Ruling on Construction Products Regulations expected

The European Union (EU) is currently voting on the European Construction Products Regulations (CPR) and if accepted, it will come into force in July 2011.

It is proposed that the CPR should replace the European Construction Products Directive (CPD), with the main difference between the two being that the CPR is a regulation and as such is mandatory in all member states, similar to an Act of the European Parliament.

If the CPR does come into force CE Marking of constructional steelwork to BS EN 1090-1 will also become mandatory in all member states from January 2012. This means that after this date it will be illegal to continue fabricating steelwork without the CE Mark.

CE Marking is not currently mandatory in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, but BCSA members will have to comply with the UK Act of Parliament ‘Construction Products Regulations’ as CE Marked products are deemed to comply with the Act.