building material
building material testing and certification
A material permanently fixed to a building.
building material — conformity scope
For a construction product, conformity runs according to the system given by the harmonised standard: a declaration of performance (DoP) is prepared and the declared essential characteristics are announced. The system number determines factory production control and the level of third-party involvement.
The list below is the European Union framework. The same product falls under a different mark and approval regime in another market; Smart Service Finder shows that market's requirements when you select it.
Regulation
building material legislation that typically comes into play for
The following is the European Union framework and shows typical application. Which title actually applies depends on the class, intended use and components of the product; The scope is determined by examining the product.
Declaration of performance and CE marking for construction products. Most provisions apply from 8 January 2026; it progressively replaces (EU) 305/2011.
Continues to apply during the transition period for product groups where a new harmonised standard has not been published.
Reaction-to-fire class for construction products; a mandatory item of the declaration of performance.
Registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals; SVHC notification.
A deforestation-free supply declaration for wood and derived construction materials.
What is required?
Each item links to the relevant service page: the legislation entry to the certification scheme, the test family to the laboratory page, and the mark to the market page.
European Union — required mark
3- CE — European UnionThe umbrella for entering the EU market; all regulations applicable to the product are met.
- CPR — European UnionConstruction Products Regulation — Declaration of Performance (DoP) is mandatory.
- REACH — European UnionChemical legislation — not covered by CE, but affects almost all products.
Required legislation
2- Construction Products Regulation (CPR)Based on a declaration of performance
- REACH
Required tests
4- Construction Materials Testing
- Fire TestingEN 13501 classification
- Mechanical Testing
- Environmental & Climatic TestingFreeze-thaw and ageing
Required certificates
2- CPR (CE) Certification
- Factory production control (FPC)Notified body involvement per the AVCP system
What must be in the technical file
6- Declaration of performance (DoP)
- Initial type test reports (ITT)
- Factory production control manual
- CE label and declared performance table
- Hazardous substance declaration
- Details of the authorised representative or importer established in the EU
How does the process work?
The flow below is a general order independent of product type; timing and acceptance criteria are determined by the standard the product falls under.
1Defining the scope
It is determined which legislation the product falls under based on its technical characteristics and intended use.
2Testing and evaluation
Tests are planned for the applicable headings; results are evaluated according to the relevant standards.
3Technical file
Design, production and test records are compiled in the technical file, accompanied by a risk assessment.
4Declaration or certificate
Depending on the product group, the manufacturer's declaration is prepared or third-party certification is carried out.
building material which market is it going to?
Who bears the obligation, where the test will be performed, and what customs will require all vary by market.
What changes depending on the market?
Same product, different regimen
- European UnionThe CE mark is based on the declaration of performance (DoP); the declaration is built on the essential characteristics in the product group's harmonised technical specification. The first climate-impact requirements apply from 8 January 2026.
- United KingdomThe UKCA regime carries the same technical requirements into its own legislation; CE marking is recognised indefinitely for many product groups.
- United StatesThere is no single federal regime; the IBC/IRC building codes, ICC-ES evaluation reports and ASTM standards are the basis.
building material — let's work out the scope together
Share the product's technical characteristics; let us tell you in writing which headings apply to your scope and which tests are required.
This result is a starting roadmap, not a conformity assessment. Which legislation a product falls under depends on its technical characteristics, intended use and user group; it is only finalised by examining the product. You may have an obligation not shown in the list, and an item shown here may not apply to your product.