EN 998-2 Masonry Mortar CE Certification: System 2+ Guide
Factory-produced masonry mortars are placed on the market with CE marking under Regulation (EU) No 305/2011, the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), in Türkiye and the European Union. The relevant harmonised standard for these products is EN 998-2 (Specification for mortar for masonry – Part 2: Masonry mortar). This guide explains which mortars are covered by the standard, which characteristics must be declared in the Declaration of Performance (DoP), and why the involvement of a Notified Body is required for designed masonry mortars.
At a Glance
Designed masonry mortars covered by EN 998-2 are subject to Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) System 2+. The manufacturer determines the performance of the product type, implements Factory Production Control (FPC), and prepares the DoP. A Notified Body assesses FPC through an initial inspection and continuing surveillance and issues a Certificate of Conformity of Factory Production Control. Prescribed mortars, on the other hand, fall under System 4 and do not require the involvement of a Notified Body.
Which Mortars Are Covered by EN 998-2?
EN 998-2 covers factory-produced masonry mortars used to bond masonry units in walls, columns and partitions. Factory-produced mortars may be supplied as dry mixes (in bags or silos) or as wet, ready-to-use mortars. Site-mixed mortars are not subject to CE marking under this standard.
The standard classifies masonry mortars according to two main criteria:
By Design Approach:
- Designed mortar: A mortar whose composition and manufacturing method are selected by the manufacturer to achieve specified properties, such as a particular compressive strength class. Its performance is verified through testing.
- Prescribed mortar: A mortar produced from constituents in predetermined proportions, with its properties derived from those proportions. Prescribed mortars must comply with a recognised formulation applicable at the place of use.
By Type of Use:
- General-purpose mortar (G): A mortar without special characteristics, used in joints thicker than 3 mm.
- Thin-layer mortar (T): A mortar used in joints with a thickness of 1–3 mm, generally with accurately dimensioned masonry units such as autoclaved aerated concrete blocks and calibrated bricks.
- Lightweight mortar (L): A mortar with a hardened dry bulk density below a specified limit, primarily intended to provide improved thermal performance.
Rendering and plastering mortars are covered by EN 998-1 and are outside the scope of this guide.
Characteristics Declared in the Declaration of Performance (DoP)
Annex ZA of EN 998-2 identifies the essential characteristics of masonry mortars and the relevant provisions used to determine their performance. A Declaration of Performance typically includes the following characteristics:
| Essential Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Compressive strength | Class M1, M2.5, M5, M10, M15, M20 or Md (Md: a manufacturer-declared strength exceeding 25 N/mm²) |
| Bond strength (initial shear strength) | Determined by testing or based on tabulated values provided in the standard |
| Chloride content | Declared as a percentage by mass |
| Reaction to fire | Mortars with a low organic material content may be classified as Class A1 without testing under applicable conditions |
| Water absorption | Relevant to mortars intended for use in elements exposed to external conditions |
| Water vapour permeability | Determined using tabulated values or testing |
| Dry bulk density | Particularly relevant to lightweight mortars |
| Thermal conductivity | Relevant where thermal performance is required |
| Durability (freeze-thaw resistance) | Evaluated according to provisions applicable at the place of use |
Where performance is not declared for a particular characteristic, the designation NPD (No Performance Determined) is used in the DoP. However, manufacturers may not use NPD for characteristics subject to mandatory regulatory requirements at the intended place of use. For example, water absorption is generally expected to be declared for mortars intended for external walls.
Designed and Prescribed Mortars: Why Do Different Systems Apply?
The Construction Products Regulation establishes an Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance (AVCP) system for each product and intended use. For masonry mortars, the applicable system depends on whether the product is designed or prescribed.
| Mortar Type | AVCP System | Role of the Notified Body |
|---|---|---|
| Designed masonry mortar | System 2+ | Initial inspection of FPC, continuing surveillance and issuance of an FPC conformity certificate |
| Prescribed masonry mortar | System 4 | None; all assessment responsibilities remain with the manufacturer |
For designed mortars, the declared performance is achieved through the mixture composition and manufacturing process selected by the manufacturer. Independent verification is therefore required to confirm that the production process consistently maintains the declared performance.
For prescribed mortars, performance is derived from established constituent proportions, and third-party verification is not required under System 4.
AVCP System 2+: Responsibilities of the Manufacturer and the Notified Body
Manufacturer:
- Determines the performance of the product type through testing, calculations or tabulated values.
- Establishes, documents and implements Factory Production Control (FPC).
- Tests samples taken at the manufacturing plant in accordance with the prescribed testing plan.
- Prepares the Declaration of Performance and affixes the CE marking.
Notified Body:
- Performs the initial inspection of the manufacturing plant and its Factory Production Control system.
- Conducts continuing surveillance, assessment and evaluation of FPC.
- Issues, restricts, suspends or withdraws the Certificate of Conformity of Factory Production Control based on the assessment results.
Under System 2+, the Notified Body does not perform product-type testing and is not responsible for determining the product type. The document commonly referred to as a "CE certificate" in the construction products sector is, in this context, the Certificate of Conformity of Factory Production Control. The manufacturer affixes the CE marking on the basis of the Declaration of Performance.
Key Factory Production Control Requirements for Mortar Manufacturing Plants
During the initial inspection and continuing surveillance of a masonry mortar manufacturing plant, particular attention is given to the following:
- Incoming raw material inspection: Acceptance criteria for cement, lime, aggregates, mineral additions and chemical admixtures, including supplier documentation and incoming material tests.
- Aggregate management: Control of particle size distribution, moisture and fines content, particularly the maximum aggregate size for thin-layer mortars.
- Batching and mixing: Calibration of weighing systems, formulation management and mixing duration.
- Finished product testing: Testing of declared characteristics, particularly compressive strength, at the prescribed frequencies and comparison of results against the declared performance class.
- Testing equipment: Calibration and verification records for compression testing machines, balances and moulds.
- Traceability: Links between batch numbers and raw material, production and dispatch records.
- Non-conforming products: Segregation and documentation of non-conforming batches, together with corrective actions.
- Packaging and labelling: Consistency between the CE marking information on product bags and the Declaration of Performance.
Example of a CE Marking Label
The following example is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual manufacturer.
Illustrative CE marking label – Designed General-Purpose Masonry Mortar
CE · 3228
Example Construction Chemicals Ltd., [address]
26 (last two digits of the year in which the CE marking was first affixed)
DoP No.: EX-MM-001
EN 998-2:2016
Designed general-purpose (G) masonry mortar for use in walls, columns and partitions.
Compressive strength: M10 · Chloride content: ≤ 0.1% · Reaction to fire: A1 · Water absorption: [declared value] · Thermal conductivity: [declared value]
For illustrative purposes only.
Etiketteki 3228, FÜK'ü belgelendiren onaylanmış kuruluşun kimlik numarasıdır. Onaylanmış kuruluş numarasının etikette yer alması, Sistem 2+'ya tabi ürünlerde zorunludur.
Common Mistakes
- Declaring a prescribed mortar as a designed mortar, or vice versa.
- Using NPD for characteristics such as water absorption when they are required by regulations applicable at the intended place of use.
- Declaring a compressive strength class without supporting evidence from FPC test results.
- Allowing inconsistencies between the information on product packaging and the Declaration of Performance.
- Declaring rendering or plastering mortars covered by EN 998-1 under EN 998-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Only designed masonry mortars are subject to AVCP System 2+ and require FPC certification by a Notified Body. Prescribed mortars are subject to System 4.
No. Under System 2+, determining the product type and testing samples taken at the manufacturing plant are the manufacturer's responsibilities. The Notified Body assesses and certifies Factory Production Control.
Thin-layer mortars (T) are used in joints with a thickness of 1–3 mm and with accurately dimensioned masonry units. Their maximum aggregate particle size is limited. General-purpose mortars (G) are used in thicker joints.
The certificate remains valid provided that the product and manufacturing conditions remain unchanged and continuing surveillance assessments produce satisfactory results. Relevant changes must be reported to the Notified Body.
The application must identify all designed mortar types manufactured at the facility that are intended to be included in the FPC certification scope. The scope is evaluated collectively during the application review.
