CPR & EN 1090 - CE Mark & UKCA Logo

The Construction Product Regulation (CPR certification) requires that relevant Construction Products must legally comply with the relevant harmonised EN technical Standard. Compliance is required, before either CE Mark or UKCA Logo can be applied to the products.

EN 1090 is a significant standard, that covers steel fabrications and relating jointing methods.  

What Is the Construction Product Regulation?

Construction Product Regulation originated as an EU Regulation. It has been adopted into UK law. Depending on the product, and the risk, the requirements your organisation must meet include the relevant Harmonised Standard that specifies the technical product requirements. Examples include:

• BS EN 1090 for Steel Fabrication
• BS EN 14351 for Windows and external doors

The Factory Production Control system (FPC) ensures consistent manufacture. The FPC derived from the ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard. As a result, CPR certification does not require achieving ISO 9001, but it is helpful. Gaining a CE Mark or UKCA Logo includes implementing most of the ISO 9001 requirements. Consequently, most Clients have gained an ISO 9001 certificate at the same time. This integration provides benefits for the management of the whole organisation, not just for production control and related processes.

The Standard requires assessment by independent external Notified Body (EU) or Approved Body (UK). Consequently, the organisation has an external validation of compliance. The certification proves that compliance, monitoring, review and continuous improvement is in place. Addtitionally

• Type Testing can be required
• Declaration of Performance to be issued.
• CE Mark or UKCA Logo visible on the Construction product, packaging or accompanying documents.

The CE Mark and UKCA Logo

There are specific assessment requirements for the certification process:

• For EU Market: CE Mark required – assessed by an EU based Notified Body.
• For UK Market: UKCA Logo required – assessed by an UK based Approved Body.

What is BS EN 1090?

For Steel and Aluminium Structures, the Construction Product Regulations use BS EN 1090 as the Standard for technical product requirements. BS EN 1090 is risk-rated for different types of structures and structural fabrications. The lowest risk are basic farm-type buildings.

In addition, specification-related Standards apply. Your organisation must comply with these too.  The compliance depends on the risk-rating of the planned Structure and are called the ‘Execution Class’. Examples of the relevant Standards include:

• ISO 1090 (multi-part).
• ISO 3834 (multi-part).

To achieve CE Marking Certification, organisations must commit to a focused and systematic approach to business. Specifically, this means a fact-based decision-making process. To comply the organisation must demonstrate the following to the internal assessors and to the external Assessor:

• Management commitment to quality.
• Compliance to applicable specifications, customer requirements and regulations.
• Suitable specification, identification and traceability including of materials.
• Processes approach and working systems are effective.
• Involvement of trained, qualified and competent employees.
• Calibrated and relevant equipment for the work being done.
• The necessary facilities in place for all work processes and ensure proper maintenance and resources.
• Management must deploy effective methods to identify, investigate and correct any problems.
• Use monitoring, review and improvement processes in all important aspects of the business.
• External independent Notified Body (for EU) or Approved Body (for UK) Assessment & on-going Surveillance visits.

Benefits of CPR and CE Mark or UKCA Logo

The outcome of your meeting the Standard confers benefits on your organisation. These include …

Legal  

There is a legal requirement for compliance with harsh penalties for failure. So, once you meet the Standard, and maintain your conformance, you will have evidence of your legal compliance.

Operational

The Factory Production Controls that you implement, are important. They provide a systematic and integrated approach to your production processes. The Standard provides a clear operating structure and an emphasis on continual improvement of working systems. Furthermore, the system works to reduce errors, duplication, complaints and other problems. The systems you put in place also enable the process of fact-based decision making. As a result, the organisation can effectively monitor costs and waste leading to potential savings and other management efficiencies.

Customer Assurance

As with any legally enforced Standard, your customers can rest assured you meet industry standards.

No developer want to be told to make very expensive repairs or even to demolish the building, because for instance, the steel structure you supplied, is not legally compliant. 

Why You Need Construction Products Certification And Logo

It Is the law. If your business supplies construction products, and that includes structural fabrications, you must comply with the construction products regulations. Further, you must comply with either the CE Mark (EU) or UKCA Logo (UK). This does increase the regulatory burden, but there is good news.

And Now The Good News

The good news is that there are great opportunities created by these increased controls. Effectively, they are an investment that investment will pay itself back. You are legally compliant and will see business improvement and customer assurance as a result. In addition, you will be able to compete effectively in a difficult market.

When to start? Right now. Be legal and benefit sooner. Contact us now.