DIETER ROSEN1

1) Technical Director Association of the German Brick and Tile Industry, 53113 Bonn, Germany, rosen@ziegel.de

This paper is intended to provide an overview of the existing national provisions in EU member states with regard to the assessment of the radioactivity of building materials and to outline the European legal framework. With reference to survey measurements conducted by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection in Germany, the measurement and assessment of the radioactivity of masonry products, especially masonry bricks, are described.

With the coming into force of the EU Directive for Laying down Basic Safety Standards for Protection against the Dangers arising from Exposure to Ionizing Radiation in 2014 and the expected implementation of mandated requirements for labelling construction products with regard to their environmental performance in compliance with the Construction Products Regulation, assessment of the radioactivity emitted by construction products will gain particular importance in the future.