The Construction Contact Point

Enterprise Directorate General

European Commission

Brussels14 October 2002

Albert Borschette Conference Centre 36, rue Froissart, B-1040 BRUXELLES

THE CONSTRUCTION CONTACT POINT (CCP) MEETING

EB 02/037C

Agenda

• Adoption of the Agenda

• Objectives and logistics of the CCP • Public Procurement Directive: state of play • Construction Products Directive: state of play • Competitiveness: work in progress • Construction matters in candidate and third countries • Proposal for the organisation, compilation and

distribution of information coming from industry.

• Miscellaneous


European Commission


Vicente Leoz

Construction Unit (G5)

Enterprise Directorate-General

Objectives and logistics of the CCP

Questions on...

Objectives and

logistics of the CCP


European Commission


Pamela Brumter

Internal Market Directorate-General

The Public Procurement DirectiveState of play

Questions on...

Public Procurement

Directive: state of play


European Commission


Francky Callewaert



An Internal Market for construction productsThe Construction Products Directive

The CPD history in a nutshell

June 1985: white paper on completing the internal market (§ 71 : removal of technical barriers in the construction field … should follow the new approach)

Dec. 1988 : the Construction Product Directive (89/106/CEE) is ratified and notified to Member States

1993 : Interpretative documents are published, (which establish links between mandates for standards or ETAG - on products - and essential requirements - concerning works -)

Since 1995 to 2000: Development of Attestation of Conformity Decisions and corresponding mandates to the specification writers

28 Oct. 1997: first ETA Guideline endorsed

1 April 2001: first harmonised standard allows CE marking

Where are we today

• cement;

• geo textiles;• fixed fire fighting systems;• gypsum products;• anchors;• structural sealant glazing systems;• thermal insulation products;•...

58 harmonised standards and 14 ETA Guidelines permit CE marking for:

And, are there also difficulties?

Series of typical starting up problems

Commission

MS Regulators

Specification writers

Notified Bodies

Manufactures

users

PRODUCTS WORKS

CPD + other relevant directives

VOLUNTARY

REGULATORY

Non-overlapping voluntaryproduct characteristics

and/or attestation schemes

National building regulations

Voluntary attestationsoutside of the

regulatory field

The 4 Quadrant scenario.

National building

regulations

PRODUCTS WORKS

CPD + other relevant directives

Optional marksAdditional marks

In many cases old national regulatory (or de facto mandatory) marks trying to maintain their position

Interpretation of CE marked products towards the national building regulations

Doubtful initiatives

REGULATORY

Extra

reqs.

Conclusion

Evolution is very positive -> experience with 1st product families

Various important issues need to be addressed:

• CEN promised 450 harmonised standards by the end of 2002; in reality we have 58 harmonised standards published in the OJ.

• EOTA has identified many problems also leading to slow progress

• Resistance from supporters of national conformity marks

• Equivalent application of tech.spec. by Notified Bodies

• Important need for training and CORRECT information

• ...

CE marking: the most solid system around

High quality European technical specifications

Covering all relevant product regulations in Europe

Notified Bodies are

•Assessed by the Member State

Annex 4 of the CPD, Guidance Paper A, Guidance Paper K

•Under continuous surveillance of the Member State

•Active in the Group of Notified Bodies

Market surveillance by the Member State

For more information

http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/construction

Questions on...

Construction Products Directive:

state of play


European Commission


Pascal BAR



The structural Eurocodes

Aim and objectives of Commission Services

• Common design methods expressed in a series of European Standards, to be used to:– design buildings and civil engineering works– prove their compliance with ER 1 (mechanical

resistance and stability) and aspects of ER 2 (safety in case of fire)

– determine the performance of structural components or kits, to be declared in CE marking

Aim and objectives of Commission Services

– EN Eurocodes are intended by EC to become the European means for the structural design of works

– Member States must accept the solutions designed according to EN Eurocodes as complying with ER 1 and aspects of 2 in tenders enquiry and public contracts for construction works (PPD)

– MS may also recognise also other means as being acceptable (e.g. National Codes)

Progress

EN Title NbPart

First PTdraft

Final PTdraft

voted Available

1990 Basis of design 1 1 11991 Actions 10 4 2 4 11992 Concrete struct. 4 2 21993 Steel struct. 18 12 61994 Steel and concret 3 2 11995 Timber struct. 3 1 21996 Masonry struct. 4 3 11997 Geotechnics 3 2 11998 Seismic 6 4 21999 Aluminium 5 5

57 35 17 5 2PT = Project Team

structural design of works

• Previous stage : ENVs contained “boxed values” (choice let open at National level and formulated in NAD)

• In EN Eurocodes, the boxed values are withdrawn– for values which do not relate to safety levels =

EN Eurocode gives a single value– for values which relate to safety = NDPs


• NDPs (Nationally Determined Parameters):– values and/or classes where alternatives are given

– open choice (+ recommended value) identified by a symbol

– country specific data (geographical, climatic)

– alternative procedures

• NDPs or sets of NDPs can be grouped in technical classes (differences in geographical, climatic conditions, ... art. 3.2 of the CPD)


• EN Eurocode Parts should contain the values (fixed as single value, or recommended value), classes or alternative methods (fully described)

• National Annex may contain the values, classes or method (NDPs) usable in the MS concerned when MS has fixed such a NDPs

Structural material and constituent products

• Materials hENs define the methods usable to determine the “declared values” (CE marking)

• Specification writers have to check• if all the properties necessary for the calculation are

subject to declared values

• if the formulation of such declared values are usable in the context of EN Eurocodes

Structural components and kits

• For structural products (components and kits), performances can be determined by calculation, using EN Eurocodes

• Three methods usable to provide the information declared in the documentation accompanying the CE marking– method 1 : detailing

– method 2 : characteristic values or design values

– method 3 : product designed for an intended use known in a work identified


Method 1 (GP 3.3.2)• CE marking and accompanying documents

provide the necessary elements to perform the calculation of construction work :– properties of materials and constituent– geometrical data (cross section)

• Calculations are made outside of CE marking on products (in the context of the design of work)


Method 2 (GP 3.3.3)

• CE marking provides characteristics values (in the sense of EN Eurocodes) as declared values of a component or kit, which is usable in the design of works, for mandated characteristics (linked to ER 1 and 2)

• characteristic value is independent of all NDPs


• Or, if relevant, the design value is given as declared value in CE marking, but they use NDPs to be determined. In this case:– NDPs or sets of NDPs are organized in limited

number of classes– or a single set of NDPs is fixed for one product

and an identified intended use• No choices of NDPs can be let open to national

level other than classes (GP 3.3.3.2 note 1)


Method 3 - GP 3.3.4

• For a product designed for an intended use known in a work identified CE marking provides the necessary elements which allows to perform the calculation (constituent and material properties, geometrical data) by reference to the design documents– client order

– drawing elaborated by the manufacturer

More information

• DG Enterprise web site– http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/construction

• Harmonised product standards CEN– www.cenorm.be/sectors/construction

• EOTA specifications– www.eota.be

Questions on...

The structural Eurocodes


European Commission


Juan Campos



Competitiveness: work in progress

WORK ACHIEVED

• study on effective innovation in the construction sector

• study on the use of quality systems in enterprises.• grant on benchmarking• 4 working groups set up. Final reports available :

• Information Technology

• Abnormally Low Tenders

• Education, Training and Image

• Sustainable Construction

WORK IN PROGRESS

• e-construction

• Sustainable Construction :• Whole Life Costing (WLC)

WG e-CONSTRUCTION

• Objective

– to evaluate the situation in e-construction on the basis of e-commerce technologies, e-collaboration and knowledge technologies, including e-learning, and to provide recommendations on how to develop and exploit it.

WG e-CONSTRUCTION

• Methodology– first year : specific discussion meetings

on• e-collaboration and project centres• e-learning and knowledge management• e-procurement and B2A• life cycle asset management• B2C and B2B• facilities management

- second year : final report

WG SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

• TASK GROUP 4 ON WHOLE LIFE COSTING

– Objective

• To draw up recommendations and guidelines on Whole Life Costing (WLC) of construction aimed at improving the sustainability of the built environment

TG WHOLE LIFE COSTING

• Methodology– first phase : brainstorming meetings on

• Eco-costs methodology• International initiative for a sustainable built

environment• Through life performance• Life cycle costs in a concession model• Real estate life costs

TG WHOLE LIFE COSTING

• Content of the Final Report :

– Definition and history of WLC

– Links to sustainable construction

– Methodology for calculating the WLC

– Impact on legislation, standards and procurement system

– Recommendations

COMPETITIVENESS :OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

- PRODAEC

- conclusions of the Council on sustainable development

- WTO Guidelines on EMAT

- energy benchmarking in buildings

INTERNET

•http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/construction/ index.htm

Questions on...

Competitiveness: work in progress


European Commission


Nicke Blomquist



Construction matters in candidate and third countries

External relations

• Enlargement • PECA• Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) • GATS 2000• Bilateral

External relations:

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Estonia

Hungary

Latvia

Lithuania

Malta

Poland

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Turkey

Candidate Countries:

External relations: Enlargement

• CPD transposition – National legislation / regulation / standards

• Full national CPD implementation– Infrastructure– Distribution of tasks between bodies– Procedures– Nominations / appointments of experts – Participation in European Co-operation


Market expectations

• Manufacturers

• Consulting Architects and Engineers

• Contractors

• Other actors


Methods and tools

• Regular visits to Candidate Countries – Exchange of information– Questionnaire

• Gatherings in Brussels - joint problems – Workshops / Expert consultations

• Conferences / Seminars

• Continuous dialogue


Protocol to the European Agreement

between

The European Community

and

Candidate Countries

on

Conformity Assessment and acceptance

of

Industrial Products

External relations: PECA


• Bilateral EU - CC

• Before accession

• Trade according to EU rules– Attestation of Conformity – CE-Marking

• Defined sectors – e.g. Construction products

PECA

PECA in force• Czech Republic (CPD?)• Hungary (CPD?)

PECA initialed• Estonia (CPD?)• Malta• Slovakia (CPD?)• Slovenia (CPD?)


PECA signed

•Latvia (CPD)

•Lithuania (CPD?)

PECA negotiations

•Bulgaria (CPD?)

•Poland (CPD?)

•Romania (CPD?)

• Australia

• Canada

• Japan

• New Zealand

• USA

• Switzerland (special)

• Israel (GLP)

External relations: Mutual Recognition Agreements

• Current state of play– No sector annexes on Construction products – General lack of European specifications

• Fields of activity– Metal anchors– Road barriers

External relations: Mutual Recognition Agreements

General Agreement on Trade in Services– The ultimate guarantee of open service markets

http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/index_en.htm

External relations: GATS 2000

http://gats-info.dg1.cec.eu.int

• Construction service– General construction works for buildings

– General construction works for civil engineering

– Installation and assembly work

– Building completion and finishing work

– Other

• Professional services– Architectural services

– Integrated engineering services

External relations: GATS 2000

• Japan– Adaptation of legislation and JIS standards to

performance based requirements

• China– Adaptation to European standards on

Construction Products

• Russia– Adaptation to European Road standards

External relations: Bilateral Activities

Questions on...

Construction matters in

candidate and

third countries


European Commission


Vicente Leoz



Organisation, compilation and distribution of information coming from Industry

Questions on...

organisation, compilation

and distribution

of information coming from industry.


European Commission


Vicente Leoz



Miscellaneous

Questions on...

Miscellaneous

Upcoming events

23 January 2003

Industry Information Meeting

24 January 2003

Workshop for Candidate countries on the implementation of the CPD

Documents

The Construction Contact Point