Declaration of Performance (DoP): Requirements, Content and Access for Construction Products

The Declaration of Performance (DoP) is a mandatory document issued by manufacturers of construction products that ensures regulatory compliance across the European Union. It forms an essential component of CE marking and provides a standardised format for communicating a product's essential characteristics and environmental data. Under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), which came into force on 1 July 2013, the DoP serves as a legally binding statement by the manufacturer, confirming that the product meets declared performance levels and technical specifications.

What information does the Declaration of Performance contain?

The DoP is structured to provide both regulatory authorities and end users with transparent, verifiable information. Each harmonised product standard specifies a table of essential characteristics and the corresponding methods for presenting results, including testing methods, units of measure, and the expression of results in values or classes. This ensures that all products on the market use the same methods to present their data, enabling objective comparison of products with the same reference standard and intended use.

Key content requirements for the Declaration of Performance include:

Where a manufacturer has not determined the performance of a specific characteristic, the term "NPD" (No Performance Determined) is used. Importantly, if the results of an essential characteristic are not declared in the DoP, they cannot be indicated on the Technical Data Sheet. This legal constraint ensures consistency between regulatory documentation and commercial product information.

How does the DoP differ from the Technical Data Sheet?

While both documents describe product characteristics, the Declaration of Performance is mandatory and legally binding, whereas the Technical Data Sheet serves as a commercial tool. The DoP is closely linked to the product characteristics specified by the Construction Products Directive and is signed by the company's legal representative, making the manufacturer responsible for what is declared. The document reveals which quality control plan was implemented in the factory and identifies the external certification body involved in the conformity assessment procedure. In contrast, the Technical Data Sheet may include additional information for practical application but cannot claim performance values that are not substantiated in the DoP.

Digital accessibility and language requirements

The revised CPR introduces enhanced requirements for digital accessibility. The Declaration of Performance must be provided electronically unless included in the Digital Product Passport (DPP), and it must be unalterable, human- and machine-readable, and available at all times. It must be uniquely linked to the specific product on the market. Manufacturers may host the declaration on a monitored website with unalterable electronic format, a downloadable copy in a commonly readable format, and free access with clear instructions for users.

Language requirements stipulate that the DoP must be available in the official language or languages of each EU Member State where the product is marketed. This ensures that regulatory authorities, contractors, designers, and engineers can review compliance documentation in their native language, facilitating inspections, public procurement, and project-specific requirements.

How to obtain and access a Declaration of Performance

Manufacturers provide the DoP through multiple channels. Many producers make the document accessible via the download area of product pages, with separate files for each form of delivery. Dedicated online portals allow direct retrieval using the item number or GTIN. Additionally, QR codes printed on product labels can be scanned with a smartphone app to access the Declaration of Performance in the user's local language. This multi-channel approach ensures that the document is readily available to recipients and end customers who need to verify that the correct product is used in the appropriate context.

Manufacturers must retain the DoP for ten years after placing the product on the market. A reference to the DoP must appear on the product label as part of the CE marking requirements. Importers and distributors placing products on the market under their own brand are required to issue their own DoP, reinforcing the chain of responsibility throughout the supply chain.

Expanded environmental data requirements

Under the revised CPR, the Declaration of Performance has been expanded to include environmental data alongside traditional technical specifications. The updated DoP must report key environmental characteristics, including the Global Warming Potential (GWP), using defined performance levels, classes, or descriptions specified in harmonised technical specifications such as Harmonised European Standards (hENs) and European Assessment Documents (EADs). Until updated harmonised specifications are available, manufacturers should follow current methodologies. This expansion aligns the DoP with broader sustainability objectives in the construction sector and supports the integration of life-cycle assessment data into procurement and design decisions.

The DoP must include verified environmental data, ensuring that all claims are accurate and transparent. This requirement promotes technical performance and environmental responsibility in the construction industry, enabling objective evaluation of materials based on both functional and sustainability criteria. By serving as a comprehensive product pass, the Declaration of Performance verifies and transparently communicates a product's compliance with performance and environmental standards, ensuring credibility for regulatory authorities and facilitating informed decision-making by specifiers and contractors.