CE Marking and Declaration of Performance (Construction Products)

In the European Union, CE marking on a construction product shows that the manufacturer has declared its performance according to the EU's harmonised rules. For roofing products such as tiles, slates, membranes, metal sheet and underlays, CE marking is governed by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR).

The Construction Products Regulation

Regulation (EU) No 305/2011, dated 9 March 2011, replaced the earlier Construction Products Directive 89/106/EEC. Its aim is to harmonise the rules for marketing construction products in the EU and to create a common technical language for describing their performance. The CPR was revised in 2024, and the European Commission is managing a transition from the 2011 regulation to the new one, which adds elements such as a combined Declaration of Performance and Conformity and a digital product passport.

Declaration of Performance

When a product is covered by a harmonised European standard (hEN) or has a European Technical Assessment (ETA), the manufacturer must draw up a Declaration of Performance (DoP) before applying CE marking. The DoP states:

• the product type and intended use
• the harmonised standard or assessment document used
• the assessment system that applies
• the essential characteristics and the declared performance for at least one of them

For roofing, essential characteristics might include external fire performance (classified under EN 13501-5), reaction to fire, water tightness, tensile strength, frost resistance or wind uplift resistance, depending on the product standard. Examples of harmonised product standards include EN 1304 for clay tiles, EN 490 for concrete tiles and EN 544 for bitumen shingles.

CE marking is placed on the product, or on its packaging or accompanying documents where that is not possible.

Assessment systems (AVCP)

The CPR defines five systems for the assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP): 1+, 1, 2+, 3 and 4, in decreasing order of strictness. Under the stricter systems, a notified body audits the factory production control and issues a certificate that allows the manufacturer to issue the DoP. Under System 4, the manufacturer carries out the assessment itself.

Products without a harmonised standard

Innovative products can be CE marked through the European Assessment Document (EAD) and ETA route, coordinated by the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA).

What CE marking does not mean

CE marking is not a quality or approval mark. It shows that performance has been declared using common methods. Each country's building regulations then decide what performance is required for a given use. After Brexit, Great Britain introduced the UKCA mark for products placed on its market, with transitional recognition of CE marking.