The Future of the Construction Industry in the EU: A Look at the New Proposal for the Harmonization of Construction Products
The European Commission has recently put forward a proposal for a regulation by the European Parliament and the Council that could potentially revolutionize the marketing of construction products within the European Union (EU). This legislative proposal, which also includes amendments to existing regulations, could have far-reaching implications for the construction industry and the realm of construction products. In this article, we’ll explore the key changes and their impact on the industry.
Context
The EU Regulation No 305/2011 (‘Construction Products Regulation’ or CPR) for harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products was fully applied in 2013. The Regulation’s main objective is to improve the functioning of the single market and the free movement of construction products in the EU by laying down harmonised conditions for their marketing.
The current proposal highlights, that „the CPR does hardly set any product requirements that construction products would be required to meet. Instead, it mainly sets harmonised rules on how to express their performance in relation to their essential characteristics (e.g. reaction to fire, thermal conductivity or sound insulation) and provides harmonised rules on the CE marking of these products. Since the construction products merely contribute to the construction works – these latter falling within the remit of national competences – the Member States remain fully responsible for the safety, environmental and energy requirements applicable to buildings and civil engineering works.“
Repealing Regulation (EU) 305/2011 and Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2019/1020
The legislative proposal calls for the repeal of the existing Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011, which has hitherto formed the basis for the regulation of construction products in the EU. In its place, a modernized regulation that better accounts for current challenges and requirements will be introduced.
A main driver is to minimize the carbon footprint of buildings. This requires, as a holistic approach, to shift the focus from the environmental impacts during the use phase to the entire life cycle of the building. In this regard, the selection of construction products will be a major point. This is necessary, because “so far it is difficult to compare performance of construction products and materials across various circular design related aspects, such as ease of disassembly, future reuse potential, maximum technical service life, whole life cycle cost/carbon, material intensity/waste and reparability.”
Mandatory Requirements of the Declaration of Performance
A crucial aspect of the legislative proposal pertains to the mandatory requirements of the „Declaration of Performance.“ This declaration is a central document for construction products and contains information regarding the product’s performance and characteristics. The new regulations stipulate that the Declaration of Performance must encompass all pertinent technical information necessary for assessing the performance of the construction product. This is intended to enhance transparency and comparability of construction products.
| Essential characteristics | Performance |
| Climate change – total a Global Warming Potential total (GWP-total) | XXXXX kg CO2 eq |
| Depletion of abiotic resources – fossil fuels c Abiotic depletion for fossil resources potential (ADP-fossil) | XXXXX MJ, net calorific value |
| Requirements ensuring the appropriate Functioning and Performance | |
| The minimum recycled quota is 50% | |
| The packaging is with paper-derived materials | |
Impact on the Construction Industry and Construction Products Sector
The proposed changes have significant ramifications for the construction industry and the realm of construction products. Here are some of the key aspects:
Unified Market: The legislative proposal creates a unified market for construction products across the EU. This facilitates cross-border trade and procurement of construction products.
Enhanced Quality and Safety: The new regulations impose stricter performance and labeling requirements on construction products, resulting in higher quality and safety standards for construction projects throughout the EU.
Environmental Considerations: The legislative changes place a greater emphasis on the environmental impact of construction products. This promotes sustainable construction practices and the use of eco-friendly materials.
Transparency and Comparability: Mandatory requirements for the Declaration of Performance improve transparency and comparability of construction products, simplifying the selection of suitable products for construction projects.
Overall, this legislative proposal could contribute to the modernization and strengthening of the construction industry in the EU. The introduction of uniform regulations and stricter standards will elevate the quality of construction products and the sustainability of construction projects. Experts and businesses in the construction industry should prepare for these changes and ensure compliance with the new regulations to remain competitive and seize opportunities in the European market.
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