Proposed Irish Standard — Code of Practice for Procurement and Use of Unbound Granular Fill (Hardcore) for Use under Concrete Floors. Hubert Fitzpatrick 12 August 2014

Background The Report of the Pyrite Panel (Recommendation 15) recommends that: –a standalone specification for hardcore be developed that covers the performance of the material, the testing requirements at various stages within the supply chain and ensures the traceability of hardcore; and –a more detailed and specific testing, certification and traceability regime be put in place for hardcore material for use in dwellings and buildings.

S.R. 21:2014 S.R. 21:2014 was reviewed and updated by the NSAI; Annex E provides guidance on the specification of unbound granular fill for use under concrete floors and footpaths based on I.S. EN 13242:2002+A1:2007. It covers: –performance requirements for the aggregate; –initial type testing –procedures for factory production control (including the on-going testing and traceability regimes); and –certification of the material by means of a Declaration of Performance and CE marking of unbound granular fill (hardcore) for use under concrete floors and footpaths. Intended use of aggregate to be clearly stated on the Declaration of Performance (DoP and other documentation)

Proposed Irish Standard — Code of Practice for the Procurement and Use of Unbound Granular Fill (hardcore) for Use under Concrete Floors. To provide guidance on post manufacturing operations such as: –Procurement; –Haulage; –Delivery & receipt; –Storage and handling; –Placing; –Record management To improve the chain of custody within the supply chain and ensure traceability of hardcore suitable for the particular end use.

Builder Obligations Ensure that all hardcore ordered is specified in accordance with the project specification and the proposed Code of Practice. Intended end use of the material i.e. “unbound granular fill (hardcore) for use under concrete floors and footpaths in accordance with Annex E of SR 21:2014” to be communicated to the supplier in writing. The builder may procure hardcore: –Directly from a manufacturer; or –From an Intermediary(under strict conditions which should be defined) Pre-approval of producer & source by builder Contracts terms should by very clear e.g. supply and placement, whether or not they are a distributor under the CPR.

Delivery It is essential to: –ensure that the material ordered is what is actually received on site and incorporated into the works; –that the original manufacturer’s delivery docket is furnished to and retained by the builder in the interests of traceability and recourse should a problem arise.

Receipt of Materials on Site The delivery docket to be inspected prior to unloading; Visual inspection: –The hardcore may be visually inspected during unloading. Unloading to be ceased if the appearance of the material appears visually unsuitable; Onsite testing: –May be required by the Designer; Action in the event of non conformity –Where visual inspection or on site checks reveals a non- conformity,delivery should be rejected

Supply Chain Responsibilities Builder Builder orders direct from manufacturer Order the material in accordance with the project specfication i.e. I.S. EN SR 21 Annex E; Communicate clearly to the Manufacturer, the intended end use "UNBOUND GRANULAR FILL (HARDCORE) FOR USE UNDER CONCRETE FLOORS AND FOOTPATHS" and request compliance with the specification set out in Annex E of SR 21; Request the Declaration of Performance (DoP) (preferably in hardcopy);

Supply Chain Responsibilities Builder contd… Review the DoP and be satisfied that the information provided is in accordance with the project specification. The DoP should include a statement declaring Annex E material for a particular end use as follows: –"UNBOUND GRANULAR FILL (HARDCORE) FOR USE UNDER CONCRETE FLOORS AND FOOTPATHS“; Review the Manufacturer’s delivery docket to ensure it includes a statement “GRANULAR FILL S.R. 21:2014 ANNEX E“; Retain the Manufacturer’s delivery docket in respect of each load of material received on site for a minimum of 6 years or in accordance with the contract, whichever is the greater; Make available the DoP and delivery dockets for inspection by others.

Supply Chain Responsibilities Manufacturer Manufacturer supplies direct to the Builder Provide to the builder with a CE Marking symbol on the commerical documentation; Provide a Declaration of Performance (DoP) to the Builder with respect to each load of material. The Declaration of Performacne should include a statement declaring Annex E material for a particular end use as follows: "UNBOUND GRANULAR FILL (HARDCORE) FOR USE UNDER CONCRETE FLOORS AND FOOTPATHS"

Supply Chain Responsibilities Manufacturer contd… Provide a delivery docket in respect of each load containing at least the following information: –quarry source and manufacturer’s contact details; –designation, –A statement "GRANULAR FILL S.R. 21:2014 ANNEX E" –date of dispatch; –serial number of the ticket; –reference to EN 13242

Traceability and Record Management Traceability on Site. Contractor to ensure that all unbound granular fill for use under concrete floors and footpaths is ordered in accordance with the latest versions of: –The project specification –Annex E of SR21 –IS EN Contractor’s procurement arrangements to ensure traceability from the producer’s facilities to the exact location within the works where the material is incorporated.

Traceability and Record Management contd… Prior to commencement of placing of unbound granular fill under concrete floors or footpaths the Contractor to submit a comprehensive Method Statement detailing: –All producers and sources of unbound granular fill to be incorporated into the works –Where stockpiling on site is envisaged, proposals for managing and documenting individual stockpiles to ensure that only material from a single source is stored in any one stockpile –Proposals for recording the precise location within the works where material from each source is incorporated –A designated person responsible for ensuring that the Contractor’s method statement is implemented on site. This function to be retained by the main contractor irrespective of whether he places the unbound granular fill or sub-contracts this work.

Traceability and Record Management contd… The Contractor to ensure: –that each delivery of unbound granular fill material to site is accompanied by the original producer’s delivery docket; –that all original delivery dockets are retained on site for inspection; –That each delivery docket be checked by the Contractor to ensure that it: Confirms that the material complies with latest editions of IS EN and Annex E of SR21 and with the requirements of the Construction Products Regulations; Identifies the source of the material – producer and quarry; Includes the contractor and site details; and The date on the delivery docket corresponds with the actual date of receipt on site

Where a supplier of a construction product places a product on the market under his name or trademark, he is considered to be the manufacturer under the CPR and is subject to the obligations of a manufacturer. Rebranding changes the producer for purposes of product liability and incurs liability for product certification, including CE marking and traceability CPR Obligations

FAQs: Construction Products Regulations A retailer sells a product, which is not manufactured by himself / herself, using the retailer's own name. May the retailer use the declaration of performance (DoP) drawn up by the real manufacturer? Retailers (the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) calls them distributors) making construction products available on the market on their own (trade) names are considered manufacturers (cf. Article 15). Therefore, they need to draw up their own DoPs for these products.

FAQs: Construction Products Regulations If a Declaration of Performance (DoP) is required, does the testing of the product need to be redone every year and a new DoP issued or remains the DoP valid if the product does not change? To avoid unnecessary administrative burdens, the DoPs and the initial testing serving to draw up the DoP do not need to be repeated, unless the circumstances have changed (for example, the production process and/or the performance of the product have been altered). However, construction products for which a DoP is issued are subject to continuing testing and surveillance after the first product is placed on the market to ensure that the production process and the performance of the product conforms to these declared under the DoP.

NSAI Aggregates Panel Work to commence September 2014: Update SR 16 Guidance to EN 12620: Aggregates for concrete Update SR 18 Guidance to EN 13139: Aggregates for mortar

Conclusion Ordering and Specifying of Materials: –I.S. EN SR 21 Annex E; –"UNBOUND GRANULAR FILL (HARDCORE) FOR USE UNDER CONCRETE FLOORS AND FOOTPATHS" Declaration of Performance and Delivery Dockets Method Statement for managing and documenting stockpiles and incorporation of fill into works Ordering from original manufacturer Ordering from intermediary