In 1985 a “New Approach to technical harmonisation” was introduced through the European Commission (EC) resolution 85/C136/01. Under this resolution a list of “New Approach Directives” was formulated for a number of product family headings. Click here for complete list of directives and products.

It is illegal to place any product covered by a harmonised technical specification (e.g. European Standard) on the market without a CE Mark and a Declaration of Performance (DoP).

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The CE marking rules typically require the following steps to be fulfilled before the CE mark may be affixed:

1. Determine the applicable CE directives/regulations (You can use the CE Directive Checklist in our CE Marking Toolbox);

2. Identify the applicable European harmonized standards;

3. Identify which essential requirements of the CE marking directive/regulations apply to the product;

4. Identify which requirements of the European harmonized standards apply to the product;

5. Conduct and document the conformity assessment against the essential requirements and the requirements from the standards (this may entail visual inspection, testing etc.);

6. Provide the user with the information required to use the product safely (typically user manual, installation instruction, warning labels etc.);

7. Ensure consistency of production, thus proving the assessed sample and the production are identical;

8. Compile a Technical File (or sometimes called “technical documentation”) of all documents that are necessary to show compliance with all relevant requirements;

9. Draw up and sign a Declaration of Conformity (for construction products a Declaration of Performance);

10. Affix the CE mark;

11. Continuously monitor developments related to CE directives/regulations and European harmonized standards. Apply new rules and amendments where appropriate.

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CE marking indicates:

• CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer's declaration that the product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation, in practice by many of the so-called Product Directives.

• CE Marking on a product indicates to governmental officials that the product may be legally placed on the market in their country.

• CE Marking on a product ensures the free movement of the product within the EFTA & European Union (EU) single market (including totally 30 EEA countries), and

• CE Marking on a product permits the withdrawal of the non-conforming products by EEA customs and enforcement/vigilance authorities.

 

Responsibility:

Persons that bear a responsibility for CE and the CE compliance of products are manufacturer (irrespective if located in or outside the EEA), importer, distributor, authorized representative. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to:

• carry out the conformity assessment

• draw up the Technical File

• issue the EC Declaration of Conformity (DoC)

• affix the CE mark to the product

 

Why we have to do testing:

With so many different products being produced by different manufacturers throughout Europe and around the world, it is important that there is some consistency in performance to facilitate correct design specifications and use.

 

Testing Outcomes

The test laboratory should provide test certificates or reports for each test they perform on each product. For strength properties the results in these test certificates should be used to calculate the characteristic value for that product and test.

 

Declaration of performance:

The Manufacturer must make a declaration of performance (DoP) of the product before placing that product on the market. The DoP must express the performance of the construction product in relation to the essential characteristics (basic work requirements) as specified in the harmonised Technical Specification(s).