Construction Fixings

By Thomas Bruun, president of the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA)

In the European construction sector, fixings including screws, bolts, and anchors, are essential for ensuring the stability and safety of buildings – contributing to their structural integrity and infrastructure projects. As the industry moves into a new regulatory framework, under the Construction Product Regulation (CPR), fixings manufacturers face both new challenges and opportunities. 

A key aspect of this transformation is the European Technical Assessment (ETA) route, which remains central to the industry’s ability to access the EU market. With the CPR set to be fully applicable in January 2026, this article examines the CPR’s potential implications for the fixing industry and explores how the ETA route can be harnessed to help manufacturers address future challenges.

The role of ETAs in the fixings industry

The European construction industry is one of the largest economic sectors in the EU, accounting for around 9% of the EU’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing jobs to millions of people. The sector is characterised by a high number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) making up over 90% of the construction companies. As the industry evolves, so does the need for innovative solutions.

In this context, construction fixings play a critical role across various construction sectors, whether residential, commercial or infrastructural. Like no other industry, the fixings sector is characterised by constant, incremental innovation. This is one of the main reasons why the fastening industry relies on the ETA route for CE Marking and marketing of their products on the EU single market, and globally. 

New market needs drive the development of new European Assessment Documents (EADs), the foundations for an ETA. The ETA, issued by a qualified Technical Assessment Body (TAB), enables manufacturers to respond quickly to customer needs, regulatory changes or project specific requirements.

The ETA route has been a stepping stone for the success of the fixing industry for more than 35 years. Since the 1990s, EOTA, the organisation that unites all TABs across the EU, has been developing specifications for fastening products. Mechanical fixings were the first construction products to have CE Marking in the EU, undergoing innovations in materials and design constantly over time.

Today, high performance materials such as stainless steel, carbon steel, and alloy combinations, play a crucial role in anchor design. These materials provide corrosion resistance, strength, and longevity, particularly in challenging environmental conditions. Recent design innovations have focused on the development of specialised fixings that address seismic resistance, fire safety and thermal insulation. 

Since 2013, EOTA has registered 180 EAD development projects for fixings, which were consolidated into 98 EADs available to the industry. With nearly 5,000 ETAs for fixing products issued to date, the ETA route has provided a respected benchmark for evaluating fixings’ performance worldwide. This robust framework has helped ensure that construction fixings meet safety, reliability and performance criteria in diverse building applications. 

The new CPR, which will become fully applicable in January 2026, introduces several important updates that will affect the fixings industry. While the change in the legal framework poses challenges, it also opens the door to significant opportunities for the fixings industry.

Regulatory compliance and transitional rules

The regulatory landscape in Europe is intricate, and construction fixings must comply with diverse building regulations. Ensuring that fixings meet the legal requirements of any relevant European country can be costly and time-consuming. An ETA offers a responsive and agile solution to this challenge. 

Under the new CPR, the ETA route remains the central tool for fixings manufacturers seeking to gain access to the ‘single market’. On the positive side, the revised regulation offers new opportunities for cooperation between manufacturers, making it possible for business associations or groups of manufacturers to work together on an EAD, thereby tapping into synergy effects. Additionally, the European Commission can request the development of a new EAD if a general market need is detected. 

Regarding transitional rules, EADs cited under the current regulation will usually remain valid for five years, until January 2031. ETAs issued on their basis can be used as a basis for CE Marking for another 5 years, for instance until January 2036. The European Commission has published a detailed overview of the transitional rules and relevant changes to Voluntary CE Marking (EOTA route) on its website^[1].

EOTA is currently working with the European Commission to complete the citation of numerous EADs in the Official Journal to make sure the industry can benefit from a broad range of existing EADs during the phasing-in of the new regulation.

While the transition timeline for the ETA route remains extremely ambitious, it gives stakeholders an opportunity to be at the forefront of the new developments the revised CPR will bring; namely enhanced sustainability, machine readable EAD formats to integrate
with Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Product Passports – ensuring easier access to product data throughout the construction lifecycle.

Digitalisation and BIM integration

The shift towards digitalisation in the construction industry is another key challenge for the fixings sector. With the mandatory use of machine readable formats for EADs under the new CPR, manufacturers must adapt to digital formats that support BIM and Digital Product Passports. While this transition requires investment in new technologies and data management systems, it also offers the opportunity to streamline the flow of information across the supply chain, improving efficiency and reducing material waste.

EOTA and the fixings industry are closely following the discussions on formats and software to be used and should be able to be among the early adopter when it comes to implementing these new approaches.

Sustainability and EU circular economy

With the European Union pushing for greener construction practices under the European Green Deal, sustainability has become a central theme in the European construction industry and the fixings sector is no exception.

While the cost and effort of transitioning to green fixings, such as those made of recyclable materials or produced using low carbon processes, is a challenge, the introduction of sustainability requirements in the ETA route is certain to drive innovation. 

The EU’s circular economy agenda also encourages the development of products that are durable, recyclable and easy to disassemble. For fixings manufacturers, this is an opportunity to innovate and become global leaders in the production of sustainable, environmentally responsible solutions.

One of the core priorities for EOTA and the fixings industry is to embed sustainability requirements in the relevant EADs. EOTA and the fixings industry are looking into c-PCRs (complementary Product Category Rules) which will enable linking fixing products into
the general Life Cycle Assessment framework used in the EU construction sector.

Global market expansion

While the changes in the CPR are focused on the EU, there is a growing opportunity for the ETA route to have global reach. The robustness of the EU legal framework has made it attractive to international markets, and 5% to 7% of ETA requests now come from outside the EU. European fixings manufacturers can expand their market reach by complying with high EU quality benchmarks and positioning their products as internationally recognised and reliable.

Embracing change in a competitive market

The new CPR presents both challenges and opportunities for the fixings industry. While the tight transitional timeline, sustainability and digitalisation will require rapid adaptation, they also provide avenues for innovation, growth and differentiation in a competitive global market. The fixings sector, which has long been known for its resilience and ability to innovate, must now focus on producing more sustainable, digitally integrated products that meet the evolving demands of the construction industry. 

The ETA route, as a vital tool for achieving CE Marking and market access, will continue to be a cornerstone for manufacturers navigating these changes. By harnessing its ability to provide custom-made, flexible solutions, the fixings industry can not only stay ahead of regulatory demands, but also contribute to the EU’s broader goals of sustainability and digitalisation in construction, putting it in a good position for
global success.  

References:

^[1] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/construction/construction-products-regulation-cpr/voluntary-ce-marking-eota-route_en#:~:text=The%20outgoing%20and%20the%20new,European%20technical%20assessment%20(ETA)