Centexbel Scientific and Technical centre of the Belgian Textile Industry General certification regulations Construction products 22/03/17 blz. 1 / 8
Contents 1 Introduction 3 2 Object 3 3 Definitions 3 4 General 5 5 Certification procedure 5 5.1 Certification application 5 5.2 The application and first verification 5 5.3 Initial type examination 5 5.4 Initial FPC audit 5 5.5 Follow-up FPC-audit 6 5.6 Certification decision 6 5.7 Certification report 7 6 Obligations of the manufacturer 7 7 Sanctions in the event of infringement 7 8 Appeal procedure 7 9 Confidentiality 8 10 Impartiality 8 22/03/17 blz. 2 / 8
1 Introduction The European Construction Products Regulation (CPR) states that CE-marking is mandatory for a number of textile products used in construction. With this CE-marking, the manufacturer attests that the product is in conformity with the applicable technical harmonized specifications. The requirements with which these products have to comply are described in the corresponding harmonized standards. There are different systems for attestation: 1 : Product certification with type examination, initial and follow-up FPC audits 3 : Type examination 4 : Declaration by the manufacturer System 1 necessitates the intervention of a notified body that will issue a certificate of constancy of performance. Centexbel is a notified body with number 0493. 2 Object This document specifies the procedures and rules applied by Centexbel, as a notified body, in processing a certification application for products according to the construction products regulation (CPR305/2011). The harmonized standards for which Centexbel is recognized are described on the NANDO website: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newapproach/nando/index.cfm?fuseaction=notifiedbody.notifi edbody&refe_cd=epos_43815 In the framework of CE-marking in conformity with the standards for which CENTEXBEL is a notified body, CENTEXBEL is committed to perform the initial production control in the factory as well as to monitor the defined product families in respect of the certificates of constancy of performance describing the burning behaviour of the product families. 3 Definitions Applicant Juridical entity applying for the certificate of a product and that engages itself to maintain this conformity. This juridical entity is usually the manufacturer or his legal representative. CE-marking: CPR: a declaration that the product is in conformity with the essential requirements concerning safety environment and health and that it is therefore promoting the free trade within the European Union. Construction Products Regulation 305/2011 22/03/17 blz. 3 / 8
Harmonized standard: European standard established under the mandate of the European Commission Notified body: Accredited independent institute for testing, auditing and certification. CENTEXBEL is a notified body. Initial FPC-audit: Initial control performed by the notified body within the company. It allows to identify and document the production process and serves as the basis of subsequent follow-up audits of the production process Follow-up FPC-audit: Control performed by the notified body within the company to guarantee the conformity with the technical requirements in respect of the initial FPC-audit. FPC-auditor: Collaborator of CENTEXBEL performing the FPC-audits. Product certifier: Collaborator of CENTEXBEL assessing the conformity of a product on the basis of a technical file. Product family(ies): is a group of products defined on the basis of the production method and construction characteristics. Declaration of of performance: declaration drafted by the manufacturer that states that the product or product group complies with the essential requirements and that it applies to the attestation of all systems. Certificate of constancy of performance: CWFT: declaration by the Notified Body stating that the product or product group complies with the essential requirements. Only applicable for system 1. Classified without further testing ; products that, within the imposed criteria, are classified automatically without testing. Systems of assessment and verification of constancy of performance: System 1: Product of product group treated with a flame retardant product and belonging to fire class A1 fl, A2 fl, B fl or C fl. System 2: not applicable System 3: Product of product group not belonging to attestation system 1 or 4. System 4: Product of product group with fire class E fl (within the CWFT-criteria) or F fl (no performance determined), needing no burning behaviour report. 22/03/17 blz. 4 / 8
4 General The aim of product certification is to verify the conformity of a product with the requirements of the Construction Products Regulation and to attest this conformity. 5 Certification procedure 5.1 Certification application If a company desires to certify a product it will contact CENTEXBEL. This preliminary phase mainly consists of providing general information on the procedure, including: the definition of the product families on the basis of the product method and product characteristics. the required documents that have to be put at the disposal of CENTEXBEL. The signing of a mutual agreement establishing the rights and obligations of both parties. 5.2 The application and first verification In this phase, the applicant submits an application for certification to CENTEXBEL and declares to accept the price offer. The product certifier of CENTEXBEL evaluates whether the information provided by the company is complete and asks, if necessary, complementary information to complement the file. The applicant provides the necessary documents with identification and description of the defined product families. 5.3 Initial type examination Tests have to be run on samples that are part of the defined product families and that can be indicated as extremes within the product family, sampling has to be performed by Centexbel. If the test results correspond with the technical requirements described in the standard, the product certifier decides to proceed to an initial FPC audit. 5.4 Initial FPC audit After consultation with the applicant, the initial FPC audit takes place. A FPC checklist is used as a manual, based on the directives established by the Group of Notified Bodies for the Construction Products Regulation 305/2011 Check list for inspection and surveillance of FPC. The FPC auditor drafts an initial report that he hands over to the application and the product certifier. If no immediate corrective action is required, the product certifier will submit a proposal of decision concerning the product families in question to the certification manager of Centexbel. 22/03/17 blz. 5 / 8
5.5 Follow-up FPC-audit Every year, following the initial audit, Centexbel will contact the certificate holder to perform a follow-up audit to monitor the production process of the qualities within these product families. The audit has to take place at least three months before the certificate expires. As a manual for this audit the FPC checklist is used, based on the directives established by the Group of Notified Bodies for the Construction Products Regulation 305/2011 Check list for inspection and surveillance of FPC. The FPC auditor drafts a follow-up audit report that he will hand over to the applicant and the product certifier. During the audit it is verified whether there are any reports that have expired, whether there have been additions to the product family or whether the products have been modified. In these cases, the auditor will demand samples to run tests. For these samples an application form to perform a re-control is filled in. The samples are registered to be performed in the fire lab of CENTEXBEL. If the re-control demonstrates that the envisaged fire classification is obtained for the product family, the product certifier will re-issue the certificate of constancy of performance and apply any possible modification in the description of the product family as indicated during the follow-up FPC audit. The certificates of constancy of performance valid for one year will be drafted. The certification manager takes the decision and signs the certificate of Centexbel. If the re-control demonstrates that the requested quality does not correspond with the required criteria of the certificate ofconstancy of performance, the applicant will be informed hereof by telephone and in writing and the applicant will be requested to take a number of measures. In the event of a modification in the product family, it will be verified whether the test results of a complete test are available on the extremities of a product family. In this case, the modification of a product family may be done without having to perform additional tests. During the yearly controls, one of the new products will be tested by preference. In the event a product family is extended the new extremities shall be tested completely before issuing a certificate of the extended product family. 5.6 Certification decision Depending on the results of the evaluation of the type tests and FPC audit, and possible controls, the certification manager will take one of the following decisions: In the event of a positive decision, the certificates are drafted based on the directives established by the Group of Notified Bodies for the Construction Products Regulation 305/2011 with the number 0493/CPR/XXXX. These certificates are valid for one year. The certification manager will sign the certificate. 22/03/17 blz. 6 / 8
In the event of a negative decision, the applicant will be informed hereof and the certificate will not be issued. 5.7 Certification report On the demand of the client, a certification report may be issued. This is a document containing the following items for a certain product family: Description of the product family Obtained classification Trade names within the product family Test reports on which the classification is based 6 Obligations of the manufacturer Every applicant is supposed to respect the general regulations and the stipulations in the agreement between CENTEXBEL and the manufacturer, concluded at the start of the certification procedure. In addition, the manufacturer is supposed to respect the European Construction Products Regulation 305/2011 and the applicable harmonized standards supporting the 305/2011 Regulation indicating a presumption of conformity with the requirements of the Regulation, and that are mentioned in annexe ZA of the corresponding standard. 7 Sanctions in the event of infringement If an infringement of default is observed, Centexbel reserves the right to take measures to sanction the manufacturer and to undo the infringement. The following measures are at the disposal and will be used according to the gravity of the infringement: Warning Suspension of the certificate Withdrawal of the certificate 8 Appeal procedure The manufacturer or any other interested party may appeal against a certification decision made by CENTEXBEL. This shall be done in writing and will be addressed to the director general. The director general of CENTEXBEL will verify the susceptibility of the appeal. In order to be susceptible, the appeal shall be motivated and refer to the decision taken by Centexbel. The susceptibility concerns by no means the legitimacy of the motivation. 22/03/17 blz. 7 / 8
If the appeal is declared non-susceptible, the director general informs the involved parties in writing of the reasons for this declaration of non-susceptibility. If the appeal is declared susceptible, the director general of Centexbel convenes an appeal committee. This committee is composed of 2 persons assigned by the director general who were not involved in the certification file against which an appeal has been made. The Appellant has the opportunity to clarify and defend his case during the meeting of the committee handling the appeal. The committee examines the case and decides to maintain or to change the decision with respect to the certification. This will be communicated in writing to all parties involved. There is no further appeal against the decision of the appeal committee. The treatment of an appeal against a decision with respect to certification has to take place within four weeks in any way. Whatever the decision of the appeal procedure, the manufacturer cannot claim any indemnity from CENTEXBEL for possible damages. 9 Confidentiality CENTEXBEL will treat all information with respect to the application as strictly confidential and will not disclose it to third parties without the express authorisation of the applicant. This does not apply to the information that, in conformity with the legislation, has to be communicated to the supervising authorities or to the other notified bodies. 10 Impartiality CENTEXBEL has taken all necessary measures to guarantee the impartiality of the decisions in respect of certification. This impartiality is supervised by a Certification Advisory Body assembling in regular intervals. Manufacturers, users, authorities as well as experts are represented by the members of this Certification Advisory Body. 22/03/17 blz. 8 / 8