Construction Products Regulation
Construction Products Regulation (the CPR) is to ensure reliable information on construction products in relation to their performances. This is achieved by providing a “common technical language", offering uniform assessment methods of the performance of construction products.
These methods have been compiled in harmonised European standards (hEN) and European Assessment Documents (EAD). This common technical language is to be applied by:
- the manufacturers when declaring the performance of their products, but also by
- the authorities of Member States when specifying requirements for them, and by
- their users (architects, engineers, constructors…) when choosing the products most suitable for their intended use in construction works.
The Construction Products Regulation (305/2011/EU - CPR) 
which repeals the Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC – CPD) , was adopted on 9 March 2011.
As part of the Better Regulation initiative, it intends to bring about
- Clarification of the basic concepts and of the use of CE marking;
- Simplification of the procedures, so as to reduce the costs incurred by enterprises, in particular SMEs; and
- increased credibility for the whole system.
The CPR has already entered into force. However, the main parts of its substantial Articles shall apply first from 1 July 2013. Until then, the CPD therefore remains in application. The already applicable parts of the CPR focus on the notification and designation processes of the Notified Bodies (NB) and the Technical Assessment Bodies (TAB).
