|
Building Research Institute |
Polish Permanent Representative to the EU has notified Building Research Institute (ITB) to the European Commission and all other Member States of European Union as a body authorised to perform tasks in two areas provided for by the Construction Products Directive (CPD):
Notification in the first case, dated form 19 April 2004, performed by Polish authorities according to the Article 10 of CPD, is not connected with assigning any number to a body designated to grant European Technical Approvals. Notification officially confirms competence of ITB to assess fitness for intended use of the innovative construction products and its impartiality. It provides also ITB status of a full member of European Organisation of Technical Approvals (EOTA).
Since May 2004 ITB can grant European Technical Approvals, which - like harmonised standards - are reference documents in conformity assessment procedures, allowing for CE marking of construction products.
Second notification, dated from 14 June 2004, performed according to the Article 18 of CPD was connected with assigning ITB registration number 1488, unique among bodies notified under all New Approach Directives. This notification is the official confirmation of ITB competence in the range of tasks which are designated to be carried out by the third, independent party within the framework of CPD. Tasks performed as an European notified body cover following activities:
Notification form 14 June 2004 concerns construction products covered by 79 harmonised European Standards and 15 European Technical Approval Guidelines. This scope of notification can be found in the enclosed file /.
Information on both notifications can be found in the data base run by the European Commission for the bodies notified in the framework of CPD: NANDO - CPD.
ITB disseminates information concerned with its activities as an European approval body and European notified body in the form of printed materials, on the web and also during conferences, symposia and training seminars, addressed to the manufacturers of construction products and other stakeholders in the area of construction.
General information . Building Research Institute in Warsaw has been active in the field of certification in building sector since 1995, when we obtained an official confirmation of competence according to PN-EN 45011 from the national accreditation institution (PCA). Initially it covered only certification of construction products with the number of issued certificates growing from 12 in the year of 1995 to approx. 280 in 2002. Since the year 2000 we have started certification of quality management systems and received PCA confirmation of competence according to PN-EN 45012. Currently, there are 15 licensed EOQ auditors and several dozen of technical experts working at Building Research Institute. Our range of activity includes certification of a large number of construction products and quality management systems according to the following standards: PN-EN ISO 9001, PN-EN 14001 and PN-N 18001.
The range of ITB notification covers:
Certificates in numbers. So far, ITB as an European Notified Body, has issued 11 certificates including 9 Factory Production Control certificates and 2 EC Certificates for construction products; 4 further certification processes leading to CE marking are under procedure (2 - FPC and 2 - products).
Training seminars for Polish manufacturers. ITB organises training seminars on requirements and rules of attestation of conformity for products according to harmonised standards under the CPD for extended number of manufacturers. During these training seminars, the duties of manufacturers and notified bodies given in procedures included in harmonised standards are also explained. Our experience shows, that the key requirements on factory production control (FPC) are of particular interest for Polish manufacturers.
General information . Group of Testing Laboratories of Building Research Institute exists since 1992. In January 1995 laboratories of the group obtained accreditation of Polish Centre for Testing and Accreditation (PCBC). Currently the Group of Testing Laboratories comprising 14 laboratories possesses accreditation of the Polish Centre for Accreditation (accreditation certificate No AB 023). The Group of Testing Laboratories meets requirements of the standard PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2001/Ap1 "General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories" , what was confirmed by the audit of PCA in October 2002. Within the Group of Testing Laboratories 1298 test methods are accredited , including 394 test methods according to international standards (data valid until last audit in November 2004). The following laboratories are included in the Group of Testing Laboratories of ITB:
Measuring Laboratory (LPO) is also a part of the Group of Testing Laboratories, responsible for supervising testing equipment used by the whole Group.
Scope of notification . The Group of Testing Laboratories is notified in many areas connected with harmonised standards and EOTA European Technical Approval Guidelines and reflected in details in the table with current scope of notification. An audit extending scope of the accreditation in the laboratories LB, LD, LL, LH, LO, LT, LOK and also in the supervision of the Group of Testing Laboratories took place on 16-18 November 2004. It allowed to widen scope of accreditation by ca. 260 new test methods and update 120 test methods (revision of standards).
International tests of proficiency . In the framework of the testing quality control laboratories each year participate in international tests of proficiency, performed according to ISO/IEC Guide 43-1. In 2004 laboratories participated, among others, in following tests:
ITB, representing Polish Notified Bodies in the Advisory Group of Notified Bodies, organises also national platform of notified bodies in a form of Mirror group. The first formal meeting took place in September 2004, with representatives of 10 notified bodies present. This meeting was dedicated to development of common position in relation to documents to be considered by AG GNB. Comments - as an opinion of all Polish Notified Bodies was sent in a written form in due time and all remarks were taken on board during the meeting. All Polish notified bodies can obtain all Advisory Group documents through ITB. Next meeting is planned for February 2005, allowing to establish position of Polish Notified Bodies for the next meeting of AG GNB.
Since 1998 Building Research Institute (ITB) - as an observer - has participated in European Organisation for Technical Approvals activities on various EOTA's levels.
Since 16 April 2004 ITB has become a full member of EOTA, being notified and authorized to act as an European approval body by the Ordinance of Ministry of Infrastructure of 2 nd December 2002 on the designation of Polish bodies entitled to issue European Technical Approvals, a scope of these approvals and procedure of ETA granting, withdrawal and amendment (Official Journal of Polish Republic N o 209/2002, pos. 1780), which was changed to the Ordinance of Ministry of Infrastructure of 14 th October 2004 on European Technical Approvals and Polish bodies entitled to issue European technical approvals (Official Journal of Polish Republic N o 237/2004, pos. 2375).
ITB has been authorised as the only Polish approval body able to issue European Technical Approvals (ETAs) by the Polish authorities, according to the rules referenced above.
ETA procedures. For the time being there have been five applications for issuing ETA placed in Technical Approvals Department of ITB. These applications concern:
In case of four applications we have sent the confirmation of the receipt of the application to the manufacturers and we informed EOTA Secretariat about running procedures. In case of the fifth application concerning roof elements made of polystyrene we have to send the Request through EOTA to European Commission in order to obtain authorisation to issue European Technical Approval without Guideline for European Technical Approval (ETAG).
The procedure of issuing European Technical Approvals applied in ITB is exactly compatible with EOTA's rules established in the decision 94/23/EC " Common Procedural Rules for Requesting, Preparing and Granting of European Technical Approvals (CPR) ", published in the Official Journal of the European Commission, in 1994.
Training activities. Building Research Institute is also involved in activities aiming at dissemination of information on:
In this area of activities ITB organizes seminars, trainings and lectures for the
manufacturers, industry representatives and the representatives of building market control body.
Moreover, there has been prepared the special volume of a guide explaining ITB activities in EOTA and procedures of issuing ETAs together with the following documents (in Polish and English language):
ITB representatives participate on various levels in the works of EOTA. The representative of Technical Approvals Department of ITB takes part in the works of Technical Board of EOTA. In this area of activities, apart from attending the Technical Board meetings, we prepare comments on the drafts of:
Ten representatives from six different Research Departments of ITB (Construction and Strength Testing, Durability and Protection of Buildings, Fire Testing, Lightweight Partitions and Glazing, New Finishing Works and Thermal Physics) participate as members or corresponding members in EOTA Working Groups , established for development of European Technical Approval Guidelines for:
ITB experts designated to participate in EOTA Project Teams were active in areas covered by PT4 - Fire related issues and PT 9 - Dangerous substances.
Books. ITB continues to issue a series "EU documents concerning construction" with following volumes printed or prepared to print in 2004:
Volume 16 |
"Dangerous substances in construction products" (GP H with commentary) |
Volume 17 |
"Application and use of Eurocodes" (GP L with commentary) |
Volume 18 |
"Standards harmonised with CPD" (GP J with commentary) |
Volume 19 |
"Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of buildings" (Translation with a commentary) - in preparation for print |
Volume 20 |
"Rules concerning CE marking" (New version of GP D with commentary) - in preparation for print |
Website service . In 2004 ITB established new web service "EU documents" from which all official documents of SCC, EOTA and GNB may be downloaded. It contains also working documents which are available during the commenting period for all interested parties. Service is updated several times a month and contains also a current list of harmonised standards and publications of ITB experts.
Translation of European Technical Approval Guielines . ITB is involved in translation of EOTA Guidelines and their publication. Almost all endorsed ETAGs are already translated, up to ETAG 018 Part 4. Translations are also available on ITB website in the special service "EU Documents", from which they can be downloaded both in English and Polish version. ITB disseminates information on EOTA activities at numerous seminars and conferences. Special event in November 2004 was dedicated to the role of ETAGs.