The Construction Products Regulation is a legislative framework that defines how construction materials are assessed, declared and marketed. Originally adopted in the EU in 2011 to replace the Construction Products Directive, it established harmonised rules for performance evaluation across member states. Following Brexit, the UK adopted its own version — the UK CPR — which mirrors the core principles while allowing for specific national requirements.

The regulation applies to any product intended for permanent installation in buildings or civil engineering works. This includes concrete, cement, windows, doors, plasterboard, cables, insulation materials and countless other components that form the fabric of a structure. If a product is fixed into a building, it falls within scope.

What does the CPR aim to achieve?

The regulation pursues three main objectives. First, it harmonises standards across the market, ensuring that construction products are assessed and declared using a unified set of rules. This simplifies trade and reduces barriers for manufacturers, allowing a window manufacturer in one region to market products in another without additional testing, provided they comply with harmonised standards.

Second, the CPR enforces essential safety and performance requirements. Products must meet high standards in areas such as mechanical resistance, fire safety, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. A fire-resistant door, for example, must meet stringent criteria to ensure its effectiveness in emergencies, safeguarding both lives and property.

Third, the regulation promotes market transparency. Manufacturers must provide reliable information on product performance, enabling architects, engineers and contractors to make informed decisions based on documented characteristics rather than unverified claims.

How does the Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) work?

The AVCP system defines how products are assessed and how manufacturers control the constancy of assessment results. This system safeguards the reliability and accuracy of the Declaration of Performance. For cables, three different systems apply:

  • System 1+ (for Aca, B1ca, B2ca, Cca classifications): Requires a Notified Testing Authority to conduct initial inspection of plant and factory production control, initial type testing, and issue Classification Report and Certificate of Constancy of Performance. The authority must also carry out surveillance, assessment and evaluation of factory production control twice per year, plus audit testing of samples. Manufacturers must undertake internal factory production control routine audit testing.
  • System 3 (for Dca, Eca classifications): Requires a Notified Test Laboratory for initial type testing and issue of Classification Report. Manufacturers also undertake internal factory production control routine audit testing.
  • System 4 (for Fca classification): Manufacturers conduct their own tests and make their own classifications.

These systems vary in stringency depending on the product's risk profile and performance class. Higher-risk products such as those with superior fire performance require more rigorous third-party oversight.

What information must appear on product packaging?

The regulation specifies that packaging — typically a drum, spool or box — must carry specific information relating to the product's CPR performance, almost always detailed on the label. This includes the CE or UKCA mark, Declaration of Performance (DoP) reference, Notified Body number, unique product code and manufacturer details. The legislation stipulates that the product itself does not have to be printed or embossed to show CPR compliance, though some manufacturers opt to do so with System 1+ items.

It is the manufacturer's responsibility to supply compliant products to the market. Manufacturers must ensure that documentation is accurate, accessible and maintained throughout the product's lifecycle. Architects and specifiers should verify that products carry the required marking and that DoPs are available for inspection during procurement.

How does the CPR relate to building codes and energy standards?

Compliance with the CPR ensures that construction products meet baseline safety and performance requirements. However, the regulation operates alongside national building codes and energy standards. In the UK, for example, specifiers must also consider requirements under the Building Regulations, which set out energy efficiency targets and thermal performance criteria.

Products such as insulation materials must not only comply with CPR fire safety classifications but also deliver appropriate thermal conductivity values to meet U-value targets. This dual compliance — regulatory baseline plus performance specification — is central to responsible material selection in contemporary construction.

What changed with recent updates?

The European Council adopted an updated Construction Products Regulation in November 2024, which was published in the EU Official Journal in December 2024 and entered into force on January 7, 2025. The revised CPR introduced several important measures, including Digital Product Passports, which serve as a digital repository of a product's technical specifications and environmental data. Enhanced CE marking now reflects both technical performance and environmental impact. The regulation also requires manufacturers to report on climate-related indicators, particularly CO₂ emissions and energy usage, for priority construction products, with more indicators added gradually over coming years.

These updates align closely with other EU sustainability frameworks, such as the Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Product-level data will feed into building-level assessments, making the construction industry more data-driven and transparent. For manufacturers outside the EU, aligning with CPR standards remains critical for market access and competitive positioning.

Understanding the CPR and its AVCP systems is essential for manufacturers, specifiers and procurement professionals. The regulation provides a consistent framework that underpins safe, transparent and accountable construction practice across national markets.