Stone federation Great Britain’s Quarry Forum gives its opinion on issues relating to the stone industry from the point of view of companies that extract dimensional stone from opencast and underground quarries and mines.

Did you know CE Marking of many natural stone building products has been a legal requirement since July 2013?

Did you know architects, interior designers and structural and civil engineers have a mandatory obligation to use CE marked products where a European standard exists?

Or that it is law that natural stone products for which a European standard exists must be CE marked before they are placed on the market in the European Economic Area?

Or that CE Marking legislation requires a product to have both a CE Certificate and a Declaration of Performance?

If you answered 'no' to any of these questions you are by no means alone.

CE marking applies to many product ranges including most building materials, from radios to motors. In most sectors, manufacturers have simply complied, producing and testing their products as required.

But on 1 July last year, Stone Federation launched a CE marking awareness campaign when it realised the majority of the stone industry was ill-informed about CE Marking legislation and its implications.

In short, CE Marking means it is law that stone products for which a European standard is available must be produced and tested to that standard, carry a Declaration of Performance (DoP) and be CE marked.

All of which many natural stone firms are completely ignoring – and so far without any comeuppance.

But the data on CE Certificates and DoPs provide important information that helps ensure the correct stone is selected for a project.

The four pieces of general information required for CE marking a natural stone product are:

l the traditional name of the stone

l its petrological family

l its typical colour

l its place of origin.

This information must be displayed on the CE Certificate and DoP. It is vital to the correct and skilful use of the stones.

There is a myth that the CE legislation is a minefield to manoeuvre. It is not. And designers should be protecting themselves by insisting on seeing CE certificates and DoPs on all the stone they specify.

When a company prepares a CE certificate and DoP, it is stating that the stone is suitable for the application for which the product has been made.

Calculations for the thickness of the cladding or paving, or the support structure for the cladding or wall lining panels can be made with confidence if the technical properties of the selected stones are known.

Sometimes an independent stone consultant, the stone contractor or the stone quarrying / mining company supplying the stone might be able to assist with this calculation.

Stone Federation offers a range of free CE marking resources to architects, designers and its Members. To access these, go to bit.ly/SFGB-CE.

Further information is available from Stone Federation publications including:

• A guide to BS 8298
• Code of practice for the design and installation of internal flooring.