About CE Marking in general

CE MARKING IN GENERAL

Since 1 February 2010, all window and door manufacturers have been required to place the CE marking on their products placed on the market in EU and other EEA countries.

Construction Products Regulation

The CE marking is a direct consequence of the EU single market, which is intended to ensure the free movement of goods and services between member states. To turn the intentions into practice, various directives and regulations for different product groups have been prepared.

Windows and doors are covered by the Construction Products Regulation (305/2011), which contains seven basic requirements to be satisfied by all construction works:

• mechanical resistance and stability
• safety in case of fire
• hygiene, health and the environment
• safety and accessibility in use
• protection against noise
• energy economy and heat retention
• sustainable use of natural resources

It is laid down in harmonised standards how to assess and declare the performance of the construction products in relation to their essential characteristics and thereby meet the basic requirements above.

Notified bodies operating under the EU Construction Products Regulation (305/2011) carry out third party tasks eg. assessment of the performance in accordance with the relevant harmonised standard.

Legislation

CE marking is about demonstrating compliance with a product standard.

Product standard
The harmonised standard applying to doors and windows is called:

EN 14351-1:2006 + A2:2016
Windows and doors - Product standard, performance characteristics - Part 1: Windows and external pedestrian doorsets

This standard does not apply to elements with fire resistance and smoke control characteristics nor does the standard apply to internal doors.

The product standard provides information about how to determine various performance characteristics, e.g. acoustic performance, dangerous substances, air tightness, etc. According to Annex ZA to the product standard, it is the legislation in the country where the product is marketed that determines which performance characteristics should be declared as a minimum.

For the market in Ireland and Iceland (and earlier GB) this means that the manufacturer, through the CE marking, should as a minimum declare:

Thermal transmission coefficient (U-value)
Load-bearing capacity of safety devices
Radiation properties – sun factor and light transmittance

and inform about the release of dangerous substances to the indoor climate.

In Iceland the watertightness must be declared as well.

Documentation

Chapter	Subject	Reference	Note
5. Classification and designation	Intended use Product range Product description Product description Durability Durability	See CE mark and DoP Products Products NBS specifications User manual Conditions and warranties
6. Handling, installation, maintenance and care	Storage and handling Installation Maintenance and care	Receipt and storage Installation manual User manual	(1)
7. Evaluation of conformity	Initial Type Testing Factory production control Declaration of Performance	ISO 9001-certificate See DoP	(2)
8. Labelling and marking	Traceability Labelling Marking	See below See below See below