Revised Construction Product Regulations: what major changes? What deadlines? What implications?

The position and involvement of the AIMCC to support manufacturers

Philippe Gruat, president of the AIMCC concluded the conference by thanking its speakers, and in particular the DHUP which defended the positions of the industrialists in the negotiations and which remains a quality partner for the AIMCC.

He also welcomed the contribution of the members of the RPC Commission of the AIMCC, a recognized interlocutor for asserting in numerous instances the positions and concerns of industrialists on the application of the RPC which, if it will be done over time, requires prepare for it today.

The AIMCC wishes to affirm its commitment to the actions initiated by the European Green Deal (Green Deal), actions which go in the right direction. Nevertheless, French industrialists have the feeling that once again the European Commission wishes to impose uniformity in the European area.

The AIMCC also fears that no real protection measures against external threats will be considered, thus penalizing manufacturers. It should be noted that according to this new regulation, all products imported from non-European countries are in fact supposed to have the same obligations with controls based on tests and European notified bodies, but one can wonder if the effectiveness of these measures will be real.

In addition, each country with its specificities should be able to retain certain prerogatives so as not to risk calling into question the organizations set up nationally which ensure the quality of construction.

It is also our public policies that will have to be adapted due to this new regulation, such as the French RE2020.

The text will lead to an increase in the cost of extremely important administrative and financial compliance efforts.

Furthermore, the question of data protection and especially their use must be treated as a priority. The AIMCC brings together all construction products and considers that all have their place in the act of building. For example, it would be nonsense to compare products based solely on their carbon weight by misusing our data and would go against the quality and benefits they provide.

This text, far from being definitive, will see the rules of the game evolve over the interpretations of the European Commission and the progressive implementation according to the product families. These delegated acts can also potentially call into question the development of standards which, although complex and sometimes long, allows for discussions and consensus on which all professionals can rely.

The AIMCC, however, calls for stability in the texts so that manufacturers can succeed in the numerous challenges set for them, and first and foremost decarbonization.

This new regulation will come into force but manufacturers want a rapid review clause from Member States with the Commission to adapt this legal text to the issues on the ground.

However, far from being a negative initiative, even if it turns out to be complex, this revision gives hope for a regulation which can be applied and unblock many situations, which is not currently the case.

Philippe Gruat closed his speech by reaffirming the involvement of the AIMCC in representing and supporting manufacturers as closely as possible. It is in this spirit that the small group of AIMCC experts move forward to resolve, understand and interpret areas of uncertainty. This group will be able to rely on a technical and economic impact study which will be launched soon.

In addition, the Construction Products Europe union is preparing a reading guide to which the AIMCC is contributing, which should be ready at the end of the year, and the DHUP is preparing materials for the various stakeholders.