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EN 14351-1 and EN 13830: what estimators must check before pricing
Air permeability, watertightness, wind load, Uw and Ucw, test reports, Declarations of Performance and CE marking: a checklist for pricing aluminium windows, doors and curtain walls to EN 14351-1 and EN 13830.
Most specifications for aluminium windows, doors and façades in Europe ask for performance classes defined in two harmonised product standards: EN 14351-1 for windows and external pedestrian doors, and EN 13830 for curtain walling. Each class in a specification is a promise that has to be backed by test reports and a Declaration of Performance. For an estimator, the question is simple: can the system you are pricing actually meet every class that is asked for, at the sizes in the drawings? This checklist shows what to look for.
What the two standards cover
EN 14351-1 is the product standard for windows, roof windows and external pedestrian doorsets. EN 13830 is the product standard for curtain walling: the non-load-bearing façade of frames and infill panels hung on the building structure. Both are harmonised standards under the EU Construction Products Regulation. That means they list the essential characteristics a manufacturer declares, the test and calculation methods behind each one, and how conformity is assessed. In Lithuania they are adopted as LST EN 14351-1 and LST EN 13830.
The characteristics estimators see most often
| Characteristic | Windows and doors (EN 14351-1) | Curtain walling (EN 13830) |
|---|---|---|
| Air permeability | Tested to EN 1026, classes 1 to 4 under EN 12207 (4 is the tightest) | Classes A1 to A4, or AE above the highest test pressure, under EN 12152 |
| Watertightness | Tested to EN 1027, classes 1A to 9A, or E above 600 Pa, under EN 12208 | Classes R4 to R7, or RE above 600 Pa, under EN 12154 (static test to EN 12155) |
| Resistance to wind load | Tested to EN 12211, pressure classes 1 to 5 (or E) and frame deflection classes A, B or C under EN 12210 | Declared design wind load, tested to EN 12179 and assessed under EN 13116 |
| Thermal transmittance | Uw, calculated to EN ISO 10077-1 and -2 or measured by hot box | Ucw, calculated to EN ISO 12631 |
| Acoustic performance | Rw (C; Ctr), tested to EN ISO 10140 and rated to EN ISO 717-1 | Rw (C; Ctr), same methods |
| Impact resistance | For glazed doors, tested to EN 13049 | Classes under EN 14019 |
| Other declared characteristics | Load-bearing capacity of safety devices, dangerous substances, height and width of doors, ability to release on escape routes | Self-weight, resistance to horizontal loads, fire behaviour where declared, dangerous substances |
Burglar resistance (RC classes under EN 1627) is often specified alongside these, but it is not part of the CE marking. It needs its own test reports for the exact combination of profile, hardware and glass.
Tested type and field of application
A class is not a property of a profile. It belongs to a tested product type: a given system, opening type, size, glass, gaskets and hardware. The standards set rules for how far a test result can be extended to other sizes and configurations. A tilt-turn window tested at one size does not automatically carry the same wind and watertightness classes at a much larger size or with a different opening type. When a position in the schedule is much bigger than usual, or combines opening types in an unusual way, ask the system supplier whether the declared classes still apply.
Declaration of Performance and CE marking
For products covered by a harmonised standard, the manufacturer, that is the fabricator who places the finished window or façade on the market, draws up a Declaration of Performance and affixes the CE marking. For most of their characteristics, windows and external doors fall under assessment system 3: a notified testing laboratory determines the product type by testing or calculation, and the manufacturer runs factory production control. Fire-resisting and smoke-control doors and windows, under EN 16034, need a higher assessment system with a notified certification body.
The regulation is changing
The EU has adopted a new Construction Products Regulation, (EU) 2024/3110, which replaces Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 in stages. During the transition, products covered by harmonised standards cited under the old regulation, such as EN 14351-1 and EN 13830, continue to be assessed and CE-marked on the basis of those standards until new ones are cited. Check the current citation in the Official Journal of the EU when a tender refers to a specific edition.
Checklist before you price
- List every class and value the specification asks for, per unit type.
- Match each one to a test report or calculation for the system and series you are pricing.
- Flag positions that are larger, heavier or more complex than the tested types.
- Check thermal targets against the actual sizes. Uw gets worse as windows get smaller, because the frame takes a larger share of the area.
- Separate CE-marked characteristics from additional requirements such as RC classes, fire resistance and acoustic ratings, which need their own evidence.
- Confirm which documents the tender wants with the bid: Declarations of Performance, test reports, certificates.
- Write any class you cannot meet, or can only meet with a heavier series, into the proposal as an assumption or a question.
For how these requirements feed into the rest of the estimate, see how to estimate an aluminium window and façade tender from drawings and what drives the price of aluminium windows and curtain walls.
Frequently asked questions
What is EN 14351-1?
It is the harmonised European product standard for windows and external pedestrian doorsets. It lists the performance characteristics a manufacturer declares, such as air permeability, watertightness, resistance to wind load and thermal transmittance, and the methods used to test and classify them.
What is EN 13830?
It is the harmonised European product standard for curtain walling. It covers characteristics such as air permeability, watertightness, resistance to wind load, thermal transmittance, acoustic performance and impact resistance.
Do aluminium windows need CE marking?
Yes. Windows and external pedestrian doors covered by EN 14351-1 are CE-marked by the manufacturer on the basis of a Declaration of Performance. Fire-resisting and smoke-control products are covered by EN 16034.
Can a fabricator use the system supplier’s test reports?
Yes, in most cases. The Construction Products Regulation allows the use of test results obtained by another party, usually the system supplier, under an agreement, provided the product is made with the same components and in the same way as the tested product.
Is burglar resistance part of the CE marking?
No. Burglar resistance classes under EN 1627 are often specified, but they are not an essential characteristic under EN 14351-1. They need separate test evidence for the exact combination of profile, hardware and glass.
