New European Standards

"For the past several years, Europe has been developing common construction standards to reduce internal trade barriers. Many of these standards are now being implemented. This bulletin provides some background on current European developments and outlines the potential impact on Canadian exporters.

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has developed many European standards in the past (referred to by the designation EN) which have been referenced by some national building codes. More recently, in response to the European Commission's Construction Products Directive, CEN has been developing "harmonized standards" (referred to by the designation hEN) which are intended to replace national standards.

"The new standards will coexist with existing national standards for an initial period (1-2 years), and will then replace them. For example, the first harmonized standard, which covers common cements, will become the only standard in Europe by April 2002.

Approximately 600 harmonized standards are being developed by almost 50 technical committees. The first of these were issued in late 2000. At present, more than 50 standards have been approved and more than 100 are being finalized. Standards issued to date have included products such as insulations, building hardware, concrete admixtures and sprinklers.

Products meeting the new harmonized standards will be accepted throughout the European Economic Area. However, member countries are allowed to impose additional requirements related to health and environment, and so there may still be some restrictions on certain products. For example, the Netherlands is imposing a ban on lumber which has been treated with preservatives containing copper compounds. Future work on the second generation of European standards is expected to include environmental considerations.

More detail on the new standards can be obtained from CEN's website (www.cenorm.be).

The following addresses are particularly useful:

• http://www.cenorm.be/sectors/construction/ mandates/resources/tcs_cpd.pdf provides a list of CEN Technical Committees working on construction products.,
• http://www.cenorm.be/standardization/ tech_bodies/cen_tcs.htm provides links to information on the Technical Committees (chair, secretary, scope, workplan, etc.).,
• http://www.cenorm.be/sectors/construction/ mandates/resources/progrhEN.pdf provides the most recent status report on CEN standards being developed.,

Related sites:

Canadian Mission to the European Union, Brussels, Belgium (www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canadaeuropa/EU/menu-en.asp) provides more information to the European Union, pertinent to Canadians.

ASHRAE-American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

"the sole purpose of advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration for the public's benefit through research, standards writing, continuing education and publications."




ISO: International Standards Organization

"a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from more than 140 countries, one from each country. to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services, and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity."

• ASHRAE STANDARD 110 THROUGH STANDARD 169
• ASTM standards related to building envelopes
• ASTM Standards related to buildings
• DIN: German standard DIN (Deutsches Institut f¨ąr Normung)
• Standards associated with plywood
• Standards for windows by CAN, CGSB, CSA, ASTM, AAMA
• Standards related to lightning
• Standards for windows by CAN, CGSB, CSA, ASTM, AAMA
• Standards related to lightning
• Standards associated with plywood
• ICC International Code Council
• DIN: German standard DIN (Deutsches Institut f¨ąr Normung)
• What are standards?