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08/09/2006 - Accreditation News - BSEN14351 Sept 06 |
Accreditations Newsletter #5 focuses on the recently published BSEN 14351 standard which will directly affect all PVC-u fabricators.
BSEN 14351:
Systems companies have been getting used to the changes that took place a few years ago when the European Standard was introduced covering PVC-u extruded profile. Now its the turn of the fabricator.
BSEN 14351, a harmonised product standard has now been published and is about to hit us!
Although recently published, there is a two year transition period to enable the PVC-u industry time to become accustomed with the new requirements and enable their testing to be updated to demonstrate compliance.
This deadline will be September 2008.
Use of this new Standard will start to see the introduction of CE marking on fabricated windows and doors.
Although there are 3 parts to the new standard, Part 1 is the main standard affecting the majority of products. Its official title is
Windows and external pedestrian door sets without resistance to fire and smoke leakage characteristics but including external fire performance for roof windows.
Parts 2 and 3 cover internal door sets and products with resistance to fire.
Key elements of the standard cover
Manufacturers responsibility beyond product manufacture
Initial type testing requirements and Factory production control
Product marking and traceability
The Standard now tabulates performance requirements and it is up to the individual
Fabricators to determine the appropriate grading for all the individual specified criteria.
The standard continues by specifying
the essential characteristics for
windows and doors, the testing
processes and who is responsible for what.
This will ensure that everyone is testing to the same criteria and all windows and doors within Europe can be compared on a like for like basis enabling the use of test generated evidence across all member states.
A grading system is used for each requirement, as the standard now covers a wide range of products from a simple domestic door to a bank vault door and small domestic windows to large commercial installations.
In conjunction with the introduction of BSEN14351, work is in progress to amend the existing BS7412 to incorporate doors (currently only windows are covered in 7412, doors being addressed in PAS 23).
STOP PRESS:
In the September Glass & Glazing mag it states that the Government U turn is now official. Originally the changes to Doc F ventilation - required all replacement windows to be fitted with trickle vents irrespective of whether there was one fitted originally or not. The cost to the consumers, estimated at over 100m, outweighed the benefits and they have now reverted to the original view If the original window had them fitted so should the replacement, if the original did not then the replacement does not require them, although best practice should be considered.
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