Do you know…

• Architects, interior designers, structural and civil engineers have a mandatory obligation to use CE Marked products
• The CE Marking legislation requires a product to have both a Declaration of Performance (DoP) and CE certificate
• The CE Marking of natural stone building products has been legally required since July 2013
• Natural stone building products must be CE marked before they are placed on sale in the European Economic Area (EEA), including the UK.

Stone Federation has launched a CE Marking Awareness Campaign, a year to the day after the Government made CE marking of most products used in construction (including many masonry elements) compulsory.

From 1 July 2013 it has been a legal obligation for construction products sold in Europe to have both a Declaration of Performance (DoP) and to be CE marked. It is part of Building Regulations.

It is in everyone’s interests to use CE marked products – and it will become especially relevant in the case of disputes, which is when the use of products that are not marked are most likely to come to light.

Stone Federation has noticed that many architects, designers, specifiers, clients and local authorities have not been properly informed about the implications of the CE Marking legislation.

Hence the campaign now, with the aim firstly to educate and then to encourage the construction industry, and particularly its specifiers, to ensure it is operating within the law when buying and using stone construction products.

As part of the campaign, the Federation has created a range of resources that are available free to its Members and to architects, designers, specifiers, and local authorities.

Included are:

• CE Marking Guide Book – created by Federation technical experts, this document explains the legislation and the implications it has for the industry.
• CE Marking Seminar – Hear from the experts at first hand and have your specific queries answered.
• Technical Advice Service – The Federation technical team is on hand to answer emailed CE marking questions.

Links are provided on the Federation website.

Jane Buxey, Stone Federation Chief Executive, says: “Our Members have invested time and money in ensuring that their products are CE compliant.

“The aim of the CE Marking Awareness Campaign is to ensure that this investment doesn’t go to waste by creating a widespread awareness in the industry that this is not an optional extra but a legal requirement.”