Standards

The European Standard, EN10080, has been issued by CEN and referenced in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The date given in the OJEU for the commencement of the co-existence period, i.e. the date from which manufacturers MAY apply the CE Marking, has been given as 1st September 2006. The end of the co-existence period, i.e. the date from which manufacturers MUST apply CE Marking, will therefore be 1st September 2007. The British standards for reinforcing bar (BS4449), wire (BS4482) and fabric (BS4483) have been issued to support the European standard, although they have been produced as self contained documents. The date of implementation was January 1st 2006. BS8666, Specification for scheduling, bending and cutting of reinforcing steel, was also amended and implemented at the same time.

The development of the European standard for prestressing wire, bar and strand, EN10138, has been delayed at committee stage, with a further meeting now planned in April 2006. As a result of this delay, the British Standards committee have decided to perform a brief review of British standards BS5896 (wire and strand) and BS4486 (bar) in order to bring them in line with current production practice and construction use. Completed documents are expected from BSI before the end of 2006.

The European standard for structural steels, EN10025, was issued by CEN in November 2004. The start date for the co-existence period given in the OJEU was September 2005. This means that manufacturers of products to this standard, who wish to place these onto the European market, MAY apply CE marking from the 1st September 2005 and therefore MUST apply CE marking from the 1st September 2006.

For further information on Standard developments please contact :
Peter Roughley
CARES
Pembroke House
21 Pembroke Road
Sevenoaks
Kent TN13 1XR
Tel : +44 (0) 1732 450000
Fax : +44 (0) 1732 455917
E-mail: peterroughley@UKCARES.COM