Standards and Regulations
Standards and Regulations
The material contained in the tabs is informative and expert in nature.
It does not constitute legal advice or official interpretation.
Horizontal regulations (legal status of UPS)
Waste Framework Directive (WFD) 2008/98/EC
This is a key piece of legislation defining when UPS is waste and when it can cease to be waste. The WFD introduces:
- rules for classifying material as waste,
- conditions for considering UPS as a by-product (Article 5),
- conditions for obtaining end-of-waste status (Article 6).
REACH 1907/2006 – chemicals
REACH specifies the registration obligations for chemicals placed on the EU market. For UPS, it is important that by-products that are not placed on the market on their own may benefit from exemptions (Annex V), but if UPS are sold as a product, REACH obligations usually need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) 2010/75/EU
Regulates the operation of combustion and flue gas treatment installations, i.e., the source of UPS, and enforces the use of BAT/BREF (best available techniques), which affects the composition and quality of ash/SDA products.
Regulations and standards for construction applications
New CPR Regulation 2024/3110 (formerly 305/2011)
This is the European framework for construction products with CE marking. If UPS becomes a component of a construction product (cement, concrete, aggregate), the product must meet the requirements of harmonized EN standards in the CPR system.
EN 450-1 (and EN 450-2) – fly ash for concrete
The most important standard for silica fly ash as a type II additive to concrete. Specifies chemical/physical requirements and compliance and quality control criteria.
EN 206 – concrete
A “concrete” standard that defines the rules for the use of mineral additives (including EN 450-1 fly ash) in concrete mix designs and the performance requirements for concrete in the EU.
EN 197-1 – general-purpose cement
A key cement standard specifying the composition and types of cements, including cements with fly ash as the main component or additive.
Aggregate standards (for slag/bottom ash after processing)
When UPS enter the market as aggregates:
- EN 12620 – aggregates for concrete, including recycled materials, under the requirements of EN 206.
EN 13242 – aggregates for unbound and hydraulically bound mixtures (roads, embankments, soil stabilization).
Regulations for fertilizer/environmental applications (important for biomass ash)
Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 on fertilizers (FPR)
If biomass ash or other UPS is to be placed on the market as a fertilizer/soil improver, it must comply with the FPR requirements for safety, composition, contaminant limits, and CE marking for EU fertilizers.
What about SDA products?
SDA products themselves do not have a single dedicated EN standard at EU level. Their regulatory pathway depends on the application:
- if they end up in binders/building materials → they are subject to CPR and the relevant standards of the final product (e.g. cement/concrete/aggregates),
- if they remain waste → WFD and national regulations regarding recovery/storage apply,
- if they are placed on the market as a product → by-product/EoW and REACH criteria become crucial.
This is exactly the area where national standards and practices in the EU still vary, so good documentation of SDA performance in a given installation/batch is required.
- Silica fly ash from pulverized boilers
Typical applications: concrete additive, cement component, mortars, slurries.
Main references: EN 450-1, EN 206, EN 197-1.
Key condition: quality control, compliance with the standard and stability of parameters.
- Bottom ashes and bottom slags
Typical applications: aggregates, road ballast, embankments, soil stabilization.
Main references: EN 13242, CPR and requirements for the final product.
Key condition: processing, assessment of grain size, leachability and volumetric stability.
- Ashes and fluidized slags
Typical applications: binders, soil stabilization, geotechnics, selected environmental applications.
Main references: WFD, CPR, REACH and application-specific standards.
Key condition: assessment of calcium-sulphate reactivity, swelling and leachability.
- SDA products
Typical applications: binder ingredients, stabilization, material applications after evaluation.
Main references: WFD, REACH, CPR and final product standard.
Key condition: individual assessment of composition, chlorides, sulfates, sorbent and environmental risks.
- Biomass ashes
Typical applications: selected binders, ceramic materials, recultivation, potential fertilizer applications when requirements are met.
Main references: FPR 2019/1009, national regulations, REACH and environmental requirements.
Key Requirement: Assessment of metals, alkalis, seasonal variability and leachability.
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