Based on the Commission Communication COM (2018) 764, commented in Report No. 19, the Commission is setting up the following measures to improve the European Assessment Documents-EAD:

1. All references to other harmonised technical specifications, test standards or other reference documents in an EAD, should be accompanied by date (year).
2. All the assessment methods will be included in the EAD’s text. No Technical Reports (TR) including assessment methods will be created or referred to in the new EADs.
3. The technical assessment bodies and the EOTA’s secretariat will apply a check list for the adopted EAD drafts, provided by the Commission.
4. Proliferation of similar EADs is to be avoided, as far as possible.

With these measures – some still under discussion – the Commission wishes to reinforce the EADs’ quality and precision.

The first improvement is also being considered at harmonised standards level. The remaining three only apply to EADs.

With the use of implementing decisions for the EADs publication, the Commission acquires a greater responsibility for the EADs content. The objective of these measures is to increase the legal certainty of these documents.

The first measure is at the final stage of discussion between the Commission and EOTA. It may have important consequences on the number of updates (EADs’ modifications) necessary for publication and on its feasibility, because it will mean a significant increase in the number of EADs published.

The second measure is already being applied to those EAD whose elaboration has already begun or is in progress. The third started its application after the last Technical Board meeting.

Finally, the fourth measure is conditioned by the application of Annex II of the Regulation “European Assessment Document Adoption Procedure”, which establishes that the EADs will be drawn up following a manufacturer’s ETA request, for a product and use without a harmonised standard or an applicable EAD. This fact means that similar EADs could exist, with confidentiality conditions that must be met during development and a working calendar that must be followed. Due to these conditions, the use of this measure could be limited. It seems that the Commission is studying another measure, after consulting the Advisory Group on Construction Products.

At present, there are eighteen EAD published based on ETA Guidelines, of which the modification of one has already been published. From now on, they will be identified by their reference number.

Published EAD relation:

• EAD 030351-00-0402, for systems of mechanically fastened flexible roof waterproofing sheets (conversion from ETA Guideline 006): published in the OJEU, on 29.05.2019.
• EAD 090062-00-0404, for kits for external wall claddings mechanically fixed (conversion from ETA Guideline 034 parts 1 and 2): published in the OJEU, on 16.11.2018.
• EADs 160004-00-0301 and 160027-00-0301, for kits of post-tensioning systems for prestressing of structures (conversion from ETA Guideline 013): EADs published in the OJEU, on 15.12.2017.
• EAD 210005-00-0505, for internal partition kits for use as non-loadbearing walls (conversion from ETA Guideline 003): EAD published in the OJEU, on 29.05.2019.
• EAD 220089-00-0401, for self-supporting translucent roof kits with covering made of plastic sheets -except from the ones made of glass (conversion from the ETA Guideline 010): published in the OJEU, on 29.05.2019.
• EAD 330076-00-0604, on metal injection anchors for use in masonry (conversion from ETA Guideline 029): published in the OJEU, on 15.12.2017.
• EAD 330196-01-0604, on plastic anchors made of virgin or non-virgin material for fixing of external thermal insulation systems with rendering (conversion from ETA Guideline 014): modification published in the OJEU, on 10.11.2017..
• EAD 330232-00-0601, on mechanical fasteners for use in concrete (conversion from ETA Guideline 001 parts 1 to 4): published in the OJEU, on 9.12.2016.
• EAD 330499-00-0601, on bonded fasteners for use in concrete (conversion from ETA Guideline 001 part 5): published in the OJEU, on 15.12.2017.
• EAD 330747-00-0601, on fasteners for use in concrete for redundant non-structural systems (conversion from ETA Guideline 001 part 6): published in the OJEU, on 10.08.2018.
• EAD 340006-00-0506, on prefabricated stairs kits (conversion from ETA Guideline 008): published in the OJEU, on 13.05.2016.
• EAD 340059-00-0106, on falling rock protection kits (conversion from ETA Guideline 027): published in the OJEU, on 16.11.2018.
• EAD 350140-00-1106, on renderings and renderings kits intended for fire resistant applications (conversion from ETA Guideline 018 part 3): published in the OJEU, on 15.12.2017.
• EAD 350141-00-1106, on linear joint and gap seals (conversion from ETA Guideline 026 part 3): published in the OJEU, on 15.12.2017.
• EAD 350142-00-1106, on fire protective board, slab and mat products and kits (conversion from ETA Guideline 018 part 4): published in the OJEU, on 15.12.2017.
• EAD 350402-00-1106, on reactive coatings for fire protection of steel elements (conversion from ETA Guideline 018 part 2): published in the OJEU, on 15.12.2017.
• EAD 350454-00-1104, on fire stopping and fire sealing products – penetration seals (conversion from ETA Guideline 026 part 2): published in the OJEU, on 15.12.2017.

All the published EAD can be consulted on the EOTA website under the heading “Our Publications“

At the Technical Board meeting no. 24, the current status of the fourteen conversions presently in progress was considered.

As indicated in previous Reports four different basic phases can be distinguished in the conversion process from the ETA Guidelines to EAD:

1^st Elaboration and adoption by the working group;
2^nd Adoption by EOTA – by the designated bodies;
3^rd Comments of the Commission – including their consideration;
4^th Publication – this may also include the comments of the Commission, in the final review of the EADs;

At this moment, all conversions are at the third or fourth phase.

Detailed situation of the conversions:

• EAD on structural sealant glazing systems (conversion from ETA Guideline 002 parts 1 and 3): sent to the Commission for the publication phase; pending Commission’s final review.
• EAD on external thermal insulation systems (conversion from ETA Guideline 004): the comments received at the Commission’s comments phase were addressed and the text of the three Technical Reports (TR) which the EAD refers to have been included, after their updating according to the Regulation criteria; soon the revised document will be sent to all designated bodies, for confirmation.
• EAD on liquid applied roof waterproofing kits (conversion from ETA Guideline 005): sent to Commission for the publication phase; pending Commission’s final review.
• EAD on timber frame prefabricated building kits (conversion from ETA Guideline 007): soon the reviewed document will be circulated to all designated bodies, taking into account the comments received during the Commission’s comments phase.
• EAD on non-loadbearing permanent shuttering systems based on hollow blocks or panels of insulating materials and concrete (conversion from ETA Guideline 009): Commission’s comments received in the EAD’s final review (publication phase) are being dealt with, including the incorporation of some testing methods not defined in the ETA Guideline.
• EAD on wood-based composite beams and pillars (conversion from ETA Guideline 011): sent to the Commission for the publication phase; pending Commission’s final review.
• EAD on three-dimensional nailing plates (conversion from ETA Guideline 015): sent to the Commission for the publication phase; pending Commission’s final review.
• EAD on prefabricated units for external wall insulation (conversion from ETA Guideline 017): See information in section ‘ITeC and the European Technical Assessment’.
• EAD on prefabricated wood-based panels bearing tensioned faces (conversion from ETA Guideline 019): in application of the new criteria established by the Commission, the text of the three Technical Reports (TR) which the EAD refers to must be included, after updating according to the Regulation criteria.
• EAD on plastic anchors (conversion from ETA Guideline 020): sent to the Commission for the publication phase; pending Commission’s final review.
• EAD on watertight covering kits for wet room floors and or walls (conversion from ETA Guideline 022 parts 1-3): sent to the Commission for the publication phase; pending Commission’s final review.
• EAD on fire retardant products (conversion from ETA Guideline 028): see information in section ‘ITeC and the European Technical Assessment’.
• EAD on connectors for structural joints (conversion from ETA Guideline 030): the comments received in the Commission’s comments phase were considered and the reviewed document has been circulated to all designated bodies, for confirmation.
• EAD on expansion joints for road bridges (conversion from ETA Guideline 032 parts 1-8): all EAD of the different parts in the conversion process have reached the EOTA adoption phase; comments were received at the Commission’s comment phase; on June 6 and 7, a working group meeting took place to deal with these comments and align the different parts.

• Conversion from the ETA Guideline for fire retardant products (ETAG 028):

Once the comments received in the Commission final review were dealt with, the revised document was sent for publication.

• Conversion from the ETA Guideline on prefabricated units for external wall insulation (ETAG 017) – work led by CSTB-ITeC

Once the comments received in the Commission final review were dealt with, the revised document was sent for the publication phase. Pending Commission’s final review.

• Conversion of the ETA Guideline for façade cladding kits (ETAG 034):

EAD 090062-00-0404 “Kits for external wall cladding mechanically fixed: reference published in the OJEU, dated on 16.11.2018, by means of the Communication 2018/C 417/07. The full EAD text can be consulted in the section “Our Publications” of the EOTA website.

The three EAD indicated hereafter were developed by ITeC within the EOTA framework and published in the OJEU, on 20.03.2019. They enable the elaboration of ETAs and the CE marking of the kits covered by their scope. ITeC is one of the most active institutes in the kits field, and particularly in that related to façades.

Below, the content of these three EAD is synthetically described. Information on all the EAD drawn up by ITeC can be consulted in the article “Thirteen European Assessment Documents drawn up by ITeC published in the OJEU”.

• EAD 040427-00-0404 Kits for external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) with mortar as thermal insulation product and renderings or discontinuous claddings as exterior skin

  It covers kits for ETICS with a thermal insulation mortar according to EN 998-1 and a continuous or discontinuous finish, as for example ceramic, natural stone or agglomerated stone cladding. These kits can be installed on external vertical walls of masonry or concrete, in new or existing buildings.

• 090119-00-0404 Kits for external wall claddings of mineral boards with renderings applied in situ

  It covers kits either for ventilated or non-ventilated façades, with mineral boards mechanically fixed. The mineral boards are coated in situ with a reinforced base coat, and a finishing coat. These kits can be installed on external walls of masonry, concrete, timber or metal frames, in new or existing buildings.

• 090120-00-0404 Kits for non-load bearing mineral board external wall systems

  It covers kits either for the complete building envelope in ventilated façades, or for the building envelope that supports the external finish in ventilated and non-ventilated façades. In the latter case, the external finish is not part of the kit. In both cases, the building envelope can be simple or double with or without intermediate board.

In addition to EAD 090062-00-0404, ITeC has twelve EAD published in the OJEU and is currently working on a further fourteen, two of which are EAD amendments:

• one has already been internally adopted by EOTA and the corresponding ETA is now under preparation
• the remaining thirteen are at different stages of elaboration

Note: at this point, the conversion works from the ETA Guidelines to EAD indicated in the first item of this section, are not considered.

Between 28.02.2019 and 10.06.2019, ITeC has issued three ETA and has a further forty-two in process. The three ETA issued correspond to the following two EAD and ETA Guideline (see the EOTA website, ‘Our Publications’ section).

• EAD 090062-00-0404, on kits for external wall claddings mechanically fixed.

  • ETA 13/0166 Tempio® FK-16 and FK-20 kits with continuous horizontal profiles or discontinuous rails, Tempio® FS-20, FS-24 and FS-30 kits with clips, from Cerámica Mayor SA.

• EAD 350140-00-1106, on renderings and rendering kits intended for fire resistant applications.

  • ETA 18/1087 Biofire from TRIA-Serviços, Materiais e Equipamentos SA.

• ETA Guideline 004, on external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) with rendering.

  • ETA 14/0365 webertherm from Saint-Gobain Weber CERMARKSA SA.

Article 4 (1) from the Regulation, on the declaration of performance, says:

“When a construction product is covered by a harmonised standard or conforms to a European Technical Assessment which has been issued for it, the manufacturer shall draw up a declaration of performance when such a product is placed on the market.”

To harmonised standard level, when a construction product is covered by a harmonised standard whose reference had been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), and the coexistent period [1] is finished, the manufacturer has the obligation to issue a declaration of performance and CE mark the product in accordance with this standard. This obligation applies to put a product on the EU market, but this does not apply to third countries.

The case of EADs is different. Although the references of EADs are published in the OJEU, the use of these documents is not mandatory.

If a product is not covered by a harmonised standard and the manufacturer wants to CE mark the product -although there is no obligation to do so- this can be done by using the EAD route. This route enables the elaboration of a European Technical Assessment (ETA) that will make the CE marking of the product possible. To do so, the manufacturer can apply to a technical assessment body for an ETA. However, once the ETA is issued, the manufacturer is obliged to issue the declaration of performance and CE mark the product when putting it on the EU market.

However, it should be highlighted that to enable the manufacturer to issue the declaration of performance, it will be necessary that:

• the EAD reference -which has been used as base for the ETA- had been published in the OJEU and,
• the corresponding certificate issued by a notified body is available, in the case of products with verification of constancy of performance systems 1+, 1 and 2+.

We can frequently find an ETA based on an EAD -adopted at EOTA level- whose reference has not yet been published in the OJEU (Commission implementing decision). This is possible in accordance with the EADs elaboration procedure. The Commission is working on reducing the time needed for the EADs publication.

Note
The fact that the EAD is not a mandatory instrument, does not mean that it is not useful and necessary. If a manufacturer wants to sell a product not covered by a harmonised standard in some countries of the European Union, this product will have to be submitted to the certification or assessment applying in each of these countries. The CE marking from an EAD reduces the effort and cost that means following the national route. Besides, it is necessary to highlight that in some countries, outside the European Union, the products with ETA and CE marking are well accepted.

[1] The coexistence period is indicated in the Commission’s Implementation Decision.

• General Assembly of the EOTA, Brussels, 24 April 2019
• Technical Board no. 24, Brussels, 4 and 5 June 2019

• Technical Board No. 25, Rome, 18 and 19 September 2019
• General Assembly of the EOTA, Brussels, 20 November 2019
• Technical Board No. 26, Brussels, 11 and 12 December 2019