ABSTRACT

European Standards † since joining the European Union (EU), trade

and tariff barriers have been lifted. This has opened up the market for manufacturers of construction-related products, from all EU

and European Economic Area (EEA) member states. Before 2004, the EU was composed of 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark,

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It now includes Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia,

Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The EEA extends to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Nevertheless, the wider market is not so easily satisfied, as regional variations exist. This can create difficulties where product

dimensions and performance standards differ. For example, thermal insulation standards for masonry walls in Mediterranean regions

need not be the same as those in the UK. Also, preferred dimensions differ across Europe in items such as bricks, timber, tiles and pipes.