CPR confusion still exists

Three months on from its implementation I am amazed at how much misunderstanding still surrounds the Construction Products Regulation and CE marking.

However, as was the case with sustainable sourcing, we should congratulate ourselves as it is wood and wood products that are being used as a model to lead the way in the construction industry. Despite this, being an "early adopter" can create its own issues as we're tending to punish ourselves over minute detail rather than shouting: "we're ready for the CPR, are you?"

The basic premise of the CPR and its forerunner the CPD is to create a harmonised market across Europe for construction products. Has it achieved this? Certainly not, from my viewpoint, because the playing field is far from level.

If your product is covered by a harmonised standard, which has been agreed and published in the official journal, or if a European Technical Approval is already in place, then CE marking became compulsory in July, along with its associated costs. However, if your product is outside the scope of such harmonised specifications then potentially you have a lower cost base. This hardly seems level.

Of course, trying to get the message across to the construction industry about what CE marking means for our products is much trickier. It would help if there was more publicity from government sources - particularly BIS - on how the Building Regulations have needed to be amended to recognise construction products now being produced to comply with this new regulation. Perhaps I missed the articles in the press on why the Building Regulations now list CE marking as the principal means to show fitness for purpose. I know the CPR is about harmonisation of the market rather than quality of products per se but if there really is an expectation to minimise cost in the supply chain then surely there must also be a credible link between Building and Product regulations.

CPR is now a legal requirement in the UK. Companies have addressed the requirements and taken on board the necessary costs. Now all we need to wait for is the effective enforcement!

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