Reference

EU CPV codes for construction: the list that matters

Updated August 2026 · 5 min read

Direct answer: CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary) codes classify what a tender is for. Construction sits under the 45000000 family, with sub-codes for buildings, roads, installations and finishing. Choosing the right CPV codes is the single most important step in filtering TED down to tenders you can actually win.

What CPV codes are

CPV is an 8-digit classification (plus a check digit) used across EU procurement so buyers and suppliers speak the same language. The first two digits define the division; construction is 45. The more digits you specify, the narrower the category.

The construction codes worth knowing

• 45000000 — Construction work (the whole family)
• 45100000 — Site preparation; 45112000 excavating & earthmoving
• 45210000 — Building construction; 45213000 commercial/industrial buildings
• 45221000 — Bridges and tunnels; 45233000 highways & roads
• 45300000 — Building installation; 45310000 electrical, 45331000 HVAC, 45330000 plumbing
• 45400000 — Building completion; 45420000 joinery, 45440000 painting & glazing

Browse and search the full set in our free CPV code finder.

How to use them

Combine the CPV codes that match your trade with your target countries and a minimum value. That query — run against TED every day — is your tender pipeline. Rather than maintain it by hand, TenderPulse lets you save it once and delivers matches automatically.