EU sets assessment and verification systems for construction products

The European Commission has adopted Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1310, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 28 August 2026, which establishes the assessment and verification systems applicable to each construction product family and category. Signed in Brussels on 11 June 2026 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the act supplements the new Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 and is directly applicable in all Member States.

The delegated regulation is adopted under Article 10(2) of Regulation (EU) 2024/3110, the harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 27 November 2024, which repeals the previous Regulation (EU) No 305/2011. It sets out which of the assessment and verification systems applies to each product family and category before harmonised technical specifications and European assessment documents become applicable, ensuring continuity with the earlier regulatory framework while minimising the burden on manufacturers.

Three annexes, three levels of application

The act is structured around three annexes that determine the applicable system depending on the product and its essential characteristics.

• Annex I applies where deemed-to-satisfy provisions are used: products whose essential characteristics are deemed to achieve a certain performance without testing or calculation are assigned system 4, regardless of the system normally required.
• Annex II covers essential characteristics of a horizontal nature grouped under Annex X of Regulation (EU) 2024/3110, namely reaction to fire, external fire performance, release and content of dangerous substances, and environmental sustainability.
• Annex III sets out the assessment and verification systems for each of the 35 product families and their categories, taking into account intended uses and additional technical remarks.

Systems tailored to risk and intended use

The systems range from 1+ (the most demanding, involving third-party certification and continuous surveillance) to 4 (manufacturer self-declaration). The choice reflects the intended use, the potential damage from product deficiencies, sensitivity to performance variations, and the likelihood of manufacturing errors.

• Fire safety products, structural bearings, and fire protective and fire stopping products are generally assigned system 1.
• Structural elements such as precast concrete products and structural joints typically carry system 2+.
• Products with lower risk profiles, such as damp proof courses and water vapour control layers, fall under system 3.
• Non-structural or low-risk products, including chimney terminals and surface water repellents, are assigned system 4.

Impact on the construction supply chain

The regulation directly affects manufacturers, notified bodies and the whole EU construction supply chain, which must align their conformity assessment procedures with the newly assigned systems. It enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal, giving operators a clear and binding framework ahead of the full application of the harmonised technical specifications under the new Construction Products Regulation.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, L series, 2026/1310, 28.8.2026 (official reference: CELEX L_202601310).