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1. LVL AS A CONSTRUCTIONMATERIAL
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 mark-
ing 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 ap-
plications, structural LVL has high requirements for assess-
ment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP).
European Commission decision 97/176/EC defines AVCP Sys-
tem 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, An-
nex V amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU)
No 568/2014). In the AVCP System 1 a notified product certi-
fication body decides on the issuing, restriction, suspension or
withdrawal of the certificate of constancy of performance of the
construction product on the basis of the outcome of the follow-
ing assessments and verifications carried out by that body
12
:
• An assessment of the performance of the construction prod-
uct 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 fac-
tory production control covering e.g. the essential strength
characteristics.
To fulfil the requirements of AVCP System 1, LVL manufac-
turers must carry out:
• Testing or assessment of essential characteristics relevant for
the intended uses which are declared (modulus of elasticity,
bending strength, compression strength, tension 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 prop-
erties included within the scope of the harmonized product
standards. Based on these properties the structural LVL prod-
ucts can be designed in accordance with the Eurocode design
standards system for load-bearing structures.
Note: LVL products treated against fire and biological attack can-
not be CE marked according to EN 14374:2004, since the treat-
ments 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 na-
tionally required design parameters. Examples of such certif-
icates 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