DOP and CE marking in EN standards

Hilti Engineering Centre

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Article

Firestop documentation and what it means

Facade Fire Protection

Fire Protection

IF Joints Fire Protection

MEP Penetrations Fire Protection

Steel Fire Protection

What is the DoP in relation to firestopping

The DoP (Declaration of Performance) is a key part of the European Construction Products Regulation. It provides information on the performance of a product.

Whilst CE marking indicates that a construction product conforms with its declared performance and that it has been assessed according to a harmonised European standard (hEN) or a European Technical Assessment (ETA) has been issued for it.

Metal firestop cable transit installed in a grey wall, featuring three circular cable openings with red retaining rings and sealed fabric membranes designed to maintain fire and smoke compartmentation.

Pic 1: Speed Sleeve CFS-SL GA

For construction products, the Construction Product Regulation (CPR), issued by the European Commission applies in Europe.

The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) lays down harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products in the EU. The Regulation provides a common technical language to assess the performance of construction products. It ensures that reliable information is available to professionals, public authorities and consumers, allowing them to compare the performance of products from different manufacturers in different countries.

Flowchart showing CE marking pathways under the EU CPR. Products without a harmonised standard follow the voluntary EAD to ETA/DOP route, while products with an hEN follow the mandatory hEN to DOP route, both leading to CE marking.

Pic 2: Process flow for CPR (Construction Products Regulation)

If the harmonised European standards (hEN) for any product already exist, the manufacturer has to CE-mark the product and attach a Declaration of Performance (DoP) to it.

If hEN is not available for a certain product, and a manufacturer decides to obtain an ETA, they still have to develop a DoP and obtain CE marking from EU commissioners on the basis of tests conducted by accredited laboratories.

Illustration of a Hilti firestop cable transit with multiple electrical cables passing through a corrugated sleeve and red retaining seal, designed to maintain fire compartmentation at a wall penetration.

Pic 3: Hilti Firestop Speed Sleeve CFS-SL GA has a broad field of application described in the respective ETA and has CE marking with a DoP

Screenshot of a Hilti Declaration of Performance (DoP) for the Firestop Sleeve CFS-SL GA, showing product information, intended use, assessment references, declared fire performance characteristics, and authorised signatures.

Pic 4: Sample DoP of Speed sleeve CFS_SL GA

One should keep in mind that CE marking means that the product was tested according to standardised European norms, but it says nothing about its performance and field of application. It is merely an indication that it conforms to the performance described in a DoP.

A DoP provides information on the performance of the product. This helps to increase transparency and declares the fitness for use of the product. A Declaration of Performance (DoP) describes the construction product’s characteristics which are relevant for the requirements of a building, such as the extent to which it is virtually airtight or fire resistant.

All Hilti firestop products have an ETA and hence the CE marking and corresponding DoPs. This allows us to market them in Europe and help our customers make informed choices. Our ETAs contain the detailed field of application, which is the key factor for selecting and applying the right product according to the application requirements.