1. LVL AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL Figure 1.62. Left: Example of CE-mark label in LVL package, right: Example of CE-mark label in LVL product. 1.10 CE MARKING AND CERTIFICATION OF LVL PRODUCTS Structural LVL has its own harmonized European Standard, EN 14374, which provides the basis for mandatory CE marking and Declaration of Performance (DoP) of LVL products. Structural elements e.g. stressed skin panels made of LVL can be CE marked based on supplier specific European Technical Assessments (ETA). As a glued engineered wood product for load-bearing applications, structural LVL has high requirements for assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP). European Commission decision 97/176/EC defines AVCP System 1 for structural LVL and the requirements of the AVCP System 1 are defined in the construction product regulations (CPR) of the European Union (Regulation (EU) 305/2011, Annex V amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 568/2014). In the AVCP System 1 a notified product certification body decides on the issuing, restriction, suspension or withdrawal of the certificate of constancy of performance of the structural LVL on the basis of the outcome of the following assessments and verifications carried out by that body 12: • An assessment of the performance of the construction product carried out on the basis of testing (including sampling) to determine the bonding strength (glue bond quality) and reaction to fire of the product. • Initial inspection of the manufacturing plant and of factory production control • Continuing surveillance, assessment and evaluation of factory production control covering e.g. the essential strength characteristics. To fulfil the requirements of AVCP System 1, LVL manufacturers must carry out: • Testing or assessment of essential characteristics relevant for the intended uses which are declared (e.g. modulus of elasticity, bending strength, compression strength, tension strength, shear strength, release of formaldehyde and durability) • Factory production control • Further testing of samples taken at the manufacturing plant by the manufacturer in accordance with the prescribed test plan • Declaration of performance (DoP) of the LVL products • CE marking of the LVL products Requirements for building products are set at the national level. DoPs and CE marking provide harmonized means of showing compliance with these requirements with respect to the properties included within the scope of the harmonized product standards. Based on these properties the structural LVL products can be designed in accordance with the Eurocode design standards system for load-bearing structures. Note: LVL products treated against fire and biological attack cannot be CE marked according to EN 14374:2004, since the treatments are currently not included in the scope of the standard. LVL products may also have other voluntary certificates for properties that are not included in the CE marking and DoPs, such as building physics properties, emissions, or certain nationally required design parameters. Examples of such certificates are the Eurofins Product Certificate, the M1 emission certificate in Finland, and Allgemeine Bauartgenehmigung in Germany. Metsä Wood Stora Enso Wood 42 LVL Handbook Europe
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