The European Polycarbonate Sheet Extruders association (EPSE) has emphasised the strength of its CE marking, and questioned unnecessary national certification schemes.
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EPSE emphasises strength of CE markings
The CE-marking of construction products, including the sheets produced by EPSE members, is regulated by the EU Construction Products Directive 305/2011 and its amendments.
EPSE members are currently CE-marking their sheets according to EN 16153 for multiwall polycarbonate sheets and EN 16240 for solid polycarbonate sheets.
The marking is affixed by the manufacturer to declare its conformity with the applicable legal requirements. More specifically, the marking indicates that the products meet EU safety, health or environmental requirements. It guarantees the free movement of safe products and is a key indicator of compliance with EU legislation. Also, by CE-marking, manufacturers assure that their products comply with the accompanying Declaration of Performance (DoP), which delivers information regarding essential characteristics. Thus, customers can rest assured they are buying polycarbonate sheets which are up to standard and meeting all necessary technical requirements.
Nevertheless, some countries, e.g. France and Germany, sometimes ask for additional marks or certificates, which leads to additional – and expensive – testing. EPSE members argue that this practice goes against the spirit of CE-marking, which stands for a harmonised and unified European market without any extra national requirements.
A recent EPSE press statement read: ‘national public authorities cannot and should not ask for any additional marks or certificates, let alone additional and expensive testing.’
