The European Assessment Document (EAD) is the documentation of the methods and criteria accepted in EOTA as being applicable for the assessment of the performance of a construction product in relation to its essential characteristics. The EAD is developed in all cases where the assessment of a construction product is not or not fully covered by a harmonised technical specification (Regulation (EU) No 305/2011).

European Harmonised Standard

The European Technical Assessment (ETA) is a document providing information about the performance of a construction product,  to be declared in relation to its essential characteristics. This definition is provided in the new Construction Products Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 which entered into force on 1st of July 2013 in all European Members States and in the European Economic Area.The ETA provides the voluntary way for the manufacturer to CE-mark a construction product. The ETA can be issued, if the construction product is not or not fully covered by any harmonised European Standard (hEN) andthe assessment methods and criteria are laid down in a European Assessment Document (EAD).

Formerly, European Technical Approval Guidelines (ETA Guidelines or ETAGs) were elaborated upon the mandate of the European Commission in order to establish how Approval Bodies should evaluate the specific characteristics/requirements of a construction product or a family of construction products. ETAGs were used as basis for European Technical Approvals (ETAs) until 30th June 2013.As of 1st of July 2013 no new ETAGs will be developed. Published ETAGs may be used by TABs as EADs and their technical assessment methods can serve to issue ETAsssessments

A not-for-profit association set up to coordinate and lead the European accreditation infrastructure

Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein

Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland

A European standard developed by a recognised European Standards Organisation CEN, CENELEC, or ETSI. Manufacturers, other economic operators, or conformity assessment bodies can use harmonised standards to demonstrate that products, services, or processes comply with relevant EU legislation