From construction products to building works: the European input

The paper gives an overview of the evolution of the construction sector within the European unification process and explains the reasons why this evolution happened, how it was organized and lived, and where it is leading. The links between the main stages of this process and the European legislation specific to the construction sector are presented, and the main prescriptions of the Construction Products Directive are reviewed. The need to express the characteristics of products in terms of performance is emphasized and data are given on the CEN program of harmonized product standards, test methods and calculation methods standards. The CEN standards on construction works such as the EUROCODES are also presented, its impact on existing regulatory systems is discussed and some conclusions are drawn on the added value of the European input to the construction sector.