Structural steels and Welding consumables for Construction Products

Structural steels and Welding consumables for Construction Products -

The German Ü-Mark will be replaced by CE-marking according to the CPD

Manufacturers of structural steel, welding consumables (filler metal) and those already approved in accordance with the German Federal Construction Codes now can apply for the conformity procedure leading to CE-marking according to the Construction Products Directive (CPD 89/106/EEC).

This Directive covers structural materials, construction elements and installations that will be built into permanent structural and civil buildings. Structural materials and construction elements that are permanently connected with the ground (e.g. prefabricated garages, houses) are also affected among others, structural steel and the welding consumables used.

The following new harmonized standards applicable for steels and welding consumables issued by the CEN (Committee for European Normation) in Brussels are now adopted by the individual EU member states. For structural steels the EN10025:2005 parts 1 to 3 are issued (parts 4 to 6 will follow later). For welding consumables the EN13479:2004 is applicable as part of a standard family shown in figure 1

Since the new European regulations are implemented, the CE-marking must appear on all applicable welding consumables being used in the EU/EFTA countries for structural and civil buildings, latest in October 2006.
For manufacturers already holding the German Ü-Mark, their certification will continue to be valid. Re-certification will not be necessary, only the adaptation of documents and marking.

For manufacturers wanting to apply newly to certification, the so-called "2+" conformity evaluation system is necessary, which includes a certification of the factory production control (FPC) by a notified body.

TÜV Rheinland Group is a notified body and therefore recognized as an authorized inspection and certification body. We can perform all necessary inspections at your site and process all required documents until final certification. For the initial certification of the FPC, a representative from TÜV-Rheinland will review the company's production and quality process in combination with a shop tour to verify the correct procedure and product performance. When our inspector submits a successful report, our headquarters in Cologne, Germany will issue the certificate.
This certification will continue by regular monitoring visits and approval of the manufacturer's FPC.

Overview of the procedure by which conformity of the products can be verified and demonstrated, the so‑called 2+ system, is stated below:

Factory's own production control (FPC)

-          initial testing of the product by the manufacturer or Inspection Body
           according to the applicable test standard
-          testing of samples taken from production by the manufacturer

Notified body certification process

-          conclusion of an inspection and certification contract between notified
           body and manufacturer
-          initial inspection of factory and FPC
-          issue of certificate of FPC
-          affixing of the CE-marking to the product by the manufacturer
-          continued surveillance, assessment and approval of FPC
-          continuation of certification of FPC

Structural steels and Welding consumables for Construction Products