General Requirements
It is important to ensure that all materials used in the construction of buildings are of a suitable quality and a suitable nature for use in the conditions they are intended. Construction materials should be prepared and/or mixed as intended and should be used as intended to ensure they function properly.
Construction materials should be in so far as is reasonable be free from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) sets out conditions for construction products made available on the EU market. The CPR requires that construction products on the EU market have a Declaration of Performance (DoP) and a CE marking.
It should be noted that achieving compliance with the CPR or having a CE marking does not mean the products are suitable for use in all situations, all products should be assessed to determine their suitability in each instance.
All European Standards are given the status of national standards in Ireland (IS EN’s) if there are any conflicting technical specifications/national standards are withdrawn by the National Standard Authorities of Ireland (NSAI). The NSAI has produced National Annexes and Standard Recommendations (SRs) which provide additional guidance on the minimum performance levels for specific uses of the products in Ireland. These National Annexes and Standard Recommendations may be used to establish that the product(s) are suitable for the use in which they are intended.
Agreement certification is used for the products and processes which are not covered by the existing construction standards. NSAI Agrément certificates are issued to confirm that the materials, products, equipment or techniques are safe and fit for purpose in accordance with Irish Building Regulations, these certificates should not conflict with the CE marking.
Inspection by Authorised Persons
The Building Control Acts 1990 and 2007 allows authorised officers from the relevant Building Control Authority to inspect and take samples, where deemed necessary to determine whether the Building Control Regulations have been complied with or not.
Tolerances
BS 6954-1: 1988 Tolerances for building details of the variability in buildings and the purposes for which it must be quantified. This document also defines what factors should be taken into account in the evaluation, specification and verification of tolerances for the manufacture of building components.
