A declaration of love (almost)
In a recent post on LinkedIn, I reported that the amount of information glass manufacturers and processers will need to report in a Declaration of Performance (DoP) is anticipated to increase with the forthcoming revision of the EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR).? I don’t want to give the impression that I’m critical of these DoPs; on the contrary, I love these declarations (well, almost).? Perhaps even more than being an important legal requirement, they are also (whisper it) useful.? In fact, they have taken on a life beyond their intended use.
Under the current CPR, a manufacturer draws up a DoP when a product covered by a harmonised European Norm – sometimes referred to as the product standard - or otherwise conforming to a European Technical Assessment is placed on the market.? The CE marking should not be affixed to the product (or its packaging or accompanying documents) unless a DoP has been drawn up.
In terms of wider application, we have seen the DoP be used as a ‘de facto’ technical datasheet.? For glass in building, the declaration can display as many as 13 essential characteristics (dependent upon the product and end use), from reaction to fire through pendulum body impact resistance to thermal transmittance.? As reported previously, this number will increase with the new CPR, notably with the addition of environmental indicators.? As many of these characteristics can be important for project specifications, the declaration shares much of the information found in a traditional technical datasheet.? It also provides details about the type and thickness of glass, the relevant product standard and intended uses.
Despite it having legal status only in the EU, we have witnessed the DoP being requested for projects as far afield as the Middle East and South America.? It was a surprise to me when I received my first request from the former to provide a DoP for one of our Pilkington Suncool? range of high performance solar control glass.? At first, I thought it might be due to a European architect operating in the United Arab Emirates and bringing with them their knowledge and practices learned in the EU.? However, it seems the DoP is valued for the clear and precise information it provides.? As well as indicating key performance characteristics and the standard to which the product conforms, importantly, it is signed by an appropriate senior representative of the manufacturer. ?This chimes well with the more general requests for signatures and company stamps on other documents.?
It also recognised that the DoP is underpinned by a formal process of assessment and verification of constancy of performance with a level of involvement of an independent third party or Notified Body.? Type Testing reports, for example to EN 1096-2 or -3 for coated glass, are also commonly accepted for projects in the Middle East.
So, despite the occasional grumbles within industry, there is a lot of love for these declarations and not only in Europe.? Let’s see if the love continues as the DoP expands to accommodate the requirements of the new CPR.
To access the DoP for any Pilkington product, please click on the link below:
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