Innovative Construction Product
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What is understood by "innovation"?
Innovation is the process of creating or modifying a product and then introducing it to the market. Within the construction sector, innovation can encompass the introduction of new materials, construction systems, efficient construction techniques, or sustainable solutions that minimise the environmental impact of projects.
What is an innovative construction product?
However, an innovative construction product does not necessarily have to include the aforementioned characteristics. Instead, it may refer to a product that lacks a harmonised European standard.
Harmonised standards are standards adopted by the European Standardization Organizations (in this case, CEN), based on requests submitted by the Commission, to establish rules for assessing performance related to essential characteristics relevant to the construction codes of the Member States.
The distinctive feature of a harmonised standard for a construction product lies in its ability to allow the manufacturer to issue a Declaration of Performance and subsequently affix the CE marking to the product. Therefore, in the construction products market, an innovative product is defined as not covered or fully covered by a harmonised European standard (hEN).
How to identify an innovative product?
An innovative construction product differs in some aspects from its "conventional" counterpart if the latter exists. This may be due to differences in the general product description: in the materials used, the elements composing it, the manufacturing method, or the intended use of the product. Occasionally, it may also be due to differences in the essential characteristics concerning those considered in the hEN of the "conventional" product.
How is an innovative product certified?
If there is no harmonised standard, does this mean that innovative construction products cannot be CE-marked? According to the Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011, when a manufacturer wishes to affix the CE marking to a product that does not have a hEN, it will be necessary to obtain a European Technical Assessment (ETA) beforehand. These assessments are issued in accordance with the European Assessment Documents (EADs), developed by the Technical Assessment Bodies (TABs) that are part of the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA).
Combined with the ETA, the EAD offers manufacturers a voluntary route to obtain the CE marking, allowing them to market their products freely throughout the European Economic Area, including Switzerland.
Risks of misidentifying innovative construction products
Identifying an innovative construction product can be a complex and non-trivial task, especially for those unfamiliar with the construction market or the Construction Products Regulation. However, it is surprising, and at the same time concerning, to observe how some supposed "experts in innovative products", even within some of the Technical Assessment Bodies, have difficulties in discerning an innovative product.
Unfortunately, there are situations in which manufacturers, incorrectly advised by Notified Bodies or Technical Assessment Bodies, certify their products based on a hEN that clearly does not apply to their product. These errors can not only lead to non-compliance with the Construction Products Regulation but also expose the manufacturer to the risk of facing a lawsuit from competitors. This would not only have legal consequences but could also affect the reputation and credibility of the company in the market. Therefore, it is crucial to choose both the NB and the TAB appropriately, ensuring that they have the relevant experience and knowledge for the specific innovative product, in order to carry out the certification work correctly and accurately.