New EU Construction Products Regulation ushers in a new era for modular construction

The European Union’s Construction Products Regulation (EU 2024/3110) has officially taken effect, replacing the 2011 framework. This updated legislation introduces harmonised rules aimed at enhancing sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness within the construction sector. Front and centre of these new rules is modular construction, with the regulation’s focus on transparency, digitalisation, and circular economy principles.

Digital Product Passports Simplify Compliance

A highlight of the new regulation is the introduction of Digital Product Passports (DPPs). These passports provide detailed information about construction products, covering performance metrics, safety data, and environmental impacts. For modular construction, DPPs presents significant opportunities. They enable precise tracking of prefabricated components through their entire lifecycle, ensuring compliance with sustainability and safety standards. This increased transparency is intended to foster trust among stakeholders, from architects and engineers to developers and end users, and the objective to position modular systems as a preferred construction method.

Circular Economy and Modular Construction

The new Construction Products Regulation also aligns with the EU’s commitment to fostering a circular economy, as outlined in the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. The regulation emphasises the importance of reuse, repair, and recycling across the construction industry to reduce waste and conserve resources. Modular construction integrates well with these principles due to its inherent ability to disassemble and reconfigure prefabricated components. This modular flexibility allows for extended lifecycle use and contributes to a projected 10–15% reduction in material waste during production.

Expanding Market Access with Harmonised Standards

One of the new regulation’s key benefits is the harmonisation of product standards across the EU, which has the effect of simplifying trade and market access. Modular construction manufacturers can now navigate the EU Single Market more efficiently, with reduced administrative costs and streamlined compliance processes. By removing technical barriers, the regulation will encourage modular systems to scale more effectively, driving faster project delivery and cost savings.

Supporting Innovation and Digitalisation

The regulation also champions digitalisation, a feature well-aligned with modular constructions modern methods. It encourages the use of advanced technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and supports innovative materials and processes. Manufacturers are required to declare performance and conformity, using DPPs as a digital tool to ensure transparency and accountability. This approach enhances collaboration across the supply chain and opens doors to further innovation in design, production, and installation.

Modular Construction and Sustainability Goals

Interestingly, the regulation explicitly supports offsite construction methods, including modular systems, recognising their potential to reduce costs, improve project timelines, and meet housing demands efficiently. Modular construction’s alignment with sustainability goals, such as minimising waste and using renewable materials, reinforces its importance in the EU’s transition towards greener building practices. By positioning modular methods as a sustainable solution, the regulation strengthens the sector’s role in shaping the future of construction.

NB: Australia is also navigating its own path to a building production registration scheme. Read about it HERE

Download the new EU Construction Products Regulation HERE