Dave frost of CEN Solutions on the en 1279 testing process. Submit units asap for EN 1279 march 2007 deadline

With the arrival of 2006, there is now a new urgency developing with regard to insulating glass unit manufacturers applying for EN 1279.

The Notified Body Test Houses are becoming busier as the test slots available are being taken up with type testing to Part 2. For those wishing to claim compliance before the mandatory deadline of 1st March 2007, then October this year is the latest to submit units to enable everything to be in place in time, although units can be submitted right up until the end of the transitional period.

Those that have already undergone this test and achieved a good pass cannot, however, rest on their laurels.

Periodic Testing

The requirements laid down in EN 1279 Part 6 still have to be met and, although companies may be confident that their Factory Production Control (FPC) system is working properly, some may have overlooked their responsibilities with regard to the on-going Periodic Testing.

This Periodic Testing is a shorter form of the main Type Test and provides evidence that the daily production is representative of the units initially tested.

Four tests are required in the first two years and, after four consecutive passes, this then reverts to one per year thereafter. Failure at any stage will mean that the testing schedule reverts back to the beginning i.e. four tests in two years. It is, therefore, very important that companies get this right.

Compliance Management

CEN Solutions Ltd, with their experience and expertise in this field are ideally placed to advise on how to achieve this. Not only do we offer the on-going Periodic Testing at our Test House in the Midlands (pictured above), but we have also developed a unique Compliance Management system to ensure, as far as possible, that companies maintain compliance with EN 1279.

The system offers regular auditing of FPC, specifically designed to highlight any problem areas and enable these to be corrected before they become a major issue.

Test slot dates are booked in advance and the units for testing are either selected from production or made to specified random sizes, enabling them to be manufactured without any special treatment. These units are then brought back to our Test House near Stafford and tested exactly to requirements of the standard. Specific data concerning the units is logged and, after testing, our consultants are on hand to thoroughly discuss the results and address any issues that may have arisen.

This comprehensive service is available to all EN 1279 compliant companies, irrespective as to whether or not we were used to initially implement the FPC system.

The beauty of this system is that it enables the unit manufacturer to concentrate on what he does best, manufacturing insulating glass units. The independent advisory service and unit collection is, we feel, unique to the industry and we are already working with over 140 companies, at varying stages of testing through the four tests in two years scenario. Many have already noted improvements in the quality of the finished product.

For those wishing to claim compliance now this ongoing testing is mandatory but if you want to wait, don't make the mistake of leaving this to the last minute. If everyone wanted a test slot in February 2007, then there wouldn't be the capacity to cope with such a massive influx of testing.

Apply now

Applying for the Periodic Testing and Compliance Management Service now will not only enable you to be well on the way to demonstrating compliance already, but should ensure that, by the end of the Transition Period, all your problems will have been ironed out and that your declaration of Conformity will be valid.