Issue 6/2004
11/02/04
What importance does quality assurance have following the introduction of the CE mark?
Market success through quality assurance - the new concept
David Hepp (ift rosenheim, Germany)
In 1988, harmonisation of the building market for Europe was resolved. The basis for this is the Construction Products Directive, in which essential demands made of buildings have been formulated. The Construction Products Directive was implemented in Germany in 1993 with the Building Products Act.
With prEN 14 351, a new form of product for windows, external doors and roof windows is being introduced, regulating all the standardised properties and features and making reference to the valid test and classification standards.
Category: Issue 6/2004
Posted by: Editor
This product standard enables classification of the components for the following mandatory (essential) properties and their explanation in the course of the CE marking for windows and doors. These are:
- wind load,
- fire resistance/reaction to fire/external fire on roof windows,
- smoke control,
- watertightness,
- shock resistance,
- sound and heat protection,
- air permeability,
- snow load for roof windows.
With the CE mark, the manufacturer declares fulfilment of these requirements by the performance properties of the product.
Further, supplementary properties can be classified in the course of the regulations in the product standard and declared separate from the CE mark. These are:
- operating forces,
- mechanical strength,
- ventilation,
- bullet resistance,
- explosion resistance,
- mechanical durability,
- different climate,
- dimensional precision (door wings),
- flatness (locally and generally on door leaves),
- burglar resistance.
The product standard opens up the possibility of tendering and selecting products according to the requirements of the building and relative to the object, as not every product has to fulfil all the requirements.
In addition, the standard requires that every window, door and façade manufacturer introduces an effective and documented factory production control.
No further quality features such as processing criteria, admissible tolerances or construction criteria are connected with the CE mark and the requirements resulting from it. These features can be additionally demanded by the companies or the body inviting to tenders.
Compliance with and fulfilment of the features determining quality or the supplementary properties can be documented with the factory production control and with quality marks such as the RAL quality mark or an ift product certification and used for advertisement.
Preconditions for a CE mark for windows and doors without fire and smoke protection properties
The following preconditions and properties must be proven by the manufacturer of the components:
- The materials must guarantee a lasting function of the window or door element. The relevant standards and regulations are to be observed and complied with in each case.
- The properties and the matching classifications of the components must be confirmed by an authorised agency in the course of an initial type test.
- The components must be provided with a documentation giving the user sufficient information at least with regard to the purpose of application, upkeep, cleaning and use. Further, the components must be marked with the CE mark. With the CE mark, a declaration of conformity concerning the property of the product must also have been produced.
- For each property for which a class is to be stated in the framework of the CE marking or for which a marking is demanded by the user, a corresponding initial type test must be conducted. Fulfilment of these properties in series production is then a matter for the manufacturer.
- The manufacturer must effectively introduce and document a factory production control.
Quality assurance - the ideal tool for reasonably priced implementation of CE marking
Fulfilment of the aforementioned preconditions confronts the producers with a not inconsiderable task. It demands detailed knowledge and personnel expenditure from every company.
CE marking and the fulfilment of the requirements described below are expected of the manufacturer. In cases of doubt, the customer/consumer will demand proof of an effective factory production control from the manufacturer, permitting a direct deduction with regard to the assured properties of the components.
Quality assurance offers the companies support in implementation at justifiable expense. Tables 1 to 3 show the individual tasks facing the producers and the assistance given by quality assurance.
Summary
The rules and requirements for windows, doors, façades and winter gardens have been stipulated independent of the materials. For the trade of goods across national borders, they will now apply even more strongly for the components mentioned.
The ift offers the necessary assistance at reasonable cost in a holistic implementation of the concept within the framework of quality assurance.
As a result of the implementation of the concept of the ift Rosenheim with a factory production control and third party monitoring, the company's expenditure with regard to introduction, maintenance and declaration of product conformity with the valid demands and guidelines for the components is considerably reduced.
The quality mark provides an additional possibility of distinguishing oneself on the European market.
Lecture given on the occasion of the "Rosenheimer Fenstertage 2003"
6/2004
