1 The intention of this Part is to ensure that materials and components used in the construction of buildings, to the extent that they are subject to the Regulations or where they are used to meet a requirement of the Regulations, are suitable for their purpose, are correctly used or applied and are sufficiently durable, taking account of normal maintenance practices, to ensure the health and safety of people.
2 The requirements of this Part are deemed to be satisfied by reference to the named standards specified in the Technical Standards or by reference, among other things, to any national or international standards, or to any specification, recognised by States within the European Economic Area (see Note below), which provides an equivalent standard of safety, suitability and fitness, or by reference to traditional procedures of manufacture of any such State which are supported by an adequate technical description.
3 The intention is to provide for adequate flexibility to accommodate new techniques as well as proven traditional practices and to ensure the proper acceptance of products which satisfy the essential requirements of the Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC); and to avoid barriers to trade. This means, for instance, that products bearing a CE (European Community mark of conformity) mark must be accepted as complying where they are correctly used. The correct use of materials, fittings, components and other manufactured products deemed to satisfy the Part B standards demonstrates compliance with appropriate standards throughout the Technical Standards.
4 In relation to a specific purpose of a material, component or other manufactured product compliance with the requirements of an EC Directive is recognised as compliance with the requirements of the Regulations which relate to that purpose. This means for example that a self-contained smoke alarm, manufactured in accordance with Council Directive 89/336/EEC, shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of the appropriate Regulation insofar as it relates to the prevention of electromagnetic disturbances by and protection against disturbances to such smoke alarms. Similarly a self-contained smoke alarm manufactured in accordance with Council Directive 73/23/EEC (where it applies) shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of the Regulations insofar as it relates to the safety of persons on the use of such a smoke alarm and against disturbance to such a smoke alarm. Furthermore, self-contained smoke alarms must in all cases be manufactured and placed on the market in accordance with Council Directive 73/23/EEC relating to the safety of electrical appliances, and according to which the conformity with standards - national, international or others - is not mandatory.
Note: The European Economic Area Agreement is given effect in this country by the European Economic Area Act 1993 and entered into force on 1 January 1994.
FITNESS OF MATERIALS
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Materials, fittings, components and other manufactured products, used to meet a requirement of these Regulations shall be suitable for the purpose for which they are so used and shall be used so as to comply with the requirements of these Regulations. |