The Velbert Test Institute - PIV for short - has such a window and facade test stand. It carries out tests on windows and doors in accordance with EN 14351-1 and facades in accordance with EN 13830. They form the basis for manufacturers to be able to affix a CE marking to their products, which has long been mandatory for windows and exterior doors without fire properties. Without this mark, products may not be sold in the EU. The performance characteristics in connection with the CE mark for windows and doors are described in standard EN 14351-1, which has been in force since 2006. The PIV is accredited for this standard, which means that the test results are recognised throughout Europe.
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Elements up to a size of 6 by 5 metres can be tested here. ‘The width is needed more than the height due to the sliding elements to be tested,’ reports Gregor Röhling, who has been responsible for the so-called wind, water and air tests at PIV for 16 years. The maximum test pressure of the test rig is 5,000 pascals - depending on the size and tightness of the element. Balcony doors and front doors have been tested most frequently in recent years. Most are made of plastic or aluminium, but there are also elements made of wood, albeit rarely.
Improved impermeability to driving rain
Gütegemeinschaft Schlösser und Beschläge
The properties that are tested for facade elements include air permeability (in accordance with EN 12153), impermeability to driving rain (in accordance with EN 12155) and resistance to wind load (in accordance with EN 12179). For window and door elements, these are the properties of air permeability (in accordance with EN 1026), resistance to driving rain (in accordance with EN 1027), resistance to wind load (in accordance with EN 12211) and mechanical strength. Endurance tests can also be carried out in accordance with EN 1191. ‘It can be observed that the driving rain tightness of products has improved more and more in recent years. Manufacturers have done a good job here,’ says Röhling. However, he is unable to predict where the requirements for testing will develop in the future. ‘It usually takes years before a new standard comes into force. And the current standards are still young enough to be valid for a long time to come,’ says the expert.
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The entire process of testing windows or facades in accordance with the standards takes a good working day. The test stand must first be set up for the element and the object constructed. Then the test is carried out, which takes four hours for the air permeability, driving rain tightness and wind load test if everything goes smoothly. If the element already fails the driving rain test - i.e. leaks - the test is completed earlier than expected. In order to obtain the necessary certificates for the CE mark, the manufacturer must improve his product accordingly in this case. He can then come back to the PIV for another test.
Inspection of the test stand
Regular maintenance is carried out to ensure that the system always performs correctly. Before each test, many points are checked using a checklist, every 3 months the entire system is serviced independently of a test and once a year there is a complete inspection. Recalibration is carried out regularly by a DAkkS-accredited calibration laboratory. This ensures that the window and facade elements tested there remain protected from most of the nastiness that could penetrate your cosy home from outside.
