What is the purpose of an ETA?
The European Technical Assessment, like standardization, is an essential tool for competitiveness. It is what grants the CE mark, which serves as a passport for your products into the European market.
Which products does it cover?
An ETA is applied to a given construction product that is not covered (or only partially covered) by a harmonised European standard.
Obtaining the CE mark
A European Technical Assessment confirms that a product not covered by a harmonised European standard satisfies sufficient criteria to be awarded the CE mark, according to special standards such as the ETAG (from the old Construction Products Directive) and European Assessment Documents (EAD – from the Construction Products Regulation, in force as of 2013). To ensure constancy in product performance, the ETA also defines the provisions for the Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performances (AVCP) that the manufacturer must follow depending on the level of certification, whether supervised by a certifying body or not.
Once the ETA has been obtained, it enables industry players to submit a Declaration of Performance (DOP) which authorises them to take part in the "normal" process for obtaining the CE mark from a certifying body. This is a voluntary approach undertaken by the manufacturer.
European Technical Assessments succeeded European Technical Approvals with the publication of Regulation No. 305/2011 (known as the Construction Products Regulation, or CPR) of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 9, 2011, laying down harmonized conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing Council Directive 89/106/EEC.
All Technical Assessment Bodies (TAB) are grouped together within the European Organization for Technical Assessment (EOTA). Member States designate those organizations that are capable of issuing ETAs. France appointed two organisations – one of which is Cerema – to process applications for construction products used in infrastructure. As a Technical Assessment Body, Cerema is here to support you and offer advice and guidance on obtaining the European Technical Assessment.
ETA normative documents
ETA are based on European Assessment Document (EAD) and European Technical Approval Guidelines (ETAGs) created by Directive 89/106/EEC that have not yet been converted into EAD. These texts are drafted and adopted by the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA) and published, just like harmonised standards, by the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union. If a European Assessment Document exists, the EOTA will use it as a reference for creating the ETA. If this is not the case, it must first compile the EAD in coordination with other competent technical assessment bodies. This document is then drafted and adopted by the EOTA.
Cerema’s specialist fields for construction products
As a member of EOTA since 1996, Cerema participates actively in standardization work relating to infrastructure via the ETA unit and BNTRA (French office for standardization of transport, roads and layout). A public body under the supervision of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Cerema was appointed, by the Decree of 27 April 2015, a Technical Assessment Body for the following fields:
| Area code | PRODUCT AREA |
| 1 | Precast normal weight and lightweight concrete or autoclaved aerated concrete products |
| 3 | Membranes including those in liquid-applied form (for sealing or vapour barrier purposes) |
| 5 | Structural bearings, pins for structural joints |
| 8 | Geotextiles, geomembranes and related products |
| 12 | Circulation fixtures: road equipment |
| 15 | Cements, building limes and other hydraulic binders |
| 16 | Reinforcing and prestressing steel for concrete (and related products). Pretensioning kits |
| 20 | Structural metallic products and related products |
| 23 | Road construction products |
| 24 | Aggregates |
| 26 | Products for concrete, mortar and grout |
| 34 | Kits – rockfall protection netting, geotechnics |
A few examples of ETA completed with Cerema
Prestressing kits and infill products
Assessment of prestressing kits was based on the certification guide no. 13 Post-tensioning kit for the prestressing of structures (ETAG_013), which was converted into two EAD in December 2017: 160004-00-0301 & 160027-00-0301. Cerema chaired the working group for the conversion process. This document covers all types of anchors, single strand heads, multi strands, anchorages for straps, flat anchorages, etc., for use in indoor or outdoor prestressing, and defined the number and kinds of tests to carry out. There is a whole range of possibilities available to you, depending on the products that you would like to have assessed. What’s more, ETAG_013 also covers infill products like special grouts, waxes, and fats.
Once an ETA and the CE mark have been obtained, the certification applies to the entire kit.
Falling rock protection kits
The Falling rock protection kits certification guide (ETAG_027, currently being converted to EAD, chaired by Cerema), is used to assess safety netting used to catch falling rocks. To obtain an ETA, each kit must be accompanied by an application in which a performance category is stated according to the impact energy that the netting can absorb. Two tests are carried out to verify this: a statement of service test, and a maximum energy test.
The concept is as follows: a concrete block of known mass and dimensions is dropped into the kit from a given height, so that it strikes the netting with the desired level of energy. The data collected during these tests is then analysed: strain, breaking point, etc.
Liquid applied bridgedeck waterproofing kit
ETAG_033: Liquid applied bridgedeck waterproofing kit was published in 2010, paving the way for CE marks for bridgedeck waterproofing kits. As ETAG_033 was not converted into an EAD, it serves as a reference for European technical assessment. Following its publication, the performance of these products was certified with national certifications (formerly Setra) that Cerema was authorized to award. Please note that if your products already have a Setra certificate, this is not equivalent to the ETA. Cerema is always at hand to discuss what you still need to do to obtain an ETA, and the legal provisions covering this transition to the CE mark.
Ultra thin layer asphalt concrete
ETAG_035 Ultra thin layer asphalt concrete was published in early 2011, and is the only guide covering a design product for roads. Indeed, ultra thin layer asphalt concrete involves the application of two products that are already independently standardised (the binder and the granulate). When combined, they form a new product used as asphalt surfacing, and the ETA certifies the proper use of these two components. This is a slight distinction that enables the CE mark to be applied to a broader range of products.
Expansion Joints for Road Bridges
ETAG_032 Expansion Joints for Road Bridges was published in July 2013. This ETAG is currently being converted to an EAD. Cerema is involved in this process as both an expert and as the technical secretary for the working group overseeing the conversion.
Contact and ETA Application Form
Unit Manager: Laurent CHAT
Technical Coordinators: Thierry PAULIN
Ask for the European Technical Assessments Unit
Address: Cerema Transport Infrastructures and Materials - 110 rue de Paris - BP 214 - 77487 Provins Cedex
For all information about EOTA:
List of DEE, ETAGs and ETE published on EOTA website.
For useful documentation on the Construction Product Directive (CPD):
European Construction Product Regulation
To find out about TABs and certifying bodies