CE and UKCA Marking – Roman LtdAll Roman shower enclosures have been tested and fully conform to the scope and relevant characteristics of BS EN14428:2015 (Shower Enclosures – Functional requirements and test methods) and BS EN 14527:2016 (Shower Trays), to meet the requirements of the mandate given under the EU Construction Product Directive (89/106/EEC).
As a result of full compliance to the directive and harmonised standard; all Roman products carry the ‘CE/UKCA Marking’ and are accompanied by a declaration of performance.
When the UK left the EU on 1st January 2021, a very important change in mandatory product marking from CE to UKCA Marking came into force. The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) Mark was phased in from the 1st of January 2021 and it will replace the CE Mark in the UK (this includes England, Wales and Scotland). A transition period will run to ease the changeover to the UKCA Marking which means all products placed on the market in Great Britain with the CE Mark will remain valid until 1st of January 2022.
The UKCA Marking does not apply to existing stock, i.e. products manufactured and ready to place on the market before 1st January 2021. This means that the CE Marking on products manufactured and ready to place on the market before 1st January 2021 will still be valid. The UKCA Marking is invalid for products placed on the EU market which still require the CE Marking and the same applies for Northern Ireland market which still require the CE Marking or UK (NI) Marking. All products placed in Great Britain can have both the CE and UKCA Marking affiliated to them, providing they fulfil the associated requirements. The actual testing for conformity remains unchanged at this time across the Marks.
It is the responsibility of manufacturers to ensure their showering products conform to the standard, but the final reseller of the products (e.g. builders merchants, plumbers) also have a legal responsibility to ensure the products they stock or are specifying, also conform to the standard. There were 2014 updates for CE marking itself for manufacturers, suppliers or glass contractors, which includes production audits in addition to CE testing to prove ongoing compliance and individual product traceability over 10 years. At Roman, every product is digitally photographed before final packaging and carries an individual product code for complete traceability.
It must be stressed that the CE/UKCA Marking is a mandatory legal requirement with enforcement. Two of the common misconceptions are that it is something that the manufacturers would resolve if there was a problem, and secondly saying that you conform is one thing, but proving you conform is actually what CE/UKCA Marking is all about. There are still many non-compliant products out there and there are huge consequences for the seller of the non-compliant product. The internet and the lower end of the market have been prospering by openly selling a wide array of non-compliant products. Large fines and imprisonment can be the ultimate result for knowingly selling non-conforming products, so it is strongly urged that plumbers ask the right questions around CE/UKCA marking to all their suppliers.
To check whether a product carries the CE/UKCA Mark is relatively straightforward as Manufacturers or suppliers must make the declaration of performance available to their customers, therefore making it available for everyone to see. Best practice conformity is to show CE/UKCA marking details within their literature; their individual product instructions manuals; and on their website. In line with the standard, they should also display their CE/UKCA documents for each product on their website, so customers can have quick and easy access to this information.
