WRITTEN QUESTION E-3170/96 by Bryan Cassidy (PPE) to the Commission (22 November 1996)

Subject: Progress for the single market in building materials

Last year the European Commission was asked how it could ensure that the Single Market in Building Materials could be developed whilst at the same time ensuring the best possible protection of European citizens' lives (Ref: Parliamentary Question H-0710/95 by Robert Sturdy MEP) ((Debates of the European Parliament 4-468 (October 1995). )). I have now evidence that European fire officers, firemen and fire experts are expressing their worries that test methods for fire classification under discussion are not well documented and do not adequately cover important issues such as the development of smoke and burning droplets in connection with fires. This will for instance allow for plastic insulation materials to be used in the future despite the fact that they are notoriously dangerous if used in buildings.

The fire in Düsseldorf Airport showed that by using such plastic insulation products, which according to German classifications are classified as difficult to ignite, a small initial fire can turn into a disaster.

Will the Commission explain if the worries of fire experts are unjustified and if it believes that the planned decisions concerning test methods will ensure that European citizens' lives can be safe from the threat from major fires caused by unsafe building materials.

Evidence in reference to this question has been supplied to the European Commission in advance.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (20 January 1997)

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member to protect European citizens' lives, and is fully aware of the fire safety issues raised by European fire officers and others.

In the context of fire safety, the work being carried out in connection with the construction products Directive (CPD) ((Directive 89/106/EEC, 21 December 1988, OJ L 40, 11.2.1989. )) concerns only the harmonisation of fire classification systems. Building safety remains the responsibility of national regulators in each Member State and the implementation of the CPD must have no adverse consequences for current levels of fire safety in buildings.

The work of the Commission on fire classification systems aims primarily to harmonise test methods, of which there are currently about 30 in use throughout the Community, resulting in an unnecessary burden on potential exporters. It has not yet been finally decided how to treat the issues of smoke production and flaming droplets in a harmonised way. In the absence of proposals for harmonised solutions, Member States will continue to be able to regulate at a national level, with due observance to the Treaty, for these two parameters.

The Commission also notes that national fire regulators from all Member States are fully involved in work on fire classification systems, through a special group set up for that purpose. Further, the standing committee for construction is kept fully informed by written progress reports at each meeting, and any decisions relating to the adoption of a classification system will be subject to formal vote at this committee.

In conclusion, the Commission stresses that levels of security will not be impaired by development of the single market in building materials, and that decisions concerning test methods for fire classification must have no adverse consequences for the safety of European citizens.