Your questions answered
From 1 July 2013 it will become mandatory for manufacturers of construction products, including windows and doors, to apply a CE marking to their products. This requirement is part of the Construction Products Regulation 2011 (CPR), which replaces the Construction Products Directive (CPD). CE_marketing_large
Who is responsible for CE marking?Under CPR, the manufacturer* of a product must apply the CE marking. The 'manufacturer' is classed as the company or individual that creates the finished 'construction element'. In the case of windows and doors, this means the person who supplies the frame and glass. From 1 July 2013, therefore, all fabricators will need to apply CE markings to their products. Failure to do so will be a criminal offence.
Why is CE marking becoming mandatory?The aim of CPR is to harmonise compliance with European standard EN14351-1 across the EU. A CE marking indicates to a customer that a product conforms to specific European technical standards, known as harmonised European Norms (hEN).
What do I need to do?To comply with the new rules, you will need to: 1. Add a CE mark to every window or door you manufacture. 2. Provide a 'declaration of performance' with each product as proof that it meets the required standards. The CE mark must be visible, legible and indelibly fixed to the product, a label, the packaging or accompanying documents. The declaration of performance can either be provided to the customer as a paper copy, or electronically on a website. Each declaration of performance must have a unique number which corresponds to the CE mark applied to each window or door.
How do I prove that my products meet the required standards?The supplier of the individual components that make up your products (glazing units and frames) should be able to provide test results from a notified body confirming the performance of their products. Eurocell can provide this information for all of its PVC-U window and door systems. Alternatively, you can send your own fabricated window and door models to a notified body for testing, allowing you to gain your own performance classifications for each product type. Essentially, though, the responsibility for proving compliance can be cascaded back to the original component supplier. However, it remains the responsibility of the product manufacturer* to apply the CE mark and provide a declaration of performance for the finished product.
Where can I find out more?The technical specialists at Eurocell are always happy to provide advice and information about regulatory compliance and CE marking. You can contact us on 0300 333 6525. For more information about CPR, visit www.bsigroup.com * Manufacturer. This means the person who places a construction product on the market. In the case of windows this means the frames and glass. In the case of doors this means complete door sets, including hardware.