Sealants make up a very small percentage of any overall building cost, and perhaps as a result, little forethought is given to their capabilities. However, this can cause devastating and irreparable damage when they do not fulfill their role.
Choosing the right sealant has never been more complicated. For centuries, beeswax, bitumen and asphalt have been applied to seal joints to stop the ingress of water. Now, with the development of modern polymeric sealants, there are thousands of options on the market.
Choosing the right sealant, whether the choice is being made by a DIY enthusiast or a construction professional, may be complicated, but getting it wrong can have grave consequences if the performance and longevity does not match the specifications of the job.
The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) stipulates that by 1 July 2014, all non structural sealants, that fall under the CPR harmonized European standard, and are sold in the European Union, must display a CE Mark. This new regulation means that manufacturers and distributors are required to produce a Declaration of Performance (DoP) for essential product characteristics, meaning they are now legally responsible for the conformity of their product.
Correct sealant application involves a diverse set of properties being understood by the specifier or purchaser, including cohesion, adhesion, reactivity, curability, movement capability, elasticity, stress resistance, climatic stability, flammability, and cost, to mention only a few. So the new standardization series EN 15651, (parts 1-5 covering sealants) means that the end user can be clear on a product’s characteristics and suitability for purpose.
The first four parts of the EN 15651 apply to the requirements placed on products for the following applications:
• Part 1: Sealants for facade elements
• Part 2: Sealants for glazing
• Part 3: Sealants for sanitary joints
• Part 4 Sealants for pedestrian walkways
A product’s compliance with EU legislation allows it to be traded freely within the European market. More importantly, the CE Mark demonstrates that the manufacturer is taking responsibility for the product, meeting all legal requirements for CE Marking itself, and that the product has been examined by an independent Notified body. The CE mark must be visibly and indelibly displayed on the product or packaging, as well as stating the intended use for the product.
This also applies to sealant products that are imported for sale in the EU. Manufacturers may choose which properties are recorded for CE Marking purposes so a direct comparison of products is not always possible. However, CE Marking goes a long way to indicating specific characteristics and properties, giving the contractor or end user peace of mind, and performance regulation.
4ward Testing is claiming to be the first Notified Testing Laboratory in the UK for sealant testing to the hEN 15651:2012 (parts 1-5) set of standards, enabling manufacturers to CE Mark their products for sale in the EU.
