CAM-certified pipes and fittings for plumbing and heating systems: what the regulations state and what solutions Aquatechnik offers

CAM and sustainability in materials for facilities

With the evolution of environmental legislation and the mandatory introduction of Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) in public tenders (according to the Public Contracts Code), there is a growing need for designers and installers to select materials that comply with environmental specifications. In particular, for plumbing and heating systems made with polypropylene (PP-R) or multilayer pipes, it is essential to understand when the use of recycled materials is required and when, on the other hand, industry technical standards require the use of raw materials.

What are CAMs and which regulations make them mandatory?

The Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM) are the environmental requirements defined for all stages of the purchasing process in the Public Administration, with the aim of identifying the best design solution, product or service from an environmental point of view throughout its entire life cycle, taking into account availability on the market.

To date, the current CAMs have been defined within the Plan for the environmental sustainability of consumption in the public administration sector (2023 edition) and have been adopted by Decree of the Minister of the Environment and Energy Security.

Updated regulations

The effectiveness and mandatory status of CAMs are established by the Public Contracts Code, in particular:

• Art. 57, paragraph 2 of Legislative Decree 36/2023, establishes the obligation to apply the “technical specifications” and “contractual clauses” contained in the CAM for the entire value of the tender.
• The same paragraph requires the CAM to be taken into account when defining the “criteria for awarding the tender” (Article 108, paragraphs 4 and 5).

This ensures that national public procurement policy is effective not only in reducing environmental impact, but also in promoting more sustainable and circular consumption models and strengthening green supply chains.

Governance and updates

The CAMs governance is entrusted to the Management Committee for the implementation of the Action Plan for the environmental sustainability of public administration consumption of PA, established by Ministerial Decree No. 185 of October 18, 2007, and most recently updated by Ministerial Decree No. 194 of May 27, 2024.

Finally, in implementation of the National Strategy for the Circular Economy, the directorate decree of February 6, 2025 established the schedule of activities for defining and updating the CAMs during the year.

 

CAM and PVC/PP-R pipes: the conflict with technical product standards

In the field of facilities engineering, CAMs apply to construction products and stipulate that, where technically possible, the materials used must contain a minimum percentage of recycled, recovered or by-product material.

In particular, the technical annex to the Decree of June 23, 2022, published in the Official Gazette no. 183 of August 6, 2022, stipulates in point 2.5.12 – PVC and polypropylene pipes that:

“PVC and polypropylene pipes are manufactured with a recycled content, meaning recovered materials or by-products, of at least 20% of the product weight.”

However, this requirement collides with UNI EN ISO 15874, the reference standard for polypropylene (PP-R) pipes and fittings intended for the transport of drinking water or sanitary water. This standard does not allow the use of recycled material from external sources, but only raw material or at most, a minimal amount of regenerated material from the company’s own internal production cycle, in compliance with strict health and hygiene standards.

This means that no PP-R pipe intended for drinking water can be CAM certified, as technical regulations exclude it for reasons of water safety and health.

To manage these conflicts, the CAM Decree itself – point 1.1 – provides for a justified exemption:

“If one or more minimum environmental criteria conflict with technical regulations in the sector, the designer shall provide justification for the non-applicability of the minimum environmental criteria in the project report, indicating the regulatory references that determine its non-applicability.”

Aquatechnik solutions compliant with CAM regulations

Although Aquatechnik cannot certify PP-R pipes as CAM for drinking water applications, it offers solutions that meet the requirements of CAM specifications where compatible with technical regulations.

1. Products with EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) certification

All pipes and fittings of the Fusio-technik (in PP-R) and Safety line by Aquatechnik have the EPD environmental product declaration, an internationally recognized voluntary certification, which certifies the environmental impact along the entire life cycle of the product (LCA – Life Cycle Assessment).

The Aquatechnik EPD certification is issued by the International EPD System and verified by an independent third party body (SGS), in accordance with ISO 14025, EN 15804, ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.

EPD certifications are available on the official portal: https://www.environdec.com/library

Aquatechnik certification list: https://www.aquatechnik.it/en/company-certifications/

2. Products with CAM certifications

Aquatechnik products with CAM certification concern:

• Insulation panels for Valu-technik underfloor heating systems.
• Multi-layer pipe coatings from the Multi-calor range.

In these components, recycled material (up to 20%) can be used in the external coating, as it does not come into contact with drinking water and is not subject to the restrictions of technical health and hygiene standards.

How to respond to requests in CAM and PNRR specifications

For the PNRR or public procurement, it is common to find specifications that require CAM compliance. However, it is essential to know that:

• If the project requires a PP-R CAM pipe for drinking water, the incompatibility of the CAM criteria with the UNI EN ISO 15874 technical standard must be documented, as required by the decree.
• During the design or construction management stage, it is enough to indicate in the technical report the reason for the inapplicability of the environmental criteria with reference to the relevant standard.

This position is perfectly legitimate recognized by Italian law and already practized by many designers.

“In practice” sheet:

1. Technical analysis of the specification: if the pipe is intended for drinking water, check the UNI EN ISO 15874 standard.
2. Draw up the non-applicability report in accordance with point 1.1 of the CAM Decree (citing UNI EN ISO 15874 and if necessary, the standards on materials in contact with water intended for human consumption).
3. Enclosed the Aquatechnik EPDs as proof of documented environmental performance.
4. Incorporate CAM components where permitted (coatings, radiant panels) to maximize the environmental score of the tender.
5. Coordinate with the Works Management to demonstrate compliance during site inspections or testing.

Aquatechnik quality and environmental certifications

In addition to the EPD, Aquatechnik boasts a wide range of certifications, including:

• ISO 9001 (Quality Management System)
• ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System)
• Product certifications from bodies such as IIP, Rina, CSTB, AENOR, SZK, Lloyd’s Register.

The product certification process involves:

• Periodic factory inspections by notified bodies.
• Complete traceability of raw materials (only approved virgin polypropylene).
• Sampling and testing in accredited laboratories.
• Issuance/ongoing updating of over 25 international certifications.

Compliance 2025 without compromising on performance

Aquatechnik supports professionals on a daily basis in choosing safe, compliant and certified materials. Although not CAM-approved for drinking water, our PP-R and multilayer systems guarantee high performance, low environmental impact, EPD-certified transparency and full compliance with industry technical standards.

In all cases where the specifications require the use of CAM, it is essential to rely on qualified suppliers who are able to:

• Clarify the inapplicability of the criteria with official documentation (as Aquatechnik does).
• Offer valid alternative certifications (EPD).
• Provide CAM materials where actually required (radiating panels, external coating).

Understanding the difference between UNI EN ISO 15874 and CAM and using the justified exemption, allows designers and installers to avoid disputes during verification and demonstrate transparency by presenting EPDs. The ultimate goal is to maximize environmental performance for a greener future starting with the choice of the best pipes and fittings. For more information, contact our Technical Department.

 Further information and resources

• Video FAQ on Aquatechnik CAM certifications: https://youtu.be/aeOFHfpMueM
• CAM technical circular (PDF): download it or contact the Technical Office
• Aquatechnik environmental certifications: https://www.aquatechnik.it/en/company-certifications/
• UNI EN ISO 15874 standard: available on official regulatory websites