The most important point of the meeting on June 21 was the discussion on which option should be followed for the CPR review. Three options were proposed: improvement of its interpretation – without a legislative change -, revision, or even repealing the CPR.

The meeting participants did not support the idea of repealing it. However, some indicated that amendments to the Regulation and to its interpretation by the Commission are needed.

Likewise, the Commission has launched an on-line consultation until July 18^th, in order to facilitate the possibility to any person or organisation to comment on the review of the Regulation. This consultation is based on an “Inception Impact Assessment”

On the basis of several Commission reports and studies associated with the CPR – completed and in progress – the Commission has established a consultation strategy that includes technical platforms, interviews, a twelve-week on-line open public consultation and a validation workshop.

The main objective of this consultation is the construction industry, especially SMEs, also being taken into account: authorities, CEN, EOTA, notified bodies, market surveillance, as well as any related organisation, consumers, workers and citizens.

On June 8, 2017, the Commission’s Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/959 was published. It establishes two performance classifications in the EN 15101-1 framework, related to the above-mentioned products, which are:

• Classification for the settlement for horizontal applications, lofts and floors
• Classification for short-term water absorption

This delegated regulation is in force since 28 June 2017.

According to Regulation (UE) 305/2011, class means the range of levels, delimited by a minimum and a maximum value, of performance of a construction product.

The Delegated Regulation (UE) 2017/959 establishes 7 classes for settlement, according to the settlement %: SH0, SH5, SH10, SH15, SH20, SH25 and SH30. For the classification of short-term absorption, it stablishes 3 classes: WS1, WS2 and WS3.

On June 22, the last “Advisory Group on construction products” meeting took place in Brussels. A working document introduced as a delegated act proposal from the Commission was discussed, on the classification of performance of construction products in relation to their emissions of VOC into indoor air.

The assessment of these emissions -which can affect people’s health- is complex and there is a large number of related substances. The purpose of this classification is multiple: to simplify the expression of such performances and facilitate their incorporation into the manufacturer’s declaration of performances; to simplify the regulatory actions by Member State authorities; as well as to alleviate the administrative burden on manufacturers.

The classification included in the proposal comprises the performance of three essential characteristics: EU-LCI (Low Concentration of Interest) ratio, with two classes, A1 and A2; formaldehyde emissions, with three classes, F1, F2 and F3; and CMR substances emissions, with two classes, C1 and C2. See in the “frequently asked questions” section: what are CMR substances?

Regulation (UE) No. 305/2011 recognises two main alternatives to establish classes of performance related to the essential characteristics of construction products: through delegated acts of the Commission or through harmonised standards.

In the meeting, there was a long discussion on the Commission proposal for a delegated regulation. Representatives of the Member States expressed different opinions and comments on its content. Some States asked the Commission to study the possibility of introducing the “total VOC” parameter, to know the total impact of a product. The Commission indicated that a new proposal will be presented in September.

Mr. Sergio Vázquez has been named as the new EOTA Secretary General, replacing Mr. Peter Schellinck.

Mr. Sergio Vázquez is from Seville (Spain). He is technical architect, with a degree in business administration.

At the 16^th meeting of the EOTA Technical Board, the state of the conversion works from the first set (priority A) was analysed. Two of these conversion works have already been published in the OJEU.

• 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): new draft circulated for comments until 19.07.2017.
• 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): the Commission has requested the reason for the absence of dangerous substances assessment clauses; EOTA has sent the requested explanation.
• EAD on reactive coatings for fire protection of steel elements (conversion from ETAG 018 part 2): the Commission has requested the reason for the absence of dangerous substances assessment clauses; EOTA has sent the requested explanation.
• EAD on fire protective renderings (conversion from ETAG 018 part 3): the Commission has requested the reason for the absence of dangerous substances assessment clauses; EOTA has sent the requested explanation.
• EAD on fire protective boards (conversion from ETAG 018 part 4): the Commission has requested the reason for the absence of dangerous substances assessment clauses; EOTA has sent the requested explanation.
• EAD on penetration seals (conversion from ETAG 026 part 2): the Commission has requested the reason for the absence of dangerous substances assessment clauses; EOTA has sent the requested explanation.
• EAD on linear joint and gap seals (conversion from ETAG 026 part 3): the Commission has requested the reason for the absence of dangerous substances assessment clauses; EOTA has sent the requested explanation.
• EAD on mechanical fasteners for use in masonry (conversion from ETAG 029): both European associations that have participated in the works have already communicated their approval; the Commission has requested the reason for the absence of dangerous substances assessment clauses; EOTA has sent the requested explanation.

At the 16^th meeting of the Technical Board, the state of the conversion works from the second set was 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 new draft will be circulated for comments, after the summer.
• EAD on internal partition kits (conversion from ETAG 003): next meeting at the end of June to discuss a new draft.
• EAD on external thermal insulation composite system (conversion from ETAG 004): a new draft will be circulated for comments, at the end of July.
• 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): works on the EAD drafting will start after the summer.
• EAD on plastic anchors (conversion from ETAG 020): new draft in progress from comments received.
• EAD on falling rock protection kits (conversion from ETAG 027): a new draft will be circulated for comments, in early July.
• EAD on dowels for structural joints (conversion from ETAG 030): draft in progress, second meeting after the summer.
• EAD on cladding kits (conversion from ETAG 034 parts 1 and 2): EAD approved at EOTA level; it will be sent to the Commission for comments as soon as TR 038 is approved.

The 2017/C 183/03 Commission Communication has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union-OJEU on the 9th of June 2017. 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 “Our Publications”.

• Works led by ITeC on the ETAG 034 conversion on kits for external wall claddings to EAD have already been approved by EOTA. The resulting EAD proposal will shortly be sent to the Commission for comments, as soon as the Technical Report TR 038 is approved by EOTA. This TR defines test methods to assess durability of thin metallic composite panels, also covered by ETAG 034.
• ITeC has already published three European Assessment Documents-EAD in the OJEU. At present, it is working on eleven other EAD:
  • Two are at the publication phase, after issuing the first European Technical Assessment-ETA.
  • Four 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 18.04.2016 and 30.06.2017, ITeC has issued eight ETA and has sixteen under elaboration at present. The issued ETA are from the following ETAG and EAD (see EOTA’s website, under publications).
  • ETAG 003, on internal partition kits
    • ETA 11/0306 (extended version) M5 and FUTURA of IBER MODUL SA
  • ETAG 023, on prefabricated building units
    • ETA 16/0827 Constructive system SEH^® of SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & HOUSING SL
  • ETAG 034, on kits for external wall claddings
    • ETA 13/0241 Panel ΩZ of CIRCA SA
    • ETA 17/0355 Faveton^® SAH (ceramic tiles Ceram 20, Ceram 28 and Acqua 20) of FAVETON TERRACOTA SL
  • EAD 040007-00-1201, on thermal insulation products for buildings with radiant heat reflective components
    • ETA 17/0519 Reflective thermal insulations WÜRTH of Würth España SA
  • EAD 040287-00-0404, on kits for external thermal insulation system (ETICS) with panels as thermal insulation product and discontinuous claddings as exterior skin
    • ETA 17/0236 webertherm ceramic optima, webertherm ceramic plus of Saint-Gobain Weber Cemarksa SA
  • EAD 090020-00-0404, on kits for external wall claddings made of agglomerated stone
    • ETA 16/0519 (extended version) VANGUARD of ULMA Architectural Solutions
  • EAD 130005-00-0304, on solid wood slab element for use as structural element in buildings
    • ETA 11/0464 (extended version) EGO_CLT^TM of EGOIN SA

CMR substances are Carcinogenic, Mutagenic and Reprotoxic substances in accordance with Regulation No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging (CLP). They are a group of three types of hazardous substances with similar classifications. They can produce very serious impacts on health: carcinogenic substances can induce cancer or increase its incidence, mutagenic substances can induce genetic defects or increase its incidence, and Reprotoxic substances can induce or increase the incidence of adverse effects in the offspring and/or disrupt reproductive capacity.

CLP Regulation determines three classifications, one for each of the CMR substance, summarized in this table:

It also provides a similar classification criteria for mixtures.

Some examples of these substances are formaldehyde, certain phenolic components and synthetic fibres, which can be contained or emitted by wood based panels with resins, certain insulating panels or resilient, textile and laminated floorings.

In the European classification project under discussion for volatile organic compounds VOC, CMR substances are one of the essential characteristics of the proposed classification. This characteristic would be expressed through the same classes for the three CMR substances groups. Formaldehyde would be treated as a separate substance because of its relevance, thus as another essential characteristic. This European classification would allow the incorporation of CMR substances and formaldehyde information in the declaration of performances, through the use of classes.

• EOTA General Assembly, Brussels, May 9, 2017
• Technical Board num. 16, Brussels, June 21 and 22, 2017

• Technical Board num. 17, Naples, October 10 and 11, 2017
• EOTA Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting, Brussels, November 15, 2017
• EOTA General Assembly, Brussels, November 16, 2017
• Technical Board num. 18, Brussels, November 29 and 30, 2017