CE applies in the EU and UKCA in Great Britain. Kitchen units are not always in scope, but components and some fitted products may be. Scope is decided per product, not per project, so a cabinet can be in scope for one component and out for another. Confirm the scope and the declaration before assuming a mark is needed.
CE applies in the EU; UKCA in Great Britain.
Scope is per product and per component.
A declaration of conformity supports the mark.
The technical file is kept by the manufacturer or importer.
Northern Ireland follows a separate regime.
1. What the marks mean
CE and UKCA are marks that show a product meets the applicable regulations. They are not quality marks and not certificates of origin. A product in scope carries the mark and a declaration of conformity; a product out of scope does not, and adding a mark without scope is itself a problem.
2. CE vs UKCA
| Produit | CE | UKCA |
|---|---|---|
| Aperçu | EU | Grande Bretagne |
| Domaine | Directives et règlements de l'UE | Réglementation britannique |
| Déclaration | Déclaration de conformité de l'EU | UK declaration of conformity |
| Dossier technique | Oui | Oui |
| Irlande du Nord | Different route | Not the same as GB |
After Brexit the two regimes are separate. A CE declaration does not automatically become a UKCA declaration, even when the underlying standards are identical.
3. Scope for cabinets
Scope depends on the product and its components. A plain cabinet is often out of scope; a cabinet with electrical fittings, gas parts or specific safety features may be in scope for those components. Check each component against the applicable regulation, and record the conclusion in the project file.
4. The declaration of conformity
A declaration names the manufacturer, the product, the standards applied, the authorised signatory and the date. It is a legal statement, not a brochure line. Ask for the declaration that matches the exact product and the exact market.
5. Le dossier technique
The technical file supports the declaration: drawings, test reports, material data and risk assessment. It is kept by the manufacturer or the importer, depending on the regime, and should be available to authorities on request. The guide des documents de conformité shows how it fits the wider pack.
6. Labelling and instructions
Where a mark applies, the product, packaging and instructions may need the mark, the manufacturer details and the market language. Missing labelling is a common finding at the border, and it is easy to fix before shipment.
7. UK, EU and Northern Ireland
The EU, Great Britain and Northern Ireland are three routes. A product that is compliant in one is not automatically compliant in the others. Confirm the route for each destination, and do not assume a CE file covers a UK shipment or a Northern Ireland delivery.
8. A scope checklist
Record four things: the product, the components, the applicable regulation and the conclusion. If the conclusion is out of scope, record why. A file that says nothing is worse than a file that says out of scope for a stated reason.
9. Une liste de vérification avant de s'engager
Avant de signer, veuillez confirmer six points : la qualité du circuit imprimé, le modèle de matériel, le système de finition, les normes d’emballage, le périmètre d’inspection et les modalités de paiement. Chaque point doit être confirmé par écrit, et non par téléphone. La liste de vérification du devis permet de synthétiser ces six éléments en un tableau comparatif d’une seule page.
10. Erreurs courantes
L'erreur la plus fréquente consiste à comparer le prix d'usine avec le coût final. La deuxième est d'omettre l'inspection du budget. La troisième est de payer le solde avant la validation de l'inspection. Chacune de ces erreurs est évitable grâce à un cahier des charges écrit et une inspection avant expédition.
11. Comment mesurer la pièce
Mesurez chaque mur en trois points : en haut, au milieu et en bas, et retenez la plus petite mesure. Les murs sont rarement d'équerre, et une courbure de 10 mm sur trois mètres modifie le remplissage. Mesurez le plafond à chaque angle et repérez les prises électriques, les radiateurs et les canalisations d'évacuation avant de dessiner. Un relevé précis est plus rapide qu'un dessin, et le guide de mesure est fourni avec une fiche imprimable.
Foire aux questions
Do kitchen cabinets need CE marking?
Not always. CE applies to products within the scope of EU directives or regulations. Cabinets are often out of scope, but components such as electrical fittings or gas parts may be in scope. Check per product.
What replaced CE in the UK?
UKCA is the marking for Great Britain. CE is no longer automatically recognised for products that require UKCA, though some categories accept both during transition.
Does UKCA apply in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland follows different rules under the Windsor Framework. Treat it as a separate route and confirm the applicable regime.
What does a declaration of conformity contain?
The manufacturer, the product, the standards applied, the authorised signatory and the date. It is supported by a technical file kept by the manufacturer.
Who prepares the technical file?
The manufacturer or the importer, depending on the regime. The file supports the declaration and should be available to authorities on request.
How long should the file be kept?
Usually five years, or the period stated by the applicable regulation. Keep it longer if the project warranty runs longer.
