At the last “Advisory Group on construction products” meeting, the Commission introduced this new version (doc. AG 007-05.1). Representatives of some Member States (Austria, Belgium, Slovakia, Finland, Norway) commented on this document, as well as EOTA. The Commission agreed to establish a March 31^st deadline for written comments.

Possible solutions for some of the issues discussed should be dealt with at the next CPR technical platform meeting.

From a legal point of view, it is not a mandatory document, but it represents the European Commission’s position that EOTA should take as a base for European Assessment Documents-EAD writing.

During the discussion, some points were highlighted:

• Kits need further discussion on certain topics
• Criteria to assess dangerous substances should be aligned with those applied by CEN in harmonized standards
• References made to Eurocodes in harmonized standards should be treated with the same approach

Lastly, the Commission was not in favour of the combination of harmonised specifications in the same product. If one or more characteristics in a harmonized standard are missing to cover a manufacturer’s needs, this will be solved with an EAD which covers the harmonized standard and the missing characteristics. “One product, one harmonized specification”, this is the Commission’s approach.

On March 6^th and 7^th, the meeting of Working Group PT1 “EOTA Technical Management” took place in ITeC. The most important point was the discussion on the possible modification of the Construction Products Regulation Annex II. This annex includes the procedure for the European Assessment Document-EAD adoption. The resulting document introduces relevant improvements to Annex II. The proposal was then sent to the pertinent EOTA organs for consideration and approval. Finally, it will be sent to the European Commission.

The EOTA Executive Board has already reviewed and approved the proposal, with some amendments. On April 4^th, the reviewed proposal was introduced at the EOTA Technical Board, where it was approved after discussion.

Since the Regulation implementation, EOTA has detected and collected a number of issues needing improvement in Annex II. For example, it only provides for an EAD development from a single manufacturer’s request. It does not foresee cases in which there can be an interested association or group of manufacturers, or cases in which EOTA is the one taking the initiative for an EAD development or update.

PT1 is a horizontal working group dealing with the technical subjects needing special attention within the framework of EOTA. It is made up of representatives of the technical assessment bodies, with experience in the EOTA activities. ITeC has a representative in this working group.

At the 15^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): first draft has been circulated and the comments received are being considered.
• EAD on mechanical fasteners for multiple use for non-structural applications (conversion from ETAG 001 part 6): conversion works following part 5.
• 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): The Commission requires a letter of approval from the two European associations which have participated in the works to publish the EAD. It seems that they will soon be available.

At the 15^th meeting of the Technical Board, the conversion works from the second set were analysed (priority B +3 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): a second draft was prepared and comments received will be analysed.
• EAD on internal partition kits (conversion from ETAG 003): first Working Group meeting on 29.03.2017; a first draft and comments received were analysed.
• EAD on external thermal insulation composite system (conversion from ETAG 004): new orientation of the works towards a conversion without technical changes; next draft before summer.
• 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 are starting; a first draft will be prepared when possible.
• EAD on plastic anchors (conversion from ETAG 020): first draft in circulation for comments.
• EAD on falling rock protection kits (conversion from ETAG 027): at the April Technical Board meeting, relevant issues of chapter 3 “Assessment and verification of constancy of performance”, under discussion in the Working Group, were clarified.
• EAD on dowels for structural joints (conversion from ETAG 030): first Working Group meeting on 31.05.2017
• EAD on cladding kits (conversion from ETAG 034 parts 1 and 2): working phase of the Working Group has concluded; the resulting draft has been circulated to all designated bodies for comments.

According to 20.04.2017 data:

• European Technical Assessments-ETA requests: 4496
• European Technical Assessments-ETA issued: 3028

Data provided by EOTA secretariat after the 15^th meeting of the Technical Board.

• With the EAD 090020-00-0404 Kits for external wall claddings made of agglomerated stone publication, the ITeC line of action on kits is reinforced. See article “The kit concept in construction products”.

• ITeC already has three European Assessment Documents-EAD published in the OJEU. At present, it is working on eleven other EAD:
  • Six have been internally approved by EOTA and the corresponding European Technical Assessment-ETA are being prepared.
  • The five remaining are at different elaboration phases.

• Between 10.12.2016 and 18.04.2017, ITeC has issued seven ETA and has eighteen under elaboration at present. The issued ETA are from the following ETAG and EAD (see EOTA’s website, under publications).
  • ETAG 028, on fire retardant products
    • ETA 16/0520 Protecta Interior Paint FR-1 de POLYSEAM LTD
    • ETA 16/0998 Graft Interior Paint FR-1 de POLYSEAM LTD
  • ETAG 026, Parts 1 and 2, on fire stopping and fire sealing products
    • ETA 16/0771 AF Multicollar de AF SYSTEMS SRL
    • ETA 16/0772 AF Collar C de AF SYSTEMS SRL
    • ETA 16/0891 AF Collar de AF SYSTEMS SRL
  • EAD 040456-00-1201, on in-situ formed loose fill thermal and/or acoustic insulation material made of animal fibres (not yet published at the OJEU)
    • ETA 10/0330 NITA-WOOL® de RMT INSULATION
  • EAD 040007-00-1201, on thermal insulation products for buildings with radiant heat reflective components (not yet published at the OJEU)
    • ETA 16/0046 AIR-BUR TERMIC® de BUR 2000 SA

The Construction Products Regulation confers to the Commission the power to adopt delegated acts in a number of matters listed in its Article 60, for the purposes of achieving the objectives of Regulation, in particular with regard to restrictions on making construction products available on the market.

The implementation of the CPR clearly demonstrates the need to adopt different kinds of delegated acts, which respond to stakeholder requests to address technical and regulatory developments concerning certain construction products.

According to the Commission’s roadmap, dated 27 February 2017, the most advanced delegated acts are:

• Delegated Regulation on the classification of frost resistance performance for clay tiles under EN 1304.
• Delegated Regulation on the classification of horizontal settlement and short term water absorption performance for in-situ formed loose fill cellulose (LFCI) thermal insulation products under EN 15101-1.
• Delegated Regulation on conditions for Classification Without Testing (CWT) of glued laminated timber products covered by the harmonised standard EN 14080 and structural finger jointed solid timber products covered by the harmonised standard EN 15497 with regard to their reaction to fire.
• Delegated Regulation on conditions for Classification Without Testing (CWT) of external renders and internal plasters based on organic binders covered by EN 15824 and rendering and plastering mortars covered by EN 998-1 with regard to their reaction to fire.

It is also worth noting the elaboration of:

• Delegated Regulation on the classification of performance of construction products in relation to their emissions of dangerous substances into indoor air.
• Delegated Regulation on the classification of resistance to fire performance of construction products.

• Technical Board num. 15, Innsbruck, April 4^th and 5^th, 2017

• EOTA General Assembly, Brussels, May 9^th, 2017
• Technical Board num. 16, Brussels, June 21^th and 22^th, 2017
• Technical Board num. 17, Naples, October 10^th and 11^th, 2017
• Technical Board num. 18, Brussels, November 29^th and 30^th, 2017