CE marking arrives - product standard for windows and external doors adopted
The time has come - the product standard EN 14351-1 : 2006 under the direction of ift has been adopted by the CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) after many years of work. The arrival of the CE marking, long awaited by many and dreaded by some, is imminent. To implement the vision “of a test for Europe”, the ift Rosenheim will support the industry in the course of implementation with their comments and practical information and services.
The work on the EN 14351-1 “Windows and doors - product standard, performance characteristics - Part 1: Windows and external doors without fire safety and smoke tightness features, but with protection against fire from external sources for ceiling windows“ has begun almost 15 years ago in the pioneer phase of the European Standardisation in the TC 33 WG 1+2 committee.
Right from the beginning, it was clear that the standard should be future-oriented, and windows and external doors should be assessed and described independent of the materials used, and without giving constructional specifications. In the light of the complex characteristics of windows and doors, and also different national requirements and peculiarities, this was, by no means, a simple undertaking.
The objective of the product standard is a uniform and material-independent determination of the characteristics and performance classes of windows and external doors, and also the necessary tests and verification all across Europe. Developers, users and manufacturers obtain the basis for a performance-oriented and function-oriented assessment of windows and doors with this product standard. This also means a renunciation of standardised constructions to encourage the development of individual products. The required verification can be carried out not only by performing tests, but also often with the help of simple calculations or use of tabular values.
The product standard is the supported implementation of the European construction product guidelines in accordance with the designs of Appendix ZA for the CE marking. The CE mark shows the conformity (compliance) of the product with the European guidelines and facilitates the tradability of the product all across Europe.
When does the co-existence phase ends?
The end of the co-existence phase is the beginning of February 2010. That means the CE marking would be made mandatory in the EC. National laws to the contrary must be withdrawn.
What must the manufacturers do now?
The following points constitute some of the most important operational tasks:
- 1. Description of the product and the associated performance characteristics
- 2. Compilation of test reports available and checking the conformance of these with the test and classification standards given in the product standard
- 3. Selection of representative test specimens and the establishment of product families
- 4. Assignment of the prototype test (ITT) to a European notified testing body such as ift Rosenheim
- 5. Introduction and/or audit of the factorys own production control department
- 6. Issue of conformance certificates and CE marking
Service by ift Rosenheim
ift Rosenheim offers 40 years of experience in the field of standardisation and also in the areas of planning and execution of all verification for windows, facades, doors and gates and would support the industry with first-hand knowledge with the help of practical information and services:
- ift-Textbook (in German) Kommentar zur DIN EN 14351-1 Fenster und Türen - Produktnorm, Leistungseigenschaften
- Technical article series in the technical press
- Comments to the standard with publication of extracts in the technical press
- Planning and execution of all tests and verifications for all characteristics of windows, facades, doors and gates as a pre-requisite for the CE marking (by arrangement)
- ift product passport as a recognised proof and supplement to the CE marking for quality-conscious manufacturers in conjunction with a certification (ongoing)
The EN 14351-1 is available with Beuth publishers and at all European standardisation centres.
Further informations:
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Andreas Matschi - ift Rosenheim
“Rules of the game” for the European market
in the context of the CE marking
Implementable examples - [363 KB] Dipl.-Phys. Michael Rossa - ift Rosenheim
"From the Ü mark to the CE mark"
National implementation of product standards of glass products - [202 KB] Product standards and quality control
for windows and facades -
Status quo and experience during implementation (ft05 Lass) - [560 KB] CE-marking and implementation by the new RAL-quality assurance - [243 KB]
