Apparently, the need for a revision of the Regulation is mentioned in an internal Commission document, according to Tapani Mikkeli from the European Commission, as indicated at the 14^th Technical Board meeting. For this reason, the Technical Platform meeting convened for December has been cancelled, and a new orientation will be given to the Technical Platform meeting scheduled for early 2017.

At the third Conference of the EOTA Stakeholder Advisory Group (see news and comment in EOTA section), Elisabeth Hamdouch, deputy head of the Unit GROW.C1 from the European Commission, indicated that the revision of the Regulation depended on the technical platforms conclusions in accordance with the needs expressed in the Commission Regulation report.

Three weeks later, the need for this review is clearer as indicated by Tapani Mikkeli. The start of the Regulation revision will be confirmed by the actions undertaken by the Commission in 2017.

In the European Union, Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste is the largest waste stream. That’s why the Commission published this protocol on November 9^th 2016, a result from two Task Forces:

1. “Quality Recycling, Building Confidence”: mostly staffed by industry professionals, covering representatives from Construction services, Construction products manufacturers and Waste managers.
2. “Setting conductive policy and framework conditions”: consisting of Member State government representatives, EU level stakeholder organisations and EC officials.

These tasks have been concluded by a validation workshop in June 2016. From these works, the Commission has elaborated this Protocol with guidelines for C&D waste management.

This protocol includes non-binding guidelines to improve the construction area in this field. It is in line with the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, which aims at having 70% of Construction and Demolition waste recycled by 2020.

It has been structured in five subject areas:

• Waste identification, source separation and collection
• Waste logistics
• Waste processing
• Quality management
• Policy and framework conditions

On November 10, this conference organised by EOTA, European Organisation for Technical Assessment, took place in Brussels. The general purpose of the Conference is the exchange and debate among the EOTA members and stakeholders. On this occasion, the Conference dealt with:

EOTA: a competent partner for the construction industry
ETE: a reliable way to CE-marking

It has been confirmed that the ETA, European Technical Assessment, is an increasingly used tool by producers of construction products not covered by a harmonised standard. Stakeholders also made comments on the subjects that can be improved and on some operational problems, such as the delay in the Official Journal of the European Union publication of European Assessment Documents.

The need to increase the value of the CE marking beyond the current declaration value of performances was expressed by the stakeholders. Likewise, the need for a revision of the Regulation which considers the requirements of users in relation to the Declaration of Performance and the CE marking was indicated.

At the end of the session, Ms. Elisabeth Hamdouch, deputy head of Unit GROW.C1, from the European Commission, announced that the collaboration of the Commission with EOTA will be intensified to accelerate the elaboration and publication of the European Assessment Documents. Likewise, she informed that technical platform meetings on Construction Products Regulation issues that need improvement will start. The need for a Regulation revision will be decided based on these works.

At the 14^th meeting of the EOTA Technical Board, the state of the conversion works from ETA Guidelines that correspond to the first set (priority A) was analysed. Two of these conversion works have already been published in the OJEU.

Detailed situation of the conversion works:

• EAD on mechanical fasteners (conversion from ETAG 001 parts 1 to 4): published in the OJEU, on 9.12.2016.
• EAD on bonded anchors (conversion from ETAG 001 part 5): once agreed the final document on the mechanical fasteners EAD, the same criteria will be applied to this EAD.
• EAD on mechanical fasteners for multiple use for non-structural applications (conversion from ETAG 001 part 6): once agreed the final document on the mechanical fasteners EAD, the same criteria will be applied to this EAD.
• EAD on prefabricated stair kits (conversion from ETAG 008): published in the OJEU, on 13.5.2016.
• EAD (2 doc.) on post-tensioning kits for prestressing of structures (conversion from ETAG 013): pending Commission’s reaction.
• EAD on reactive coatings for fire protection of steel elements (conversion from ETAG 018 part 2): pending Commission’s reaction.
• EAD on fire protective renderings (conversion from ETAG 018 part 3): pending Commission’s reaction.
• EAD on fire protective boards (conversion from ETAG 018 part 4): pending Commission’s reaction.
• EAD on penetration seals (conversion from ETAG 026 part 2): pending Commission’s reaction.
• EAD on linear joint and gap seals (conversion from ETAG 026 part 3): still pending Commission’s reaction.
• EAD on mechanical fasteners for use in masonry (conversion from ETAG 029): pending Commission’s reaction.

At the 14^th meeting of the Technical Board, the conversion works from the second set were analysed (priority B + 2 additional priority C). One of these conversion works has already been published in the OJEU.

Detailed situation of the works:

• EAD on structural sealant glazing systems (conversion from ETAG 002 parts 1 and 3): works continue based on comments received.
• EAD on internal partition kits (conversion from ETAG 003): classes and threshold values from the ETAG have been analysed.
• EAD on external thermal insulation composite system (conversion from ETAG 004): the institute responsible for the working group has changed. TSUS institute from Slovakia replaces TZUS institute from the Czech Republic.
• EAD on plastic anchors for ETICS (conversion from ETAG 014): published in the OJEU, on 9.12.2016.
• EAD on three-dimensional nailing plates (conversion from ETAG 015): conversion works starting.
• EAD on plastic anchors (conversion from ETAG 020): conversion works in progress.
• EAD on falling rock protection kits (conversion from ETAG 027): a new expert has been designated for the working group.
• EAD on dowels for structural joints (conversion from ETAG 030): green light has been given to start the conversion works of this guideline. ITeC will be part of the working group.
• EAD on cladding kits (conversion from ETAG 034 parts 1 and 2): the third EAD draft will circulate among working group members in December.

The 2016/C 459/08 Commission Communication has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union-OJEU on 9 December. With this communication, the EAD list has been extended to include the following EADs:

These documents may be consulted on EOTA’s website (www.eota.eu), in section “Publications”.

The EAD 330232-00-0601, conversion from ETA Guideline 001 parts 1-4, has been published in the OJEU. From the publication date this EAD is to be used instead of the ETAG 001 to elaborate and issue European Technical Assessments-ETA. Likewise, EAD 330196-00-0604 on plastic anchors for fixing of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) with rendering, conversion from ETA Guideline 014, has also been published.

The EAD 330232-00-0601 covers mechanical fasteners which are frequently used to join structural and non-structural elements with concrete structural elements. The conversion work of this ETA Guideline has been long and laborious, as discussion has been necessary with the Commission regarding those aspects not foreseen in the Regulation and with industry to debate the effect of this EAD on the existing ETAs.

It should be noted that ETAG 001 is the guideline with the largest number of issued ETAs, many of which are also used in other continents. At present, there are around 1250 valid European Technical Approvals and European Technical Assessments from ETA Guideline 001.

EAD 330196-00-0604 covers plastic fixings for ETICS and for prefabricated units for external walls insulation (VETURE) kits, in concrete and masonry substrates.

According to 9.12.2016 data:

• European Technical Assessments-ETA requests: 3803
• European Technical Assessments-ETA issued: 2442

From 1 January to 21 November 840 ETA have been issued, according to data presented by the EOTA Secretariat at the 14^th meeting of the Technical Board.

• At the 14^th meeting of the Technical Board, the work plan for the ETA Guideline 030 conversion to an European Assessment Document-EAD on dowels for structural joints was approved.
  ITeC confirmed its participation in the working group. It has been the first European technical assessment body issuing an ETA for this kind of product.
• ITeC already has two European Assessment Documents-EAD published in the OJEU.
  At present, it is working on nine other EAD:
  • One of them has already been internally approved by EOTA; the corresponding European Technical Assessment-ETA has been issued; and the EAD has been sent to the publication phase.
  • Six have been internally approved by EOTA and the corresponding European Technical Assessment-ETA are being prepared.
  • The two remaining are at different elaboration phases.
• At present, ITeC has fifteen ETA in process.

From the publication date in the OJEU, all the ETAs are to be issued according to the published EAD, which replaces the ETA Guideline. What happens with the previously issued ETA? This is a more sensitive issue that may vary depending on national authorities and market surveillance.

Based on the discussions that have taken place at the EOTA Technical Board meetings:

1. If there are no relevant technical changes in the ETA Guideline to EAD conversion, i.e. the EAD is the result of applying the Regulation criteria and updating the format without introducing relevant technical changes, the use of the ETA and declaration of performance issued by the manufacturer possibly won’t be questioned. In this case, the ETA Guideline and the EAD are considered equivalent.
2. If there are relevant technical changes in the ETA Guideline to EAD conversion, such as new characteristics or evaluation method changes, the manufacturer is advised to apply for an ETA update and to adapt its declaration of performances to the updated ETA. By doing so, the manufacturer will not have problems with national authorities or market surveillance organisations.

• EOTA General Assembly, Brussels, November 9^th, 2016
• Stakeholder Advisory Group Conference, from EOTA, November 10^th, 2016
• Technical Board num. 14, Brussels, November 30^th and December 1^st, 2016

• Technical Board num. 15, Innsbruck, April 4^th and 5^th, 2017
• EOTA General Assembly, Brussels, May 9^th, 2017
• Technical Board num. 16, (place to be confirmed), June 21^th and 22^nd,2017