EN 1090: what it is and why it matters when buying a steel building

What EN 1090-1 and EN 1090-2 require

EN 1090-1 is used to assess the conformity of load-bearing steel components and kits. The manufacturer must have its factory production control (FPC) certified and monitored by a notified body. It then places its products on the market with CE marking and a declaration of performance, as the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) requires ^[1].

EN 1090-2 is the execution standard. In the edition described by the 2014 Infosteel presentation, its informative annex B offered a method for choosing the execution class, now presented as historical (see below) ^[2][3]. The edition in force is to be verified. Notified bodies keep online registers of certified manufacturers, so a certificate can be checked ^[1].

The scope of CE marking is narrower than that of the standard. It covers load-bearing construction products that are not covered by another CE marking document, with a grey zone between industrial installations and construction products ^[3]. This source is a 2014 presentation: current position to be verified.

The declaration of performance: DoP or DoPC

The declaration of performance (DoP) is drawn up by the manufacturer and accompanies the product or is made available ^[6]. Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 introduces a declaration of performance and conformity (DoPC) ^[4]. It replaces Regulation 305/2011 gradually, as new harmonised standards are published. Depending on the regime that applies to the product, the manufacturer therefore issues a DoP or a DoPC, and the switch date for EN 1090-1 is not known (see the open point below). When a new or revised standard appears, the manufacturer must reassess its products, usually with a transition period ^[5].

Open point: no source consulted says when a version of EN 1090-1 cited under Regulation 2024/3110 will replace the version cited under Regulation 305/2011, or how long the two will coexist. To be verified with a notified body, the FPS Economy and CEN/TC 135. The official text on EUR-Lex could not be read: to be verified.

Execution classes EXC1 to EXC4 and how they are chosen

The execution class sets how demanding fabrication, inspection and documentation are. The historical method (EN 1090-2, annex B, informative) combines the consequence class CC1 to CC3 (EN 1990), the service category SC1 or SC2 and the production category PC1 or PC2 ^[2][3].

For CC3, the EXC3 entries carry a reservation: EXC4 for structures with extreme consequences, according to national provisions ^[3]. The second generation of standards changes the method. Annex C (normative) of EN 1993-1-1 replaces the service category with a type of loading and drops the production category. The specifier decides the class ^[2].

In 2014 Infosteel presented the matrix of the draft EN 1993-1-1: CC1 gives EXC1 (static load, low seismic) or EXC2 (fatigue, medium or high seismic), CC2 gives EXC2 or EXC3, CC3 gives EXC3 ^[3]. The consequence class is the client's choice unless stated otherwise, the execution class the designer's ^[3].

The values of the final published EN 1993-1-1 and the national choices for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are to be verified in the standards.

Typical classes for agricultural buildings and halls

Hallfort requires EXC2 by default from its partner fabricators. EXC1 remains possible for some agricultural buildings, if the engineer confirms it. A fabricator certified for EXC2 also covers EXC1 in practice, but this rule is to be verified with the notified body.

What a buyer should ask for

1. The fabricator's factory production control certificate (EN 1090-1): notified body, number, expiry date and the execution classes it covers.
2. The declaration of performance (DoP or DoPC depending on the regime that applies to the product) for your structure, in the fabricator's name.
3. The execution class used in the calculation note, and who chose it.
4. The name of the fabricator's welding coordinator.
5. The manufacturer named on the CE label and documents. If it is the seller, check that the seller holds the certificate itself.

A seller that can supply neither the certificate nor the declaration is not selling a CE marked structure ^[1][6].

The exact welding coordination requirements per execution class were not confirmed in the sources consulted: to be verified in EN 1090-2.

Why a seller that is not the manufacturer cannot CE mark

CE marking and the DoP or DoPC are the manufacturer's obligations. A trader who resells is a distributor or an importer. The distributor checks the CE marking, the labelling and the declaration, and makes the legal information available before the sale, including online ^[6].

A trader is treated as a manufacturer if it places the product on the market under its own name or brand, modifies it in a way that affects conformity, or states a different intended use from the manufacturer's (article 26). Adding translations alone does not make it a manufacturer ^[6].

Can a reseller use a partner factory's FPC certificate in a white-label model? Open question, to be verified with a notified body. Article numbers are taken from the FPS Economy, official text to be re-read.

What Hallfort asks from its partner fabricators

Hallfort is a Belgian company being created. It holds no certification, does not CE mark and issues no declaration of performance. It will sell, configure, price and coordinate. The steel structure will be fabricated and CE marked by partner fabricators, to be selected before opening.

• An EN 1090-1 certificate issued by a notified body.
• Execution class EXC2 by default, EXC1 only for some agricultural buildings if the engineer confirms it.
• The declaration of performance, which is the fabricator's own.
• The structural calculation notes, for the permit file.

No partner is signed yet, so no certificate can be shown today. See also snow and wind loads, the configurator and the quote request.