Many construction projects currently on site could be breaking the law by using non-CE marked steelwork, experts have warned.
New regulations came into force on 1 July requiring all manufacturers, distributors and importers of fabricated steel and aluminium to ensure that they are CE certified and that all products are printed with the CE mark to demonstrate compliance with the appropriate manufacturing standard.
However, many construction projects that are part way through are likely to have had non-compliant products delivered to site before that date, which if discovered by inspectors could lead to penalties including suspension notices, prohibition notices, or fines. It could also invalidate insurance and warranties.
“The structural steelwork sector has a very long tail end and many smaller contractors aren’t qualified, so our advice to main contractors is make sure your steelwork suppliers are properly certified for all requirements under CE marking legislation,” said Sarah McCann-Bartlett, director general of the British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA). “These firms will often be fabricating secondary steelwork, such as steel balustrades and staircases, which all require the CE mark,” she added.
BCSA members account for roughly 60-65% structural steelwork output in the UK, and CE certification is now a condition of membership
"The structural steelwork sector has a very long tail end and many smaller contractors aren’t qualified, so our advice to main contractors is make sure your steelwork suppliers are properly certified for all requirements under CE marking legislation."
Sarah McCann-Bartlett, British Constructional Steelwork Association
Duncan King, technical manager at the Construction Products Association, added: “The problem of not CE marking is more likely to be an issue with some of the smaller fabricators… There is an element of the market who have either not been paying attention to developments in the European standards market and will not be aware of this ruling, or who have chosen to turn a blind eye to it.”
The new legislation applies to any products covered by the harmonised standard for fabricated structural steelwork BS EN 1090: Execution of Steel Structures and Aluminium Structures.
It applies to both constituent products, such as steel beams or bolts and fabricated elements, and systems made from CE marked products.
Clients and main contractors are required to use steelwork contractors with a specific “execution class” suitable for the project, as determined by BS EN 1090-1. It is not sufficient to merely employ a CE marked firm, they must also be certified to the specific class of building or structure.
The legislation comes a year after the more general requirement to CE mark construction products was imposed on 1 July 2013 alongside the introduction of the Construction Product Regulations (CPR). The CE mark guarantees that all relevant information, such as safety guides, instructions and handling and storage information, is readily available. These obligations have been written into the Approved Documents of the Building Regulations.
The introduction of the CPR is considered good news for designers because they ensure that all products have to “declare their performance”, providing specifiers with more information.
Steel prices set to rise steadily
Meanwhile, the BCSA says that structural steelwork prices will increase steadily, in contrast to other construction materials which are seeing sharp jumps in price, making steelwork relatively more competitive as a framing material, says the trade body.
The BCSA’s McCann-Bartlett said that structural steelwork contractors in the UK have sufficient capacity to meet increased demand from the construction industry said Ms McCann-Bartlett.
“Our members are now seeing stronger demand for constructional steelwork, and with improved prospects for construction in 2014 and beyond, BCSA members have reviewed their capacity and capability and are confident they can meet this demand,” said Ms McCann-Bartlett.
“Unlike other construction products, where we’re seeing shortages, long lead times and price spikes, demand and supply in the structural steel market is more balanced. While we do expect to see a firming of prices, this will be relatively slow and steady,” she added.
Tender prices rose by 3% in Q4 2013 compared with Q3 2013 and by 6.7% compared with the same quarter in 2012, according to the UK construction Tender Price Index compiled by RICS’ Building Cost Information Service (BCIS). The steep annual increase to Q4 2013 is thought to be a knee-jerk reaction to unsustainable margins and it is anticipated that tender prices will continue to rise over the next six months.
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