Conformity assessment procedures, also known as Modules, for most CE marked products are defined in Decision 768/2008/EC; for details refer to the article in ProductIPedia. However, for construction products, these conformity assessment procedures are not appropriate given the particularities of their assessment.

Instead, the assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP) of construction products in relation to their essential characteristics shall be carried out according to one of the systems listed in Annex V to the Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011.

In order to ensure that the declaration of performance is accurate and reliable, the performance of the construction product should be assessed and the production in the factory should be controlled in accordance with an AVCP system.

The required AVCP system is mentioned in the harmonised standard (Annex ZA) that is applicable to the construction product. The applied system(s) of AVCP shall be mentioned on the Declaration of Performance.

AVCP systems

The AVCP systems define the tasks for manufacturers and notified bodies.

The manufacturer declares the performance of the essential characteristics of the product based on the applicable assessments.

System 1+

Manufacturer shall carry out:

1. factory production control;
2. further testing of samples taken at the factory in accordance with the prescribed test plan.

Notified product certification body shall issue the certificate of constancy of performance of the product on the basis of:

1. determination of the product-type on the basis of type testing (including sampling), type calculation, tabulated values or descriptive documentation of the product;
2. initial inspection of the manufacturing plant and of factory production control;
3. continuous surveillance, assessment and evaluation of factory production control;
4. audit-testing of samples taken before placing the product on the market.

System 1

Manufacturer shall carry out:

1. factory production control;
2. further testing of samples taken at the factory by the manufacturer in accordance with the prescribed test plan.

Notified product certification body shall issue the certificate of constancy of performance of the product on the basis of:

1. determination of the product type on the basis of type testing (including sampling), type calculation, tabulated values or descriptive documentation of the product;
2. initial inspection of the manufacturing plant and of factory production control;
3. continuous surveillance, assessment and evaluation of factory production control.

System 2+

Manufacturer shall carry out:

1. determination of the product-type on the basis of type testing (including sampling), type calculation, tabulated values or descriptive documentation of the product;
2. factory production control;
3. testing of samples taken at the factory in accordance with the prescribed test plan.

Notified production control certification body shall issue certificate of conformity of the factory production control on the basis of:

1. initial inspection of the manufacturing plant and of factory production control;
2. continuous surveillance, assessment and evaluation of factory production control.

System 3

Manufacturer shall carry out:

1. factory production control.

Notified testing laboratory shall carry out:

1. determination of the product-type on the basis of type testing (based on sampling carried out by the manufacturer), type calculation, tabulated values or descriptive docu­mentation of the product.

System 3+

Manufacturer shall carry out:

1. performance assessment on the basis of data collection for input values, assumptions and modelling;
2. factory production control.

Notified assessment validation body shall issue a validation report of constancy of performance of the construction product on the basis of:

1. validation of the input values, assumptions made and compliance with applicable generic or product category specific rules;
2. validation of the manufacturer’s assessment;
3. validation of the process applied to generate that assessment;
4. validation of the correct usage of software appropriate for the assessment;
5. initial inspection of the manufacturing plant to validate any company-specific data.

System 4

Manufacturer shall carry out:

1. determination of the product-type on the basis of type testing, type calculation, tabulated values or descriptive documentation of the product;
2. factory production control.

No tasks for the notified body.