annex III of the CPR.
* If the procurement on site requires multiple trips for the same construction product, the PDO is required for the first delivery
trip, while for subsequent trips it is sufficient to report the unique number of the initial PDO in the single transport documents.
What does Appendix ZA contain and what role does it
play within the harmonised technical standards?
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Annex ZA is an integral and common part of all harmonised standards. It contains the minimum
requirements to demonstrate the conformity of the construction product with the reference
standard, namely:
- initial tests to be carried out in order to identify the so-called "Product Type" (PTD - Product
Type Determination)
- periodic tests to be carried out in order to guarantee product compliance over time (FPC -
Factory Production Controls)
- Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) provided for that specific
product and for a specific intended use.
What is the Assessment and Verification of Constancy of
Performance (AVCP)?
Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) is a harmonised system that
defines how to assess products and the constancy of their performance. It safeguards the
reliability and accuracy of the Declaration of Performance (DoP).
The AVCP provided for a specific product and for a specific intended use defines the individual
responsibilities as regards the performance of the PTD and FPC activities and provides for different
levels of controls in relation to the essential requirements being verified (see explanatory table).
What is Product Type Determination (PTD)?
Product Type Determination (PTD) details all the initial tests in charge of the Customer or a notified
Body (depending on the product AVCP) necessary for the verification of conformity of the
construction product under consideration. The specific tests subject to PTD are indicated in Annex
ZA of each harmonised standard and in its text. They are the first step to obtain compliance and
therefore the CE mark.
What are Factory Production Controls (FPC)?
Factory Production Controls (FPC - Factory Production Controls) are periodic checks carried out
by the Manufacturer or by a notified Body (depending on the product AVCP) necessary for the
verification of constancy of performance over time of the construction product under
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examination. The specific tests subject to FPC are indicated in Annex ZA of each harmonised
standard and in its text. The frequency and number of tests to be carried out are also specified.
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOUR COMPANY?
è NOTIFIED BODY
CertiMaC is Notified Body no. 2685, authorised by Decree of the relevant Ministries and
offers Manufacturers, in Italy and around the world, Product Conformity Assessment and
Verification services by issuingof Test Certificates and Qualification Certificates.
è UNIQUE PARTNER FOR ALL COMPLIANCE
In its role of Notified Body for products classified with VVCP 3 system certifying compliance
withover twenty harmonised standards, CertiMaC operates as a Notified Test Laboratory
with the task of measuring, examining, verifying and attesting the characteristics or
performance of materials or construction products.
è KNOWLEDGE & RESEARCH NETWORK
Founded and participated by ENEA and CNR, the two major Italian Research Bodies,
CertiMaC offers testing and innovation services on the national, European and
International territory.
RELATED SERVICES
CertiMaC is a non-profit Research Body within the terms of the European Union (2006 / C
323/01 UE) for innovation and technology transfer in support of producers of Traditional
and Advanced Materials.
It supports material manufacturers in innovation processes through industrial research
projects, experimental development, technology transfer initiatives, certification services,
consultancy and training.
It offers companies in the sector the most advanced solutions available in the fields of
Energy Efficiency, Building Envelope and Durability.
CONTACT A SPECIALIST
Receive indications on the correct procedures to follow on
the basis of the latest updates of the European legislation.
CertiMaC CPR experts are at your disposal:
e-mail to: cpr@certimac.it
or call: +390546678548

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CertiMaC - info@certimac.it
Ing. Luca Laghi 0039 0546 678548
Registered Office: via Granarolo, 62 - 48018 Faenza (RA)
Teresearch & Test Labs c/o ENEA via Ravegnana 186, 48018
Faenza (RA) Italy
www.certimac.it