Standards, requirements, and certificates for pavers

A number of testing requirements and standards documents apply to pavers. The following is a concise explanation of each standard, document, and certificate.

As we are based in Europe, the requirements we follow for our pavers start with European Union requirements. The Construction Products Regulation (CPR, EU 305/2011) is a joint set of requirements put together by Member States governing civil engineering works. To satisfy these requirements, construction products like pavers must achieve certain performance levels for certain production properties – these are known as essential features.

They include frost/thaw resistance, transversal breaking load, polished and unpolished slide/slip resistance, fire response, external fire behaviour, emissions from hazardous substances, and heat conductivity. Only construction products that perform sufficiently well in respect of the essential features may be used in civil engineering works.

To define pavers in terms of the essential features, we – as a manufacturer – use the European harmonised standard EN 1344. The standard incorporates requirements for clay pavers in open and closed paving configurations.

Through the EN standard, pavers in the EU are tested to the same requirements and test standards. As our product is covered by an EU standard, we are obliged to put a CE marking on our product and to compile a Declaration of Performance or DoP.

CE-Marking

CE stands for Conformité Européenne or ‘in accordance with European legislation’. The CE marking declares that our product has been tested or assessed in accordance with European standards (EN 1344). Displaying a CE marking on our products allows us to market them within the EEA, i.e. the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland. The CE marking has several aims. It is designed to promote free trade within Member States and to enhance safety in use. In addition, it also harmonises the way in which manufacturers specify construction products.

Declaration of Performance (DoP)

In addition to the CE marking, we also supply a Declaration of Performance or DoP for our product. The DoP indicates how our construction product performs in respect of certain production properties. The DoP specifies the product and address details, performance, intended uses, and a unique identification code. As a purchaser, you can use the code to find the DoP associated with the product. If our product does not perform as intended, we are directly liable for potential damage. The DoP is an important document in the event of liability.

The CE marking and DoP exist together, are jointly linked, and cannot be used separately.

Download CE and DoPs

In addition to European standard 1344, European Member States impose supplementary requirements and standards on pavers. These may be national requirements on dimensions, water absorption, shape, appearance, and polished slide/slip resistance. Our production locations are located in the Netherlands and Germany. As a client, you can be confident that the pavers that we deliver satisfy the national requirements of the country in question. In the Netherlands, this is BRL 2360 and in Germany, DIN 18503. Consequently, you will receive high-quality pavers that satisfy the highest possible quality requirements.

If you would like to know more about the quality and certification of pavers, please get in touch.