Look out for new standards

With the transition period following Brexit rapidly coming to an end, there may still be a lot to resolve, but what we know for sure is that new product marks will apply.

While the UK was a member of the EU, we became very familiar with the ‘CE’ symbol. Although we’ll continue to see it, and in many cases still use it, there will be new markings for us here in the UK as from the start of next year. We thought it would be helpful to set out the details relative to our products and items closely associated with them.

UKCA (United Kingdom Conformity Assessed) marking will replace the CE mark at the end of the transition period, i.e. from 1 January 2021. Although that’s not far ahead, companies will usually be able to use the CE mark up to the end of 2021, subject to maintaining the current requirements for showing it. If UK and EU rules governing the use of the mark diverge during 2021, it will no longer be possible to use the CE mark.  From 1 January 2022, UKCA marking will be the only form recognised in Great Britain.

The words ‘Great Britain’ are to be noted because UKCA marking will not apply in Northern Ireland. Instead, CE marking there will be replaced by UK(NI) marking.

This is the UKCA symbol.

Note that the letters forming the UKCA marking must be kept in proportion to this version and at least 5mm in height (unless a different minimum has been specified in separate legislation).

It must be easily visible, legible and, from 1 January 2023, permanently attached to the product it relates to.

The CE mark will still be used when exporting goods for marketing anywhere in the EU. Such goods will of course need to fulfil the requirements that go with showing the mark. The CE mark can be shown in addition to the UKCA mark on a product where compliance with both is satisfied, but the CE mark will have no legal status in the UK after 31 December 2021, and the UKCA mark will similarly have no status within the EU.

Although EU and UK criteria may diverge over time, at 1 January next year the testing basis behind the CE and new UKCA marks is unchanged. When you start to see our products with a UKCA mark rather than a CE one, you can still be completely confident that they have been fully tested for both fire safety and endurance.

Sources:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-ukca-mark-from-1-january-2021

https://www.en-standard.eu 

Keep up with standards as they change.

We thought it would be helpful to show the standards that apply within our industry. We will update this as the designations change.

The standards applying to Rutland products

Standards prefixed with BS EN are effectively the UK versions of standards applied within the EU. We can expect to see the EN letters gradually dropped if and when UK standards diverge from their EU equivalents. 

BS EN 1154: Building hardware. Controlled door closing devices. Requirements and test methods
This is the main standard for controlled door closing devices and confirms that the product has been tested for performance to 500,000 cycles, corrosion resistance and the ability to self-close.

BS EN 1155 Electrically powered hold-open devices for swing doors – requirements and test methods
This standard governs electromagnetic door closing devices and is referenced by the CE mark.

(See also BS8300 below.)

BS EN 1634-1: Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door and shutter assemblies
(BS EN 16034 references this standard)

Products have to be tested to this standard to obtain the CE marking fire classification.

BS EN 1634-3: Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door and shutter assemblies, openable windows and elements of building hardware
While a door closer on its own can’t stop smoke, and therefore cannot achieve this standard, a door assembly – including the door closer present – can be tested against this standard.

BS EN 13501-1: Fire classification of construction products and building elements
Provides the reaction to fire procedure for all products and building elements and gives the standard for how products are tested. It is referenced in EN 1634-1 test reports.

BS476:22 Fire Test standard
British or national standard for fire resistance of doors.

BS8300
Section 7.3.2 – If the opening force for a door on a circulation route is excessive, an electrically powered hold open device meeting the requirements of BS EN 1155 (see above) should be installed.

Section 7.3.1 – Delayed action or swing-free closing devices may be used on doors to individual rooms but are not considered suitable for doors on circulation routes.

See also Building Regulation approved document M (ADM) below.