KIT FOR HOLLOW-BAR DRILLED AND GROUTED MICROPILES AND SOIL NAILING

Paper

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The paper explains the European Construction Products Regulation (EU No. 305/2011) and what CE marking means for hollow-bar kits used in micropiles and soil nailing. The Regulation replaced the earlier Construction Products Directive and harmonizes how construction-product performance is assessed across the EU.

A product covered by a harmonized European standard (hEN), or assessed under a European Assessment Document (EAD), may be CE marked. Where a product is not fully covered by a harmonized standard, an EAD can provide the assessment basis for a European Technical Assessment (ETA). The manufacturer then issues a Declaration of Performance (DoP), stating the product’s performance against its essential characteristics.

For hollow-bar kits, these characteristics may include load-bearing capacity, fatigue resistance, performance under alternating tension and compression, transfer of drilling impact energy, and corrosion protection. Assessment concerns the complete system as well as individual components such as bars and coupling nuts. Relevant execution standards include EN 14199 for micropiles and EN 14490 for soil nailing; design and application requirements also need to be considered.

The paper emphasizes that CE marking and the DoP provide transparency about declared product performance and conformity with applicable technical specifications. They do <strong>not</strong> certify that a product is suitable for every project or application, nor do they replace engineering judgment or the need to check site-specific requirements. Misuse arises when users treat the CE mark as a general safety or suitability approval rather than as evidence of assessed performance.

Keywords

EU Construction Products Regulation

CE marking

hollow-bar kits

micropiles

soil nailing

European Technical Assessment

Declaration of Performance

harmonized standard

essential characteristics

corrosion protection