EN1090
UKCA / CE Marking for steel and aluminium fabricators and processors
In 2014 the construction industry faced one of the most significant changes for a decade as CE Marking of construction products become mandatory in all Member states throughout the European Union.
If your organisation is involved in the manufacture of structural metal components or kits, you must demonstrate that your products comply with BS EN 1090-1 as well as providing product conformance through mandatory UKCA / CE marking. Compliance will allow you to continue selling your products within the United Kingdom and the EU.
As from the 01 July 2014 it became a criminal offence to supply and trade structural metalwork on the UK and European market unless it adheres to this standard and carries a legitimate UKCA, UK(NI) or CE mark.
Who enforces compliance with BS EN 1090-1:2009+A1:2011
The Construction Products Regulations 2013 originally, amended to The Construction Products (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 following Brexit.
Trading Standards
UK legislation providing for enforcement of the CPR.
Punishable by imprisonment for up to 3 months and a fine of up to £5,000 on summary conviction:
Failure to UKCA / CE mark and provide DoP; Other breaches of duty by manufacturer, importer or distributor;
What is BS EN 1090-1:2009+A1:2011?
If you are involved in the manufacture of structural steelwork products, then you are likely to be aware that as from 1st July 2014 it became a legal requirement to adhere to the BS EN1090-1 standards.
The BS EN 1090-1 standards are European standards that regulate the fabrication and assembly of steel and aluminium structures and are recognised by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
BS EN 1090-1 Originally consists of three parts:
BS EN 1090-1 (Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures – Technical requirements for steel structures) is the harmonised European standard covering fabricated structural steelwork. It comprises three parts:
- BS EN 1090-1: Details the requirements for assessing and verifying product or service conformity
- BS EN 1090-2: Details the technical requirements in the manufacture and assembly of steel and stainless steel structures
- BS EN 1090-3: Details the technical requirements in the manufacture and assembly aluminium structures
In 2017 -2018 the following EN 1090 standards where introduced:
- BS EN 1090-4:2018: Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures - Technical requirements for cold-formed structural steel elements and cold-formed structures for roof, ceiling, floor, and wall applications.
- BS EN 1090-5:2017: Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures - Technical requirements for cold-formed structural aluminium elements and cold-formed structures for roof, ceiling, floor and wall applications.
If you have implemented Factory Production Control systems to comply with UKCA - CE Marking in accordance with EN 1090 it is recommended that you monitor and check the revision status of EN 1090-1 and the relevant parts 2 and 3, to ensure you are working to the latest revision.
Who does BS EN 1090 affect directly?
Manufacturers Responsibility
If you are producing steel or aluminium construction products which are being sold in the UK or wider EEA, there is a legal requirement for you to CE Mark this product. This means that when this product is complete and delivered to your client, whether in return for payment or free of charge, it must be accompanied by the correct documentation.
The standard places legal obligations on manufacturers, distributors and importers of construction products used within the UK and EU to UKCA / CE Mark their products that fall into the scope of BS EN 1090-1.
Client and/or Contractors Responsibility
The client or main contractor should appoint a steelwork contractor with an Execution Class equal to that required for the project, as outlined by BS EN 1090-1.
Compliance with the requirements of BS EN 1090-1 places obligations on the contractor that are onerous and take significant time to put into place.
1090Register.com allows clients and main contractors to quickly find accredited manufacturers with an Execution Class equal to that required for their project.
The standard is relevant to a number of disciplines within an organisation including;
- Specifiers
- Structural Engineers
- Civil engineers
- Construction engineers
- Directors, general and site managers
- Quality assurance and quality control personnel
- Procurement personnel
- Production Management
- Inspection and non-destructive testing personnel
- IWC, RWC and Welding Engineers
CE Marking Construction Products
EN 1090-1:2009+A1:2011 – Mandatory from 1st July 2014
The Construction Products Directive (CPD) of 1989 was introduced in order to provide a common framework across the whole of the European Union to ensure the integrity of buildings and construction works. Because fabricated steel components are deemed "safety critical”, if your Company are involved in the manufacture or supply of these products then under the CPD it is now a legal requirement for your business to adhere to the stringent requirements of BS EN 1090. You must also ensure that your products are appropriately CE marked. Introducing BS EN 1090 and its constituent parts BS EN 1090 (Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures – Technical requirements for steel structures) is the harmonised European standard covering fabricated structural steelwork. It comprises three parts:
EN 1090-1: CE Marking- details the requirements for assessing and verifying product or service conformity.
EN 1090-2: Details the technical requirements in the manufacture and assembly of steel structures.
EN 1090-3: Details the technical requirements in the manufacture and assembly of aluminium structures.
The standard affects all companies who manufacture, process and sell steel, stainless (EN 1090-2) and aluminium (EN 1090-3) structures and structural products within the EU. The standard will be relevant to a number of disciplines within an organisation including; Designers, specifiers, Procurement Departments, Quantity Surveyors, Structural engineers, Civil engineers Construction Engineers Directors, general and site managers Quality assurance and quality control personnel, Inspection and non-destructive testing personnel
Example Products covered by BS EN 1090-1
Information source: CEN / TR 17052 Dated Jan 2017.
Guidelines on implementing EN 1090-1:2009+A1:2011, Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures.
The following steel and aluminium products are covered by the scope of EN 1090-1, when the intended use comprises a structural function. This list is indicative and non-exhaustive.
Annex A (informative)
Products covered by EN 1090-1
Structural components / Structural components for:
A.1 Balconies,
A.2 Balustrades (if fulfilling the function of a barrier)
A.3 Base plates,
A.4 Beams not covered by EN 10025-1,
A.5 Beam clamps without ETA,
A.6 Bended products from hot rolled beams and steel plates,
A.7 Bracing,
A.8 Bridges (incl. road-, railway- and footbridges, pipe bridges, moving bridges),
A.9 Buildings,
A.10 Canopy framing,
A.11 Carports,
A.12 Catwalks,
A.13 Cellular Beams,
A.14 Chimneys not covered by EN 1856-1 or EN 1856-2 or EN 13084-7,
A.15 Cold-formed purlins and cladding rails,
A.16 Cold-formed sheeting for roofing and cladding if structural,
A.17 Cold-formed decking for use in composite steel and concrete floors,
A.18 Columns,
A.19 Crane supporting structures including crane runway beams, crane rails and structural end stops,
A.20 Culverts used as a bridge-like structure to carry traffic,
A.21 Curved and bent beams,
A.22 Cut to size components from hot rolled products,
A.23 Fire escapes,
A.24 Girders not covered by EN 10025-1,
A.25 Grandstands and stadia,
A.26 Grillage beams and girders,
A.27 Handrails (Barriers/ Edge Protection),
A.28 Hangers not covered by EN 845-1 and ETAG 015,
A.29 Lighting columns neither covered by EN 40-5 or EN 40-6 nor by an ETA,
A.30 Lintels not covered by EN 845-2,
A.31 Load bearing fences,
A.32 Marquee framing,
A.33 Machined or bended aluminium semi products for use as structural components,
A.34 Machinery supports, if integral part of the load bearing structure of the construction works,
A.35 Masonry structures not covered by EN 845-1, EN 845-2, or ETAG 029,
A.36 Metal frame building kits without ETA,
A.37 Mezzanine floors,
A.38 Noise barriers, not covered by EN 14388,
A.39 Opening frames for floors, walls and roofs, if integral part of the load bearing structure of the construction works,
A.40 Pipeline supporting structures and pipe supporting structures,
A.41 Plant and machinery, if integral part of the load bearing structure of the construction works,
A.42 Plate girders (welded or bolted or riveted),
A.43 Prefabricated building units without ETA,
A.44 Prefabricated pile foundations without ETA,
A.45 Predrilled components from hot rolled beams and steel plates,
A.46 Purlins,
A.47 Racking and shelving systems, if integral part of the load bearing structure of the construction works,
A.48 Ramps, if integral part of the load bearing structure of the construction works,
A.49 Sag rods,
A.50 Sign and gantry girders,
A.51 Silos,
A.52 Stairs without ETA,
A.53 Structural frames for buildings, warehouses, schools, hospitals, dwellings, industrial and agricultural sheds,
A.54 Structural frames for shelters,
A.55 Structural steel components for composite steel and concrete structures,
A.56 Tanks that are not covered by EN 12285-2,
A.57 Tension rods without ETA,
A.58 Timber structures excluding fasteners,
A.59 Towers and masts,
A.60 Trusses,
A.61 Tubular beams and columns,
A.62 Walkways, incl. open mesh flooring, if integral part of the load bearing structure of the construction works,
A.63 Wharfs, docks and piers,
A.64 Winter gardens and green houses.
Steps to achieve certification
STEP 1 - Determine whether your product falls within the scope
The first step is to determine, based on intended use, whether or not your product(s) fall into the scope of EN 1090, and so need to be UKCA / CE Marked in accordance to this standard.
This is the responsibility of the manufacturer. As most products are bespoke and have multiple intended uses an exhaustive list is not possible.
A better appreciation of the scope of EN 1090-1 may be achieved by considering the following:
- Is the construction product, as defined by the CPR, made from steel or aluminium?
- Is the product load-bearing?
- Has the product been installed in a permanent manner?
- Is the product within the scope of EN 1090-1?
- Does the product fall into the scope of another harmonized standard?
Once it has been established that you will need to UKCA / CE Mark one or more of your products, the next task for you as a manufacturer is to determine which Execution Class you require.
STEP 2 - Identify the correct Execution Class
From 1st July 2014 all fabricated structural steelwork delivered to site has to be CE Marked. To comply with the new mandatory regulations only steelwork contractors with an Execution Class equal to that required for a project should be considered.
BS EN 1090 sets out four Execution Classes (EXC’s), outlined below. These classes are based on the end use of the structure and how critical it would be if it failed:
- EXC1 – e.g. Agricultural buildings (Welded construction up to and including Grade S275 material)
- EXC2 – e.g. Residential or Commercial structures
- EXC3 – e.g. Bridges or Stadia type buildings
- EXC4 – e.g. Special structures (long-span bridges, frames for structures within the nuclear sector and structures within high seismic active areas) etc.
STEP 3 - Factory Production Control Assessment/Certification
You can now select a certifying body to have your factory production control assessed against your stated Execution Class.
If your manufactured products are placed on the market within the UK, you will require an Approved Body to enable you to UKCA mark or UK(NI) and CE mark for products placed on the market in Northern Ireland.
If your manufactured products are placed on the market within the Republic of Ireland or Europe, you will require a Notified Body to enable you to CE mark the products.
Following Brexit, the majority of the Certifying Bodies are able to offer both UKCA and CE marking certification as required, but it is recommended to be clear on the market you are producing for and clearly state this when enquiring with Certifying Bodies.
If you already have a robust factory production control system or ISO 9001 in place, you’re already on your way to achieving UKCA / CE Marking.
As part of achieving a UKCA / CE Mark, you will require third-party assessment and certification from a notified body.
Assessment
A certification body will carry out:
- Initial inspection of your manufacturing plant
- Initial inspection of your FPC
- Continuous surveillance, assessment and approval of your FPC, which will typically include an annual audit to ensure continued competence to the declared Execution Class
The certification body will then issue an FPC certificate and Welding Certificate identifying the Execution Class that you have achieved.
Certification
To gain certification and be awarded a UKCA / CE Mark, you are required to undertake the following:
- Initial type-testing of your products
- Factory Production Control which includes:
- Implementation of FPC system procedures
- Appointment of a responsible welding coordinator (RWC)
- Implementation of welding quality management system (WQMS) procedures including:
- Weld Procedure qualification
- Welder / Operator qualification
- WPS production
- Type testing (NDT testing) of the first five joints made to a new WPS.
Further testing of samples taken at the factory in accordance with the prescribed test plan.
You can now start UKCA / CE Marking and producing your declaration of performance for each product.
BS EN 1090-1 – Frequently used abbreviations
| FPC | Factory Production control |
| NCR | Non-Conforming Report |
| NDE | Non-Destructive Examination |
| NDT | Non-Destructive Testing |
| WPQR | Weld Procedure Qualifications Records |
| PWHT | Post Weld Heat Treatment |
| RWC | Responsible Welding Coordinator |
| IWC | Internal Welding Coordinator |
| UKAS | United Kingdom Accreditation Service |
| WPS | Weld Procedure Specifications |
| ITC | Initial Type Calculation |
| ITT | Initial Type Testing |
| NPD | No Performance Declared |
| DOP | Declaration of Performance |
| COC | Certificate of conformity |
| MPCS | Manufacturer provided component specification |
| PPCS | Purchaser provided component specification |
| UKCA | UK Conformity Assessed |
Route to determine Execution Class categories
It is the specifier / Client responsibility to determine the required execution class for a project as a whole or individual elements within a project.
A construction site / project can have multiple elements of construction requiring differing execution classes dependent on the risk level identified by the specifier.
To confirm or check the correct Execution class has been stated. The following four steps will guide you through the execution class selection process:
1. Define the consequence class
1.1.Select a service category
1.2.Select a production category
1.3.Use the results of steps 1, 2 and 3 and a matrix to determine your execution class.
2. Define the consequence class
The purpose of defining a consequence class is to ensure that buildings (and other structures) are constructed with the appropriate level of quality control. Consequence classes are based on building type, building height (number of storeys ), floor plan area per storey (for retail) and occupancy. A structure, or a part of it, could also contain components with different consequence classes. In most cases, CC2 will be suitable.
|
Class |
Description |
Examples* |
|
CC3 |
High consequence |
Stadiums and concert halls for 5,000+ people, buildings storing |
|
CC2 |
Medium consequence |
Most multi-storey residential and commercial buildings, hotels, |
|
CC1 |
Low consequence |
Agricultural or storage buildings Areas where people do not normally enter. |
*Refer to Annex A, BS EN 1991-1-7 (Eurocode 1) for more examples of building categorization
Categorization of Consequence Classes
|
Class |
Description |
|
CC3 |
All buildings defined below as Class 2 Lower or Upper Consequence Class that exceed the limits on area and number of storeys All buildings in which members of the public are admitted in significant numbers Stadia accommodating more than 5,000 spectators Buildings containing hazardous substances and/or processes |
|
CC2b |
Hotels,flats,apartments and other residential buildings greater than 4 storeys but not exceeding 15 storeys. Educational buildings greater than a single storey but not exceeding 15 storeys Retail premises greater than 3 storeys but not exceeding 15 storeys Hospitals not exceeding 3 storeys Offices greater than 4 storeys but not exceeding 15 storeys All buildings to which the public are admitted and which contain floor area exceeding 2,000m2 but not exceeding 5,000m2 per each storey Car parks not exceeding 6 storeys |
|
CC2a |
5 storey single occupancy houses Hotels not exceeding 4 storeys Flats, apartments and other residential buildings not exceeding 4 storeys Offices not exceeding 4 storeys Industrial buildings not exceeding 3 storeys Retail premises not exceeding 3 storeys or less than 1,00m2 floor area in each storey Single storey educational buildings All buildings not exceeding 2 storeys to which the public are admitted not exceeding 2,000m2 per storey |
|
CC1 |
Single occupancy house not exceeding 4 storeys Agricultural Buildings Building into which people rarely go providing no part of the building is closer to another building, or area where people go, than a distance 1 ½ times the building height. |
3. Select a service category
Service categories reflect the risk arising from the actions to which the structure and its parts are likely to be exposed during erection and use, such as fatigue and likelihood of seismic actions. They also look at the stress levels in the components in relation to their resistance.
Service categories are determined from Table B.1 of BS EN 1090-2. In the UK, for instance, SC1 will generally be appropriate.
|
Category |
Criteria |
|
SC1 |
Structures/components designed for quasi static actions only, e.g. buildings Structures and components with their connections designed for seismic actions in regions with low seismic activity. Structures and components designed for fatigue actions from cranes. |
|
SC2 |
Structures/components designed for fatigue actions to EC3 (EN 1993 )such as bridges, Structures susceptible to vibrations caused by wind, crowd or rotating machinery |
4. Select a production category
Production categories are determined by the risk arising from the fabrication complexity of the structure and its components. This may entail the application of particular techniques, procedures and controls.
Production categories are determined from Table B.2 of BS EN 1090-2 and it should be noted that a structure or part of a structure may contain components or structural details that belong to different production categories. However, the execution class is not always sensitive to the production category.
|
Categories |
Criteria |
|
PC1 |
Non-welded components or welded components from steel grades below S355 |
|
PC2 |
Welded components manufactured from steel grades from S355 and above |
5. Use the results of steps 1, 2 and 3 and a matrix to determine the execution class
Once the consequence class, service category and production category have been determined for a building, Table B.3 of BS EN 1090-2 defines the corresponding execution class. In the UK, for instance, EXC2 will be applicable to most buildings. Where no execution class is specified, Clause 4.1.2 of BS EN 1090-2 states that EXC2 applies.
|
Consequence class |
CC1 |
CC2 |
CC3 |
||||
|
Service category |
SC1 |
SC2 |
SC1 |
SC2 |
SC1 |
SC2 |
|
|
Production category |
PC1 |
EXC1 |
EXC2 |
EXC2 |
EXC3 |
EXC3 |
EXC3 |
|
PC2 |
EXC2 |
EXC2 |
EXC2 |
EXC3 |
EXC3 |
EXC4 |
|
Approved / Notified Bodies
- Alcumus ISOQAR Ltd
- British Board of Agrement
- BSI Assurance UK Ltd
- TUV UK Ltd
- Steel Construction Certification Scheme Ltd - SCCS
- Centre for Assessment
- TWI Certification Ltd
- SGS United Kingdom Ltd
- Exova (UK) Ltd trading as Exova BM TRADA
- Lloyds Register Verification Ltd
- LRQA
- United Registrar of Systems
- CEM International