Certification
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CERTIFIED KNOW-HOW
Construction Products Regulation (CPR) 305/2011/EU is effective since July 1st, 2013. It significantly enhances the completeness and reliability of the entire regulatory framework regarding the stability and safety of construction products while establishing stricter and more precise criteria in the involvement of notified bodies (auditing and assessment organizations accredited by EU member states) or other parties in the process of evaluating and verifying construction products’ compliance.
CPR aims at eliminating all barriers regarding the sale and distribution of construction products within and throughout the European Union. This is accomplished by adhering to four core principles described within the CPR, with respect to obtaining CE mark certification (Conformité Européenne). The CE mark is mandatory and provides proof that the product complies with the Declaration of Performance (DoP), as issued by the producer.
The DoP varies according to the harmonized European Norm (hEN) applicable to each specific product.
Architectural glass exhibits a wide range of applications that span beyond its basic set of characteristics as an insulating, transparent space divider, into areas such as safety and protection, solar control and energy efficiency, to name but a few. As the importance of architectural glass in construction increases, so is the necessity for the certification of its mechanical properties, its endurance over time, and its constancy of performance under the rules and guidelines of the European norms.
HARMONIZED EUROPEAN NORMS
Harmonized European Norms or standards (hENs), as defined by the European Standards Organizations CEN/CENELEC, by request of the European Commission.
ASSESSMENT AND VERIFICATION OF CONSTANCY OF PERFORMANCE
Factory Production Control (FPC), which includes written policies and procedures regarding processes, implementation of actions and internal audit procedures for maintenance and improvement of the performance.
Initial inspection of the manufacturing plant and of the FPC
Continuous monitoring, assessment and evaluation of the FPC
Product type identification on the basis of type testing (including sampling) or based on descriptive documentation
Further testing of samples taken at the factory by the manufacturer in accordance with a prescribed test plan
Maintaining comprehensive technical documentation on each product
FRAMEWORK FOR NOTIFIED ORGANIZATIONS (NOTIFIED BODIES)
DECLARATION OF PERFORMANCE (DoP) AND PRODUCT CE MARKING
Architectural glass exhibits a wide range of applications that span beyond its basic set of characteristics as an insulating, transparent space divider, into areas such as safety and protection, solar control and energy efficiency, to name but a few. As the importance of architectural glass in construction increases, so is the necessity for the certification of its mechanical properties, its endurance over time, and its constancy of performance under the rules and guidelines of the European norms.
VAS “VASILIOU GLASS TECHNOLOGIES”, a company fully compliant with the current European framework and norms, maintains a thorough and well-documented Factory Production Control system, while operating within two distinct appraisal systems, differentiated by the level of involvement of notified-body organizations in each one of them.
Specifically, VAS “VASILIOU GLASS TECHNOLOGIES” operates under the following systems:
System 1:
An independent third-party (notified body) a) determines the product-type and issues the product’s Certificate of Constancy of Performance, which includes all relevant technical documentation and b) performs continuous monitoring, and evaluation of the Factory Production Control system.
An independent third-party (notified body) a) determines the product-type and issues the product’s Certificate of Constancy of Performance, which includes all relevant technical documentation and b) performs continuous monitoring, and evaluation of the Factory Production Control system.
System 3:
An independent third-party (notified body) specifies product-type on the basis of type-testing. The manufacturer implements and monitors the Factory Production Control System.
An independent third-party (notified body) specifies product-type on the basis of type-testing. The manufacturer implements and monitors the Factory Production Control System.
The CPR 305/2011/EU, effective as of July 1st, 2013, places strong emphasis in distinguishing between the obligations of manufacturers of construction products, as opposed to the obligations of importers and distributors.
It specifically emphasizes the cases when the obligations of the producers become also the obligations of the importers and distributors, specifying that an importer or distributor shall be considered a manufacturer and shall be subject to the same obligations, in the event he places a product on the market under his name or trademark or modifies a construction product already placed on the market in such a way that conformity with the declaration of performance may be affected.
VAS “VASILIOU GLASS TECHNOLOGIES”, a company fully compliant with the current European framework and norms, is acting primarily as a manufacturer, while each product it markets is accompanied by a relevant DoP and is CE-marked as set forth in the CPR 305/2011/EU.
DISTINGUISHING OF OBLIGATIONS ACCORDING TO CPR 305/2011/EU
More analytically:
>They can be partially or entirely passed on to an importer or distributor.
Draw up a declaration of performance (DoP) and affix the CE marking
Any information made public regarding the product’s performance should not contradict the information provided in the DoP.
Maintain the technical documentation and the declaration of performance for a period of 10 years since the first introduction of the product in the market.
Ensure that any product placed on the market is uniquely identifiable and its manufacturing process fully traceable.
Product withdrawal in the event the product is not in conformity with the DoP or other aspects of this regulation.
Where the product presents a risk, manufacturers shall immediately inform the national authorities of the Member State.
Provide to a competent national authority all relevant information and documentation requested.
Ensure that the product is accompanied by instructions and safety information that can be easily understood by users in the language of the Member State concerned.
>For CE marked products:
Ensure that the construction product bears the CE marking.
Ensure that the construction product bears the proper brand-name.
Ensure that the CE mark reference number matches that of the DoP.
Distribute the DoP and any relevant accompanying documents.
A distributor shall be considered a manufacturer and shall be subject to the same obligations, in the event he places a product on the market under his name or trademark or modifies a construction product already placed on the market in such a way that conformity with the DoP may be affected (Article 15).
Obligations of Manufacturers (Article 11)
>They can be partially or entirely passed on to an importer or distributor.
Obligations of Distributors (Article 14)
>For CE marked products:
Obligations of Importers (Article 13)
>The importer’s obligations fall between those of the manufacturer and those of the distributor.
An importer shall be considered a manufacturer and shall be subject to the same obligations, in the event he places a product on the market under his name or trademark or modifies a construction product already placed on the market in such a way that conformity with the DoP may be affected, Article 15.
VAS “VASILIOU GLASS TECHNOLOGIES”, a company fully compliant with the current European framework and norms, is acting primarily as a manufacturer, while each product it markets is accompanied by a relevant DoP and is CE-marked as set forth in the CPR 305/2011/EU.
More analytically:
Each product of VAS “VASILIOU GLASS TECHNOLOGIES” processes a CE Marking according to the CPR 305/2011/EU, which is mandatory and is based on:
CE TEMPERED GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 12150
CE TEMPERED GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 12150 AND EN 12600 (PENDULUM TEST)
CE HEAT STRENGTHENED GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 1863
CE TEMPERED GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 12150 AND HEAT SOAK TEST TREATMENT ACCORDING TO EN 14179
CE LAMINATE SAFETY GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 14449 and EN 12543, PVB
CE LAMINATE SAFETY GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 14449 and EN 12543, SGP
CE LAMINATE SAFETY GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 14449 and EN 12543, DG41
CE LAMINATE SAFETY GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 14449 and EN 12543, TPU+PC
CE LAMINATE SAFETY GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 14449 and EN 12543, ACOUSTIC
CE LAMINATE SAFETY GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 14449 and EN 12543, SG41
CE INSULATING GLASS ACCORDING TO EN 1279
VAS “VASILIOU GLASS TECHNOLOGIES”, operates under System 1 for the assessment and verification of constancy of performance - certificate No. 5052, issued by the Italian Notified Body CSI S.p.A. with ID CE CPR 305/2011 No. 0497 and under System 3 for the determination of product-type, issued by Italian Notified Body Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro S.c.p.A. – SSV, with ID CE CPR 305/2011 No. 1694.
Additionally, VAS “VASILIOU GLASS TECHNOLOGIES” is certified under Quality Management ISO 9001: 2008, certificate No. 01 100 072045, issued by the German Notified Body TUV Rheinland Cert GmbH.
Finally, the company holds extensive OEM certification, attesting its competency for quality-processing of specialized products, originally supplied by the OEM.
