A
lot of tosh is talked about CE marks. Some manufacturers are deliberately
trying to create a sense of fear and panic. Mostly, the advent
of CE marks means only modest changes for those of us who were
already following best practice. Indupart sectional and roller
doors both bear the CE mark. Testing has been rigorous, but we
are happy to report that compliance did not need any major re-engineering.
Remarkably, CE marks have been around for 10 years, they were
first introduced because of the 1992 Machinery Directive. Component
marking started in 1995. The CE mark is often described as a product
passport, which signifies that a product has been tested to a
common standard or Euro Norm (EN). This allows it to be sold in
any EU member state without further need for country-by-country
testing and certification.
The Machinery Directive only applied to components,
not to whole doors. For a whole door to be CE marked, the complete
door assembly, with all its electro-mechanical components, is
subject to many stringent tests. These tests and CE marking for
whole doors are mandatory under the Construction Products Directive
(CPD). We are forbidden to supply any door which is not CE marked.
This is not bad news. The CPD addresses many issues. It looks
at health and safety, such as the dangers of crushing or cutting
injury due to doors falling, trapping or sharp edges. It looks
at energy conservation. It looks at questions of durability and
suitability for purpose. It also looks at installation standards
and the importance of installer qualification and training so
that the right door is selected for the application and it is
installed correctly.
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| Component
CE marking under the Machinery Directive was relatively
lightly policed. The probability is that unmarked components,
or marked components bearing a false mark, will only have
come to the attention of the authorities in the case of
Health and Safety Executive investigations following accidents.
This time we are assured that it will be different. |
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Local
Trading Standards Departments, who will also have responsibilities
for compliance, are expected to undertake more proactive
policing in addition to the HSE. Installers
who fit the style of CE marked doors suited to the application,
following the instructions in the installer guide, should
have no difficulty. Problems can arise if you use a door
in the wrong application. Mixing and matching components
– such as installing a third party motor, rather than
the model recommended – can also cause difficulty.
This will invalidate our CE certification and the responsibility
to test and self-certify the door then falls on the installer.
These tests could cost a considerable amount of money.
Our
advice and assistance will be given freely. Additionally,
we are happy to enrol fitters on our training courses
to ensure that they are fully conversant with the
products and can install them safely and efficiently.
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| Please
contact your nearest Indupart depot if you need any
help in selecting a suitable door or with technical
questions. |
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