A sizeable proportion of offsite construction in large-scale infrastructure includes precast concrete elements. The precast components fit into two categories; standard products which fall under the Construction Products Regulations (CPR) and require testing in order to CE mark, or non-standard products, designed and manufactured for a particular project and which fall outside of current European standards.
In order to use either type of product, they must demonstrate that they are fit for purpose, this includes structural testing, as well as durability assessments and where relevant, fire performance. Although the Eurocodes set out methods for designing certain products, they tend to provide conservative values for performance and do not override the need for CE marking.
Since July 2013, it has been mandatory to CE mark construction products that fall under any harmonised European standard; the manufacturer must state a Declaration of Performance (DoP) for each product type manufactured. For products that fall outside of this route there are variety of different methods available for proving performance, including third party product certification, European Technical Assessments (ETAs), industry accepted standards developed by trade associations, Kitemark schemes, and test data produced by an independent test house.
A dependable test house will advise of the different routes available to take the product to market, and develop a test programme to prove and replicate in-situ performance. Though it is not mandatory to test products that fall outside of any recognised standards, taking a product to market without validating the performance would be difficult. It must also be recognised that CE marking individual components that make-up a system will still leave the system in need of proving its overall performance; all of the components should be compatible and work together. Identifying at which point a number of individual components become a system is in itself tricky and open to debate.
In addition to verifying any product supplied to a project, the factory it is produced in will also be subject to the requirements of the CPR. This can involve third party certification and the implementation of various quality systems.
The offsite sector needs to ensure that all products are fully compliant with the latest standards and regulations in order to grow the confidence of new offerings into a very traditional and conservative construction industry. When new methods of construction, products and skills are introduced, they must be beyond reproach in order that they are adopted and accepted as the norm.
Lucideon has published a guide to help manufacturers through what can be a complicated process in understanding the various routes to market for their products. Download the free guide here.
Original Link - Lucideon
