The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has welcomed the opportunity to participate in the development of a new generation of construction product standards for doors and hardware, following the introduction of a revised Construction Products Regulation in the European Union.
Since December 1991, the UK, alongside other European countries, has operated under specific regulations governing the marketing of construction products.
These regulations were intended to support the creation of a single market for construction products across Europe. They were distinct from building regulations, which continue to govern how buildings are designed and constructed and which often vary between countries due to climate, geography and local practice.
The original regulations introduced the concept of CE marking for construction products. In principle, this allowed products that met the required standards to be placed on the market across the European Economic Community. However, progress was slow, as CE marking could only be applied once a relevant harmonised standard had been developed. As a result, CE-marked construction products did not begin to appear in significant numbers until the late 1990s. In the UK, CE marking was not made compulsory under national legislation, although many other European countries chose to require it. Despite this, CE marking for products such as door closers and emergency exit devices became established over time.
In 2011, the original EU directive was replaced by a regulation, which removed any remaining uncertainty about the compulsory nature of CE marking. However, the development of harmonised standards continued to present challenges, with progress often slower than anticipated. In some cases, 140 draft standards were rejected, and concerns were raised about responsibility for their technical content following court rulings that confirmed harmonised standards formed part of EU law.
These factors led to the publication of a new Construction Products Regulation in 2024. One of its main objectives is to improve the speed and efficiency of standard development while ensuring appropriate oversight of content. The regulation also places greater emphasis on sustainability and on the use of digital information in product marketing and, where relevant, product use.
The new framework introduces a revised process for standardisation, a new structure for standards and a defined order of priority for their development. A total of 34 product families have been identified, with doors and windows, including hardware, listed as a the 4th highest in terms of priority. Work is already under way, and an official request to begin developing the new standards is expected in the coming weeks. UK legislation has already been updated so that CE marking to the new EU Construction Products Regulation will continue to be recognised in the UK. As a result, door and hardware products, including those manufactured by DHF members, are expected to be among the first to comply with the new generation of European construction product standards.
Michael Skelding, General Manager of DHF, said, “We are delighted to be participating in the development of the new standards for doors and hardware. While the UK is no longer a member of the EU, BSI remains a full member of CEN, the European standards body. This means our representatives will continue to be involved throughout the standards development process, helping to ensure that the resulting standards are practical, robust and supportive of quality and safety across the sector.”
