In the UK two-thirds “unaware of CE-marking for aggregates”

According to a survey conducted by the 7224 McGrath Group, almost two-thirds of those involved in the construction industry are unaware that recycled aggregates sold in the UK will need to carry a CE-mark from July.

Hitherto CE-marking of aggregates was voluntary in the UK but the new Construction Products Regulations state that from 1 July 2013 all construction products that have a harmonised standard (hEN) or a European Technical Assessment must have CE marking affixed to the product and be accompanied by a declaration of performance.

This applies to eight categories of aggregate products including aggregates for bituminous mixtures and surface treatments; lightweight aggregates; aggregates for concrete, mortar; unbound and hydraulically bound materials; armourstone and railway ballast.

The legal responsibilities for the conformity of these products will fall upon the manufacturer. Enforcement of CE-marking will be the responsibility of Trading Standards who have powers to impose fixed penalty notices and order a withdrawal or recall of non-conforming products from sale.

“Recycled aggregate producers working to aggregates Quality Protocol should already be producing and testing their aggregates in compliance with the relevant aggregate standard. CE marking formalises the way this information is presented to customers and should provide greater confidence that aggregates are compliant with specifications,” says John Barritt, aggregate expert with WRAP, the recycling organisation.

Nearly 40 million tonnes of recycled aggregates are produced in the UK each year which account for nearly 20% of the total aggregates market.

Other findings from the survey say that environmental compliance is rated a more significant factor than price when choosing a recycled aggregate supplier; almost two-thirds (63%) find secondary material less expensive than virgin aggregates and a significant percentage of recycled aggregates are now used for more sophisticated applications than general fill (for example, 61% of respondents use recycled material for sub-base, 43% for drainage purposes and 37% for capping layer).

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents said they use the Quality Protocol when specifying recycled material while a similar number (62%) of those surveyed do not obtain certification to verify the use of the Quality Protocol when purchasing recycled materials and a majority (60%) do not quality-check consignments of recycled aggregate when they arrive.