The new EN 16034 product standard covering accessible windows and doors with fire-resistant and smoke-control characteristics was published in 2015. This triggered a move to harmonise, at a European level, the testing, inspection and certification that such products must undergo.
By the end of 2016, fire-resistant doors will already be carrying the CE Marking. To be entitled to do so, though, they will need to undergo a certification process involving the provision of samples, laboratory tests and production-control inspections carried out by an EU Notified Body such as Applus+ Laboratories (NB0370).
Collection of samples
Applus+ technicians will visit your facilities in order to collect product samples. There they will verify the materials, composition and production methods used for the doors that will ultimately be used in the type tests.
Laboratory tests for CE Marking of fire-resistant doors.
Applus+ will carry out all relevant tests, bearing in mind the specific product characteristics, in its own labs:
- Fire resistance tests: doorsets (the fire door and doorframe with all its hardware) will be tested according to EN 1634-1 standard. This fire test assesses the door capacity to maintain integrity for a stated period of time, ( 30, 60 or 90 minutes), as well as its insulating properties.
- Smoke-control tests: The door must successfully impede the passage of smoke in order to comply with EN 1634-3 standard.
- Other related tests: durability, air permeability and watertighness, security, acoustics, thermal transmittance, corrosion, etc.
The manufacturer must supply all relevant technical documentation along with the door samples. This documentation must demonstrate that each component part complies with its respective standard(s) as well as ensuring full product traceability.
Factory Production Control and CE Marking according to EN 16034.
Initial inspection: One of the manufacturer’s primary tasks is to set up a factory production control (FPC) in the factory. Once this has been established, Applus+ inspectors will carry out a technical inspection of this system on site.
Certificate of Constancy of Performance: Once the manufacturer has passed the testing and technical-inspection phases, the resulting documentation is forwarded to the Certification Committee along with the Declaration of Performance (DoP), which is produced by the manufacturer. The Committee checks that all the documentation is in order, approves the product’s CE Marking and issues a Certificate of Constancy of Performance.
Annual surveillance: As specified in the standard, Applus+ technicians will carry out technical monitoring inspections on an annual basis in order to ensure that product quality and performance are maintained.