How to Get CE Certification in the UK
If you make, import, or sell products in the UK, one common question is: how do you get CE certification in the UK?
CE marking is not simply about getting a certificate. It is the process of showing that your product meets the relevant legal requirements before it is placed on the market.
The route depends on the product type. For some products, the manufacturer can complete the process internally. For others, testing, technical documentation, and sometimes third-party assessment are required.
For many businesses, the difficult part is not the CE mark itself. It is knowing which rules apply and what evidence is needed.
What Does CE Certification Mean?
CE marking shows that a product complies with applicable safety, health, environmental, or performance requirements.
It applies across different sectors, including:
- machinery
- electrical products
- pressure equipment
- measuring devices
- construction products
In practice, CE compliance is mostly about technical evidence and documentation, not just the label placed on the product.
Step 1: Identify the Correct Regulation
The first step is identifying which regulation applies to your product.
This matters because one product can fall under more than one legal requirement.
For example, an electrical control panel may follow one route, while a product intended for permanent use in a building may fall under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
Products such as anchors, metal brackets, refractory fixings, and structural components often need this check at the very beginning.
Step 2: Check Whether Testing Is Needed
Once the regulation is clear, the next step is deciding how the product will be assessed.
Depending on the product, this may involve:
- product testing
- performance assessment
- risk review
- checking against relevant standards
For construction-related products, testing often focuses on declared performance.
For example, customers may need evidence for:
- load capacity
- fire performance
- corrosion resistance
- durability
Step 3: Prepare the Technical File
A technical file is one of the most important parts of CE compliance.
It usually includes:
- product description
- drawings
- material details
- test reports
- applicable standards
- manufacturing records
- traceability information
A product may perform well in practice, but without proper documentation, CE compliance can still become a problem.
Step 4: Issue the Required Declaration
After assessment is completed, the manufacturer issues the required declaration.
Depending on the product, this may be:
Declaration of Conformity
Used for many product sectors.
Declaration of Performance (DoP)
Often important for products under CPR.
This document formally states what has been assessed and what performance has been declared.
Step 5: When a Notified Body Is Required Under CPR
For many products, manufacturers can handle most of the CE process themselves.
But for many construction products, the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) may require the involvement of a Notified Body.
This depends on the product, the harmonised standard, and the relevant AVCP system.
This is common for products used permanently in construction works, such as:
- structural metal products
- anchors and refractory anchors
- façade brackets
- metal support components
- certain bitumen-related construction products
In these cases, the Notified Body may be involved in:
- factory production control assessment
- initial inspection
- surveillance of production consistency
- assessment of constancy of performance
ATC International (Notified Body No. 3076) works in relevant CPR scopes, particularly for metal construction products and selected bitumen-related products.
For manufacturers, identifying this requirement early usually saves both time and cost.
Step 6: Apply the CE Mark
Only after the assessment and documentation are complete should the CE mark be applied.
The CE mark must be supported by the technical evidence behind it.
Applying CE marking too early can create commercial and regulatory problems.
Final Thoughts
If you want to know how to get CE certification in the UK, the process starts with understanding the right legal route.
For many products, the path is straightforward.
But where construction applications are involved—especially metal products, refractory anchors, structural components, and certain bitumen products—the CPR route can become a key part of the process.
Please contact us to provide assessment and certification services.
