List of Members
GPDA in Europe
European legislation is having an increasing influence on
the way gypsum products are produced, specified and used. Issues
such as impact on the environment, harmonisation of standards,
CE marking, reduction of waste and health and safety are already
being addressed by the gypsum industry on a European scale.
The GPDA is an active member of Eurogypsum, the European Federation
of national associations of producers of gypsum products whose
prime aim is to promote both the products and interests of these
producers. It undertakes joint research projects on relevant scientific,
technical-economic and legal matters and by initiating information
and public relations programmes. It places particular emphasis
on dialogue with European governmental institutions and for this
reason a Eurogypsum representation office was opened in Brussels
in 1996.
There are three working committees: one for scientific and technical
matters, one for environmental and raw materials, and one for
economic issues and public relations. There are other European
organisations which also have an influence on European developments.The
Council of European Producers for Materials for Construction (CEPMC)
represents the interests of its members - the National Council
of Building Material Producers in the UK and the Building Materials
Confederation in Ireland - on issues such as the implementation
of the Construction Products Directive, fire protection in construction
and environmental issues. Eurogypsum is an associate member of
this organisation.
Through these organisations, and also through the BSI, members
of the GPDA make an enormous contribution to the development of
harmonised standards in Europe. There are currently nine formal
and ad-hoc committees working on CEN standards relating to gypsum
products, including acoustic properties, fire safety, dry lining,
plasters and floor screeds. TC241 which deals with gypsum products
is currently working on 17 standards dealing with the definitions,
requirements and test methods for gypsum products. It is expected
that the first of these will be produced by the year 2000.
For its part, Eurogypsum is also working on a multi-lingual lexicon
of gypsum products enabling the translation of terms related to
gypsum products and systems between English, French and German.This
is a revised version of a 1975 document, since when technology
and the understanding of different national approaches has moved
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