Construction & Engineering
LEGISLATION
In-Building Physical Infrastructure
Article 8 of Directive 2014/61/EU on measures to reduce cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks requires Member States to ensure that new buildings and buildings undergoing major renovation works are equipped with high-speed-ready in-building physical infrastructure to facilitate the future installation of cables or wireless devices. The Government is consulting until 30 June 2023 on draft Regulations to transpose these requirements.
Construction Products
European Union (Construction Products) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 transpose aspects of the EU Markets Surveillance Regulation (to ensure that relevant products are compliant with EU harmonisation legislation) and the Construction Products Regulation.
EU Construction Machinery Regulation
A new Construction Machinery Regulation to replace Directive 2006/42/EC on machinery has been adopted. It establishes a framework for placing safe machinery on the market. Once signed by the Presidents of the Council and Parliament it will be published in the OJEU, although there will be a significant lead in time before the new rules are applied.
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 amend the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 to 2023 to ensure that an employer takes appropriate actions to provide that sufficient fresh air is circulating in enclosed spaces within a place of work.
SUSTAINABILITY
European Green Deal: Revised Construction Products Regulation
In the context of the Circular Economy Action Plan and New Consumer Agenda, the EU is progressing several legislative instruments aimed at making sustainable products the norm and mitigating the risk of greenwashing. These are outlined further in the Energy section. They include a proposal for a revised Construction Products Regulation laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing the 2011 Construction Products Regulation. The Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee’s report has been tabled for plenary hearing in July.
IGBC: Public Procurement Handbook
The Irish Green Building Council has published a handbook with the aim of embedding green considerations in the entire life cycle of construction projects procured by a public body.
Public Sector Mandate
In Ireland, a new Public Sector Climate Action Mandate sets out actions for the public sector to take, including phasing out fossil fuel heating systems from 2023 and specifying low carbon construction methods and low carbon cement material as far as practicable for directly procured or supported construction projects from 2023.
European Green Deal: Fit for 55/REPowerEU
Several new or amending instruments have been passed into law, including the Effort Sharing Regulation (under which Member States commit to emissions reduction levels) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (which will eventually require companies importing goods from outside the EU to purchase certificates reflective of the difference in the carbon price in the country of production and the price of carbon allowances in the EU ETS). Our latest update is available here.
IGBC: Public Procurement Handbook
The Irish Green Building Council has published a handbook with the aim of embedding green considerations in the entire life cycle of construction projects procured by a public body.