VIEWPOINT
KNOW YOUR CE FROM YOUR DOP
Matt Neary, national sales manager at Knauf Insulation
LAST MONTH, I explained what documentation is needed to demonstrate the sustainability credentials of insulation. Of course, this isn’t the only paperwork needed. With the introduction of the Building Safety Act, the golden thread is becoming a reality. Specifiers across the supply chain have an increasing need for detailed, accurate product information as a result. This can be a source of confusion. With changing standards and increasing access to information, merchants and their customers face a deluge of data. In this context, it’s important not to miss the signal for the noise. What information should merchants seek amid the alphabet soup of compliance and performance declarations?
CE mark or UKCA? CE or UKCA marking is required for construction products which fall within the scope of a harmonised or designated standard or conform to a European Assessment Document (EAD) or a UK technical
assessment which has been issued for that product. Mineral wool insulation falls within this scope. UKCA marking was introduced after the UK left the EU Single Market, with the intention that it would replace CE Marking – which it largely mirrors. The
UK Government indicated in September 2023 that for all goods, except for construction products, CE Marking will remain valid indefinitely. Under current plans, the validity of CE Marking for construction products will be withdrawn on June 2025. This is an evolving situation that will have a significant impact on the supply chain. There is much activity ongoing with the government and regulators. Once conclusions are reached, we intend to share a debrief with merchants. In the meantime, both
accreditations are valid in the UK and are used to allow ‘sale of goods comparison’. They indicate that the conformity assessment of the product has been undertaken according to the rules of Construction Product Regulation and the declared performance remains constant.
Declarations of Performance
Data from these and other tests are then used by the manufacturer to create a Declaration of Performance (DoP) for each product. This allows merchants and their customers to check key performance data such as thermal performance. If specific information, such as compressive strength is not required, it is listed as NPD (No Performance Determined).
“CE or UKCA marking is required for construction products which fall within the scope of a harmonised or designated standard, or conform to a European Assessment Document or UK technical assessment issued for that product.”
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DoPs for most products can be found on the manufacturer’s website and can be used to compare the characteristics and performance of products made from different materials and by different manufacturers. While a DoP will be specific to a product, and that product is often in turn specific to an application, the DoP does not itself confirm fitness for purpose for an application. This must be assessed by the designer or specifier for the project that is being developed, using the data provided by the DoP.
Agrément certificates Agrément certificates are used to demonstrate the suitability of specific products for certain technical applications. They provide reassurance that the product has been assessed by an accredited third party and is fit for purpose (including meeting regulatory requirements) for use in a specific application.
There is more than one provider of Agrément certificates in the UK. The British Board of Agrément is one (and its acronym – BBA – is often used as shorthand for an Agrément certificate). Kiwa is another independent provider. Whether a product needs an Agrément certificate or not depends on the application. For example, certificates are required by the Building Regulations for any insulation products used to fully- or partially-fill masonry cavity walls, such as our DriTherm Cavity Slabs and Rocksilk RainScreen Slab (455mm) products. We also have Agrément certificates for the majority of our Rocksilk RainScreen Slab range which can be used in a variety of façade constructions, even though they are not mandatory. That’s because the applications are complex, and the certification gives specifiers reassurance that the products will perform as they are designed to. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net February 2024
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