The Construction Products Directive (CPD) is being replaced by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) which means that CE marking will become mandatory in the UK. Manufacturers of solid fuel and biomass equipment will have until July 2013 to make sure their products meet the CE requirements of the new regulation.

Andrew Hopton, head of standards and approvals for HETAS said: "We understand from the UK government that the CPR will apply fully from July 1st next year. From that date any products covered by a harmonised European standard must have a Declaration of Performance and be CE marked to be placed on the European market.


"Products which are already HETAS approved will automatically meet the new CPR requirements as they are tested to one of the five existing harmonised European standards which cover stoves, stoves inset, boilers up to 2 bar, cookers and pellet stoves. The exception is freestanding biomass boilers because BSEN303-5 is not yet harmonised."


Manufacturers, importers and distributors will need to be aware of the changes and act accordingly if their products do not meet the new CPR requirements.


After July 1st 2013 it will be illegal to sell any products covered by the harmonized European standards which are not tested and CE marked.


A list of over 1,000 HETAS approved products is available in their annual guide or online at www.hetas.co.uk.