Brussels 2014
As part of the push for ecological and energy transition in Europe and worldwide, innovation in sustainable construction is growing. Emerging solutions focus on energy and environmental performance in buildings, as well as quality and safety, while promoting the health and comfort of residents. In support, the CSTB guides professionals, from idea to market. The next key event: Building Test Expo, in Brussels, June 17 to 19. This international meeting addresses the topics of major scientific and technical facilities, news on European assessments and certifications, and research on the challenges of construction of the future.
- The CSTB at Building Test Expo, the international trade show on technical assessment solutions
- Annual ECTP-E2BA Conference: future of construction and the built environment
- General Assembly of the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA)
The CSTB at Building Test Expo, the international trade show on technical assessment solutions
From June 17 to 19, the CSTB will welcome stakeholders in construction to its stand (D9) at Building Test Expo, an international exhibition addressing the latest technical solutions for testing and certification in the construction sector. CSTB experts will be listening to the sector’s professionals, while presenting major scientific and technical facilities and assessment services for high-quality innovation. An HQE International certification conference is also taking place.
Scientific and technical expertise
Through the wide-ranging services they offer, the major facilities of the CSTB enable comprehensive approaches and new levels of research. The Vulcain and LABE facilities are two examples.
Vulcain: a unique facility in Europe devoted to research on fire resistance in innovative structures. Designed to generate extreme thermal stress and unconventional mechanical loads, this facility works to improve fire safety in a rapidly changing building industry.
LABE (European Laboratory of Building Acoustics): this major high-performance facility for acoustic measurements tests building industry products in accordance with European standards. Located on 2,000 m², nine test benches are used in order to meet requirements as quickly as possible.
Assessment services
Assessments are voluntary procedures but, for nonstandard techniques, they often provide the recognized way for all stakeholders in the market to establish a degree of confidence essential to the success of construction projects. The Technical Appraisal and the European Technical Assessment are such procedures. The CSTB is a designated assessment body.
Technical Appraisals provide independent and objective information about the predicted behavior and durability of structures built with innovative products or processes implemented for specific areas of application.
European Technical Assessments (ETAs), successor to the European Technical Approval since July 2013, are prerequisites for establishing Declarations of Performance (DoP) and affixing CE marking to products, not covered or only partially covered, in accordance with harmonized European standards.
- Visit the CSTB at Building Test Expo
HQE International certification
“The focus of HQE International certification is to develop and promote a comprehensive assessment system for sustainable construction which takes into account the local conditions, climate and construction practices,” explains Bruno Mesureur, director of Standardization, Marketing and International Affairs at the CSTB. “The beHQE movement brings together stakeholders from around the world—architects, engineers, property developers, investors, end users, consumers, institutions—who share a desire to move forward thanks to an approach based on performance standards. The HQE Association provides recognized expertise in environmental quality and is constantly innovating so that international HQE™ certification standards correspond to the buildings of tomorrow. Cerway is the sole HQE™ operator for all countries except France, guiding professionals through the procedures.”
- Learn more about the benefits of certification at the HQE International meeting on Thursday, June 19, at 1:20 p.m.
Annual ECTP-E2BA Conference: future of construction and the built environment
From June 17 to 19 at Building Test Expo, the sixth edition of the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) conference on research, development and innovation in construction is taking place. This year, the focus is on the future of the built environment.
“The built environment (housing, offices, transportation infrastructure and cultural venues, to name a few) is where we spend more than 80 percent of our time,” says Luc Bourdeau, general secretary of ECTP and E2BA and manager of European Affairs for the Research and Development Department at the CTSB. “The quality of buildings therefore has a direct impact on our daily lives. The built environment is useful to many industries and services and it plays an important role in many economic sectors. Also, energy management, environmental impact, safety and, more generally, the quality of buildings are matters of utmost importance and must be addressed in an integrated manner. Sociocultural factors are equally critical. Our usages, lifestyles, history and cultural sensitivities - everything concerning the operation of the built environment must be taken into account in approaching construction and urban development now and into the future. How do we reconcile the different criteria? The sixth ECTP Conference focuses on this question to foster the advancement of the built environment over the next 25 years.”
General Assembly of the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA)
EOTA brings together about 50 Technical Assessment Bodies which serve to guide innovation in construction across Europe. Its next General Assembly will take place at the Building Test Expo show in Brussels. A key meeting to review together the implementation of the European Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
“Over the last three years, more precisely, since July 1, 2013, EOTA and its members have redefined their work practices to comply fully with the requirements in Construction Products Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011 and enable its practical implementation,” explains Yannick Lemoigne, head of the Certification unit at the CSTB and president of EOTA. “The General Assembly of EOTA votes to approve the organization’s rules of procedure.”
“To date, our members have issued more than 150 European Technical Assessments, and the first European Assessment Documents were just approved in April 2014. EOTA and each of its members serve to guide the marketing and free movement of non-standardized and innovative products. Their joint action enables pre-standardization of product performance.”
- Learn more: EOTA General Assembly
Role of EOTA and European Technical Assessment Bodies
EOTA is an international nonprofit organization, established in Brussels. Regarding Construction Products Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011 (CPR), EOTA coordinates the actions of its members, which are Technical Assessment Bodies. It also develops and adopts European Assessment Documents. This involves establishing the European harmonized methods used to determine the performance of non-standardized construction products.
The mission of every Technical Assessment Body is to respond to requests from manufacturers who want to submit products for European Technical Assessments in order to establish Declarations of Performance and obtain CE marking which attests to a product’s compliance with a declaration.
