How EU expertise can develop into

worldwide market leadership: A

Report from the fixing industry

Dr. Ulrich Bourgund

Chairman Construction Fixing Europe

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Safe and reliable fastenings are vital for many
constructions

2
Failure of Fastenings may have dramatic
consequences

2006

3
Strong need to provide transparent rules to the
fundamental balance of safety and economic
solutions
Design Product performance

European Commitee for Standardisation European Organisation for Technical Assessment

(CEN) (EOTA)

Column & foundation Fastening element Fastening element

Eurocode 2 and 3 Eurocode 2, Part 4 European Assessment Document (EAD)

European Technical
Assessment
(ETA)
Eurocode 3
Steel construction

Concrete construction Eurocode 2

The European industry is the uncontested WW
leader in fastening technology

Product Qualification
• ETAG 001 → EAD ▪ Technical Basis created by > 40 PhD
• New EADs Thesis
• New TR ▪ Major part financed by industry over
more than 25 years of joint research
Design rules
• EN 1992-4

▪ More than 2000 ETAs issued for

fastening products in 5 years time
Continuous innovation and investment in
product qualification: The KEIL success story
➢ 2004 first ETA – CUAP / ETAG 034

➢ 2015 first ETA – EAD 330030-00-0601

➢ Holder of: 33 ETAs, 1 ICC – ESR

➢ More than 600 manufacturer of facade panel make

use Keil undercut technology
− Products with ETA sold in 82 countries
worldwide
− Familiy business, 3rd generation

The product system

Key applications of undercut anchoring for facades
→ Ensure safe applications / drive productivity
ETAs are about «products» AND «intended
use» to provide safety in construction

Chemical fastening Chemical fastening Chemical fastening Chemical fastening Chemical fastening
system (injection) system (injection) system (injection) system (injection) system (injection)
for anchoring static for anchoring for anchoring for for anchoring static for hybrid screw
(concrete uncracked seismic (concrete) fatigue (concrete) service life 100 years anchor
/ cracked) (concrete)

2005 2020

Chemical fastening Chemical fastening Chemical fastening Chemical fastening

system (injection) system (injection) system (injection) system (injection)
for post installed for post installed for post installed for post installed
rebar static rebar seismic rebar static service rebar static beyond
life 100 years cast in

The performance of chemical anchor products in concrete has doubled over 15 years time
ETAs for fastenings are hold by manufacturers
around the world

Asia # ETAs
China 33 (18)
Taiwan 29 (16)
India 29 (15)
Singapore 16 (14)
Europe # ETAs Thailand 11 (2)
Germany 1590 (669) Hong Kong 9 (7)
Italy 579 (317) Korea 7 (1)
America # ETAs Poland 480 (280) Japan 6 (3)
United States 32 (7) U.K. 455 (112) Malysia 6 (5)
Brazil 13 (13) Spain 379 (142) …
Canada 12 (-) France 350 (210)
Switzerland 280 (105) Middle East # ETAs
Netherlands 266 (93) Turkey 83 (47)
Austria 257 (71) UAE 15 (13)
No ETA
… Lebanon 11 (10)
1 - 5 ETAs Liechtenstein 148 (93) Australia # ETAs
Dubai 3 (1)
6 - 20 ETAs … Lybian 2 (2) Australia 41 (40)
Iran 1 (-) New Zealand 2 (2)
20 - 50 ETAs
50 - 100 ETAs
100 - 500 ETAs
# ETAs1)
> 500 ETAs Total 6452 (2789)
1)Explanation:
6452 … # ETAs for all product families
(2789) … # ETAs relevant for Anchor

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Major countries adopt EAD / ETA / EC2 fastening
regulations
Vietnam
India Anchor: ETA / ACI 318-14
Anchor: ETA Rebar: EC2
Rebar: EC2

Malaysia
Anchor: ETA
Rebar: EC2
Australia
Anchor: ETA / EC2-4
Singapore Rebar: AS 3600
Anchor: ETA
Rebar: EC2
New Zealand
Anchor: ETA / EC2-4
Rebar: NZS 3101

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 The way to technological leadership is driven
by few essential parameters

Transparency and reliability of processes

Needs on product regulatory documents

Contributions from industrial sector

& decisions of regulatory frame Continuous Investment in
The new products / technology

Reliability on timing for publication ingridients

of documents (EADs, hEN etc.) Continuous Investment
for market in new applications to
improve productivity in
Level Playing field / leadership construction
harmonisation / joint safety
development
concept / (sustainability)
of industry Readiness to invest into
harmonised technical
Agile processes on application sectors requirements
driven requirements from
construction sector
Standardisation (hEN) and Assessment(ETA) – two options
for product- and application performance qualification.

«hEN» Standardization «ETA» Assessment route

route
Manufacturer can apply for a
Mandate is provided by
CE mark and performance
Initiation / Mandate the European
assessment of a product in a
Commission
respective application.
Time to develop final For new EADs fro 12 bis 15
From 3 to 7 years
document months
Voluntary CE marking of
respective product in
Impact & Implementation mandatory CE marking
combination with the
intended use.

Both routes are needed in Europe for harmonisation of construction product qualification (safety, productivity,
digitisation, sustainability)

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What is needed from the future legal
framework CPR ?

Key driver for hEN / EAD development should be: Ensure safety
Needs on product regulatory documents

in construction, support productivity gain in all construction process.

Strong support for technical harmonisation in construction.

Do not eliminate respected and successful existing documents /

allow continuity from past technical achievements and successes.
Improve cooperation / communication of EU administration for
the benefit of generating solutions.
Establish real reliable, predictable and transparent processes for harmonized
technical specifications (timing, decisons).
Stimulate innovation

Allow agile processes and documents to undergo changes as technology progresses

(modulare concept EAD, change management concepts)
Manufacturer

National associations
in France, Germany
and UK

Thank you very much for your attention !

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