EN 997 is the European standard for WC pans and WC suites with an integral trap. It covers one-piece WCs, close-coupled suites and independent pans, and sets construction requirements, performance requirements and test methods.
Yes, it applies to imported WCs. A WC placed on the EU market is treated as a construction product, so it needs CE marking and a Declaration of Performance (DoP) based on the harmonised version of EN 997, whether it was made in Spain or in Gujarat.
What EN 997 covers
The standard does not apply to squatting pans, WC pans without an integral trap, or flushing cisterns sold as separate appliances. Separate cisterns fall under EN 14055.
Its essential characteristics, which appear on a DoP, typically include:
- Load resistance, so the pan carries a user's weight without failure.
- Water-tightness of joints and connections.
- Flushing performance at the stated flush volume, including clearing tests.
- Cleanability of the bowl surface.
- Prevention of backflow, and reliability and durability of the flushing device where one is part of the suite.
Class 1 and Class 2
EN 997 sorts pans into two classes by type and flush volume. Class 1 is designed for continental European practice and for cisterns adjustable to several nominal volumes, such as 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9 litres. Class 2 follows the legislation and market requirements of the United Kingdom, with its 6 litre limit on a single flush.
A pan must be tested at the volume it will be sold for. Ask the factory which class and volume each test report covers. Flush volume rules by country gives the UK and other limits.
Which version is harmonised
As of October 2026, national standards-database listings show EN 997:2012+A1:2015 as the version cited for CE marking under the Construction Products Regulation, and the later EN 997:2018 as not harmonised. In practice, DoPs cite the 2012+A1:2015 version.
The EU has also adopted a new Construction Products Regulation, (EU) 2024/3110, which replaces Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 with transitional rules from 8 January 2026. Ask your importer adviser or a test lab how the transition affects your DoPs and labels.
What the importer must do
Under EU construction product rules, an importer must check that the manufacturer has drawn up the DoP and technical documentation and affixed CE marking, and must add its own name and contact address to the product or packaging. You are not a bystander if the paperwork is wrong.
DoPs published for EN 997 pans generally cite assessment system 4, in which the manufacturer carries out the type testing and runs factory production control itself. No notified body certificate is involved, so the quality of the underlying test reports is what protects you.
- Ask for the DoP for each model, in the language of the market where it is sold.
- Ask for the type test reports behind it, from an accredited lab, naming the exact model.
- Check that the CE marking and the label details match the DoP.
- Keep the documents for the period the rules require.
UK and other markets
The UK uses the same EN 997 classes, with UKCA or CE marking depending on current UK rules, and buyers often look for WRAS approval for fittings. Outside Europe, EN 997 test reports are still useful evidence of performance. For tiles, the equivalent document is explained in what a Declaration of Performance is.
Next step
We check DoPs and test reports against the models offered, and confirm the CE marking and labels at inspection. Book a free sourcing review.