EuroWindoor AISBL gives an update on its activities in the Newsletter 08/2018. In the first half of 2018 we worked hard on our working program (Energy Efficiency, Health and Environment, Research and Education and CE-Marking and Standardisation) to improve the situation of our sector.
The Newsletter 08/2018 of EuroWindoor AISBL has the following content:
Pan-European study on energy savings due to window replacement showing high Energy Savings potential published by EuroWindoor
Directive (EU) 2018/844 amending the EPBD is now published in the Official Journal
On October 24th, 2018 EuroWindoor will host its conference “Daylight by EuroWindoor” during the „glasstec“ fair in Dusseldorf: Provision of Daylight in Buildings – state of the art and news about planning. That afternoon’s event primarily appeals to architects and representatives of the window, façade and glass industry. It focuses on the new European standard EN 17037 for daylight in buildings that will be published in autumn in addition to new findings from daylight research and their skilful implementation in the planning process.
Speakers of the conference are the daylight standardisation expert Prof. Marc Fontoynont, that teaches in Denmark, the renowned German lighting designer Prof. Peter Andres as well as experts from the Verband Fenster + Fassade (Window and Curtain Walling Manufacturers’ Association) and the Bundesverband Flachglas (Federal Flat Glass Association).
The event “Daylight by EuroWindoor” will take place on October 24th, 2018 in context of the “glasstec” fair in Dusseldorf from 2 to 4 pm in hall 10, C18 – F18. There is a simultaneous translation in German and English. Participants can register for 49 € per person directly at the online ticket shop of the “glasstec”. The ticket also entitles you to visit the fair.
In the morning of the same day, October 24th, 2018, EuroWindoor also presents the results of the EuroWindoor study how to deal with windows and exterior doors made of wood after the end of life (“End-of-Life Treatment”) in hall 10 from 11 am to 12.30 pm. “There is no additional charge for this event. You just need to register via EuroWindoor at gs@eurowindoor.eu with keywords “End-of-Life Treatment”, your full name and company name”, explains EuroWindoor General Secretary Frank Koos. “As that event also takes place at the exhibition centre, you need as well a fair ticket for getting access. We recommend to combine that with a “Daylight by EuroWindoor” ticket to join both events.”
On March 20th, 2018, the day before the opening of the trade fair Fensterbau Frontale in Nuremberg, the previous Executive Board of EuroWindoor was unanimously re-elected for three years. The EuroWindoor leadership therefore continues to consist of President Joachim Oberrauch (Division Plastics), Vice-President Helle Carlsen Nielsen (Division Wood), Vice-President Franz Hauk (Division Metal) and unchanged Secretary General Frank Koos.
EuroWindoor consist of 17 national member associations from 13 European countries as well as one member of the company. Thus, since the founding of the European branch representation in 2015, seven new members have been joining.
Current topics of EuroWindoor’s working program are
Upcoming revision of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
Correct energetic evaluation of transparent products within the frame-work of the EU Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD)
From 12 to 14 September 2018, EuroWindoor is conducting a study tour in the Berlin area.
On October 24th, 2018, EuroWindoor is organizing a forum entitled "Daylight by EuroWindoor" as part of the "glasstec conference" at Glasstec Düsseldorf.
[more information about the working program in the section "Activities” and dates in the section "Upcoming Events" ]
The wider area of Berlin will be the destination of the EuroWindoor Study Tour 2018. From September 12th to 14th, 2018 two window manufacturer, a producer of PVC profiles for windows and a wholesaler of Timber will be visited. Different to previous Study Tours all materials of the sector will be considered now in the itinerary. The guidance of the Berliner Schloss, whose rebuilding is almost completed, will be the cultural highlight of this Study Tour. The high significance of window and facade construction in architecture can be illustrated very well at this building.
After traveling to Finland in the region of Tampere in 2016, this time Berlin, Germany will be the destination. “EuroWindoor continues with the biennial organised study tours the long-term tradition of FEMIB, the association of European woodworking associations in the construction industry,” said EuroWindoor Secretary General Frank Koos. “However, after FEMIB continues its activities in EuroWindoor AISBL since the re-foundation 2015, we are now opening this journey to companies of all materials. This is the only way to improve the exchange of knowledge between the individual material divisions in EuroWindoor and to develop our overall common interests in Europe to a greater extent and to represent them more convincingly on the outside”.
The EuroWindoor Study Tour 2018 can be booked for a fee of € 680 per participant until July 6th, 2018. Interested parties from EuroWindoor member groups can participate for the cheaper amount of 575,– Euro. Per companion in a double room the travel price is 395,– Euro. In addition to the visit program, the participation fee includes two overnight stays including breakfast and meals.
Registration deadline is July 6th, 2018. More detailed travel information is available from Markus Christoffel of the EuroWindoor Secretariat in Frankfurt am Main. You can reach him by phone at +49 (69) 955054-36 or by e-mail at gs@eurowindoor.eu.
EuroWindoor AISBL gives an update on its activities in the Newsletter 12/2017. In 2017 we were dedicated again on many items of our working program (Energy Efficiency, Health and Environment, Research and Education and CE-Marking and Standardisation). So EuroWindoor succeeded to bring relevant amendments like the items “daylight” and “healthy buildings” into the political process of the revision the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. As well for the improvement of standardization for the CPR and for environmental issues (e.g. RoHS II) we keep close contact to the European Commission to support the process.
The Newsletter 12/2017 of EuroWindoor AISBL and has the following content:
Revision of the Energy performance of buildings directive (EPBD) – WHAT’S IN FOR WINDOWS?
Michele Canova (European Commission, DG ENV) meets EuroWindoor to discuss implementation of RoHS II Directive for fenestration products
BiPRO recommends RoHS II exemption request of EuroWindoor
The recast of Construction Products Regulation (CPR) – close cooperation with DG GROW
EuroWindoor strengthen influence of Europe in the standardisation work of ISO/TC 162
Study on End of Life treatment of wooden doors and windows
Appointments 2018
For more information please download the EuroWindoor AISBL Newsletter 12/2017 or visit the section Position papers and Publications.
EuroWindoor adopted in the last Directing Council meeting on July 7th, 2017 in Stockholm the Guidance Sheet KB.01: 2017-07 “Power operated Windows” .
EuroWindoor takes account, that building technology relies more and more heavily on power-operated equipment. Power operation causes a higher risk of potential hazards which need to be eliminated by appropriate precautions. This Guidance Sheet supports the manufacturer of windows and provides a code of practice with approaches to technical solutions and information on how to use power-operated windows, aiming to help making window operation safe without major risks.
EuroWindoor the Guidance Sheet KB.01: 2017-07 “Power operated Windows” [Here you find all Guidance Sheets and publications]
EuroWindoor approved in the last Directing Council meeting on March 15th, 2017 in Frankfurt its mission, vision, targets and key activities.
EuroWindoor works for its targets consistently to support the European window, door and facade (curtain walling) sector. We are cultivating a strong network for an effective exchange of information by close contact to the EU institutions, standardization organisations and other to the sector connected associations.
Read more about EuroWindoor strategic working plan here
EuroWindoor adopted in the last Directing Council meeting on March 15th, 2017 in Frankfurt the “Understanding of Specific Technical Documentation (STD)”.
The EuroWindoor document is for clarification of questions of interpretation, especially the Specific Technical Documentation (STD) described in Article 37 of the CPR. It points out that requirements of the then required STD are not sufficiently clear and leave significant scope for interpretation. From the perspective of the fenestration industry STDs must only be based on generally accepted documents, accompanied by comprehensible test reports. The table "Scenarios for valid STDs" gives a helpful overview for evaluation.
EuroWindoor Understanding of Specific Technical Documentation (STD) (March 2017) [Here you find all position papers and publications]
EuroWindoor AISBL gives an update on its activities in the Newsletter 12/2016. In 2016 we worked hard to influence the revision the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and for improvement of standardization for the CPR.
The Newsletter 12/2016 of EuroWindoor AISBL and has the following content:
EuroWindoor response to EU winter package: Don´t forget buildings are for people to live in!
Vasco Ferreira from the EC (DG ENER) meets EuroWindoor
CPR Implementation technical platforms
EuroWindoor position on principles of good cooperation and improvement of effectiveness of standardization for CPR
RoHS exemption for profiles containing recovered PVC
Strong cooperation in the joint position to the revision of the EPBD: “Tapping the potential of windows”
Appointments 2017
For more information please download the EuroWindoor AISBL Newsletter 12/2016 or visit the section Position papers and Publications.
Frankfurt am Main, December 20th, 2016. “Fachverband der Holzindustrie Österreichs” has been adopted with beginning of 2017 as a new member association from Austria.
“Fachverband der Holzindustrie Österreichs” is an umbrella organisation of all industrial undertakings within the woodworking sector and representing as well window, door and facade manufacturers. With “Fachverband der Holzindustrie Österreichs” EuroWindoor counts now 18 member associations from 13 European countries.
For more information about the members please view this section
Frankfurt am Main, December 7th, 2016. EuroWindoor is looking forward to welcome all visitors who are interested in its work to bundle the interests of the European window, door and facade (curtain walling) sector.
Since its founding on April 28th, 2015 in Brussels EuroWindoor was growing from 11 to 19 members and is in Europe appreciated as a competent and well connected association. There are many actual items to talk about and discuss with you at the fair “Bau 2017” in Munich. EuroWindoor is looking forward to your visit and interesting conversations on stand 507 in hall C4. Please send your suggestion for an appointment in time to gs@eurowindoor.eu.
EuroWindoor welcomes the winter package of the European Commission, but fears a sole energy efficiency focus on buildings leaving out key aspects supporting healthy and comfortable living
The cheapest and cleanest energy is, no matter what, that unused and EuroWindoor welcome the Commission’s Energy Efficiency First agenda which has been reinforced by the introduction of the Winter package – with e.g. the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). EuroWindoor fully support the proposal from the EU Commission of a binding 30 % energy efficiency target in 2030 instead of today’s non-binding target of 27 percent.
EuroWindoor is a strong supporter of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Buildings account for about 40 % of the total energy consumption in Europe and EuroWindoor therefore favours constructive improvements that will strengthen the EPBD’s contribution to the EU’s energy and climate goals.
With the revised EPBD and the implementation of the existing EPBD EuroWindoor however see a clear missing link. People spend up to 90% of their time in buildings but many existing European buildings suffer from poor daylight and indoor climate with adverse effect on health, learning abilities and productivity.
“The revised EPBD has included stronger focus on health aspects, and the importance of having a holistic approach to buildings, but it can still be further elaborated and key is the implementation in Member States legislation”, says President Joachim Oberrauch. “Increasing energy efficiency in buildings can go hand in hand with good daylight conditions and a healthy indoor environment, but only if proper attention is paid to this when setting requirements. At the moment daylight and indoor climate aspects are not very much highlighted in the EPBD and hence implemented very weakly in most Member States in national building legislations, and it is not very well integrated in the national compliance tools for energy performance evaluation.”
When it comes to un-tapping the potential of buildings and windows EuroWindoor see another missing link, as the EPBD fails to emphasize the importance of windows not only preventing heat loss, but also being providers of energy gains through the windows. Currently, Member States are regulating windows mainly by tightening the U-values (heat loss parameter), thus pushing towards more layers of glazing. However, when the effect of solar gain is left out, the real performance of a window is not reflected and this is not in line with the objectives of sustainable development or giving the right assessment of a window’s real contribution to the performance of a building envelope.
Read more about EuroWindoor’s position on the revision of EPBD here
[more information about EPBD in the section " Energy Performance of Buildings of the activity "Energy efficiency”]
Frankfurt am Main, November 11th, 2016. EuroWindoor AISBL published the position on Improvement of standardization for CPR as a starting point for discussion with different actors in the standardisation process and as input to the ongoing discussions in different groups related to the standardization for CPR.
EuroWindoor members see the need of more detailed input and permanent communication during the whole process between CEN/TC, CCMC, European Commission (EC) and Member States (MS). Otherwise standards for harmonisation will always be delayed and problems with the citation of hEN will appear again and again.
EuroWindoor position on principles of good cooperation and improvement of effectiveness of standardization for CPR
[more information about Standardisation in the section “Standardisation" of the activity “CE-Marking and Standardisation”]
Frankfurt am Main, November 9th, 2016. EuroWindoor AISBL as a strong supporter of the EPBD requires using the energy balance approach to assess the energy performance of windows.
EuroWindoors infographic shows that energy balance based window replacement requirements are only implemented in a few EU Member States. The energy balance approach considers beside the U-Value (heat loss) as well the g-value (solar gains). The solar gains must be considered in the revision of the EPBD also for replacement.
EuroWindoor Infographic on Energy balance based window replacement requirements in EU Member State[more information about EPBD in the section " Energy Performance of Buildings of the activity "Energy efficiency”]
Frankfurt am Main, November 9th, 2016. EuroWindoor AISBL joins strong industry position supporting to call for a modernised EPBD to unleash the energy savings potential of high performing windows.
Windows and glazed areas in buildings are essential to the overall energy performance of buildings, but also to the general comfort and well-being of people living and working in these buildings. In the joint position paper issued today, the signatories call on the European Commission to consider three priorities ahead of its review of the EPBD:
Increasing the renovation rate of European buildings to obtain larger energy use reductions
Using the energy balance approach to assess the energy performance of windows
Recognising the benefits of daylight, natural ventilation and solar management
Joint Position – Revising the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
[more information about EPBD in the section " Energy Performance of Buildings of the activity "Energy efficiency”]
Frankfurt am Main, September 20th, 2016. EuroWindoor published the Information “REACH – fast facts” with the aim to support the manufacturer of windows, doors and facades (curtain walling) and their suppliers with an overview to the REACH Regulation in general.
In 2015 the European court of justice made a clarification to the EU regulation which is for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). The European court of justice skipped the previous opinion on Art. 33 from ECHA and decided that declaration of single articles (e.g. for a profile) has to be “forwarded” with the article made of articles (e.g. window). The previous interpretation of the REACH declaration for an article made of articles is no longer applicable.
EuroWindoor decided in the Directing Council meeting on July 6th, 2016 in Amsterdam to publish the information “REACH – fast facts” which has been elaborated on basis of a proposal from the German member associations VFF and BF. Beside a general overview on REACH the focus of the document is on duties and recommendations for downstream users.
EuroWindoor information REACH – fast facts
[more information about REACH in the section "REACH" of the activitity "HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT”]
Frankfurt am Main, June 7th, 2016. The Timber Study Tour through the Southwest of Finland was organized in the tradition of the FEMIB study tours and gave the 27 participants from seven European countries varied insights into the Finnish window and timber industry. Furthermore, the study tour was aimed to establish new contacts and to contribute as well the improved cooperation of European companies in the sector.
The starting point of the tour was the Hotel Scandic Rosendahl in Tampere, in which the participants met after their arrival on Wednesday, May 18th, 2016. The visit of the restaurant in an observation tower about 140 m over Tampere with breath-taking view offered the participants the first opportunity to get to knowledge each other. The participants visited on Thursday first the production of Inwido Ruovesi window manufacturer in Ruovesi. A counterpoint set the visit to the nearby Serlachius Art Museum Gösta, whose 2014-opened extension in timber construction attracted international attention. On the way back to Tampere, the participants visited the sawmill Metsä Vilppula. The ultramodern sawmill was optimized in 2013 and impresses with high performance and low level of offcuts. On Friday, the group visited the production of Lammin Ikkunat window manufacturer on the way to Helsinki. Beside the modern production, a test equipment for developing solutions to overcome the shielding of mobile radiation by low-e coating in modern buildings was shown. Finally, the visit of a window installation of Skaala Production Oy in a building complex near the airport of Helsinki was on the itinerary.
The "Federation of the Finnish Woodworking Industries" hosted the Tour. The company visits were only possible by the close contacts of this member association of EuroWindoor AISBL.
Most of the participants were delighted about the impacts they got by this Timber Study Tour and asked for the next tour in 2018!
[more information about study tours in general in the section "Study Tour" of the activity "Research and Education".]
General Secretariat EuroWindoor AISBL, Walter-Kolb-Str. 1-7, 60594 Frankfurt am Main / Germany Tel.: +49 (69) 95 50 54-36, Fax: +49 (69) 95 50 54-11, E-Mail: pr@eurowindoor.eu www.eurowindoor.eu
Frankfurt am Main, April 26th, 2016. EuroWindoor AISBL as a strong supporter of the EPBD favours constructive improvements that will strengthen the EPBD’s contribution to the EU’s energy and climate goals. The energy, health and comfort benefits of windows should be further included and implemented in the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
EuroWindoor AISBLs comprehensive reply to the Commission’s consultation on the review of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (October 2015) EuroWindoor highlighted how windows are contributing to the overall energy performance of buildings and to the general comfort and well-being of people living and working in these buildings. In order to better harvest these opportunities EuroWindoor considers that the revision of the EPBD is an opportunity to better recognise the crucial role windows play in terms of daylight, indoor climate and energy efficiency. When revising the EPBD, the following key points should therefore be further included: 1. Stimulation of the renovation rate of European buildings by acknowledging the importance of non-energy aspects as driving renovation: The rate of building renovation is too low: below 1.2% per year! Triggering renovations in Europe is key in obtaining large energy use reductions in our buildings, and the replacement of windows plays a crucialrole in achieving this goal. 2. Focus on daylight, indoor climate aspects and a dynamic building envelope to ensure that European citizens live and work in healthier buildings: A study from Fraunhofer (IBP) 2015, states that around 80 million Europeans live in damp or unhealthy buildings, which has a great impact of the health and well-being. 3. Assessment of the energy performance of windows based on the energy balance approach to be defined in the specific heating and cooling climatic conditions: Why only regulating one part of a window’s function while leaving the contributing part of solar gain out? In addition to their insulation properties, windows provide free solar heat gains to buildings.
Download of position paper „The benefits of windows and glazed areas“
Download of the Infographic “Windows for healthier buildings”
[more information about EPBD and translations of the documents in the section "Energy Performance of Buildings" of the activitity "Energy Efficiency"]
AGORIA has been adopted as a new member association of EuroWindoor. Agoria is the largest sectoral employers federation in Belgium and is defending the interests of companies in the technology industry. AGORIA’s Business Community Building Technology is representing window, door and facade manufacturers linked to all materials. With AGORIA EuroWindoor counts now 17 member associations from 12 European countries.
For more information about the members please view this section
Frankfurt am Main, March 8th, 2016. Futher interested parties are able now to register until March 29th, 2016 to join the Timber Study Tour 2016 in Finland. The study tour goes through Finland´s Southwest, visiting two window factories, a state-of-the-art sawmill and other attractions such as a museum with a spectacular award winning timber-frame extension. The tour starts in Tampere and finishes two days later in Helsinki
The new Deadline for registration is now: March 29th, 2016.
For questions regarding the journey please contact Markus Christoffel from the EuroWindoor General Secretariat in Frankfurt am Main. You reach him by phone +49 69 955054-36 or email gs@eurowindoor.eu.
Download of the itinerary with all information and the registration form (revised)
[more information about the study tour in the section "Study Tour" of the activity "Research and Education".]
ANFAJE from Portugal and Assovetro from Italy join EuroWindoor AISBL.
EuroWindoor’s Directing Council admitted ANFAJE – Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Janelas Eficientes from Portugal and Assovetro, Associazione Nazionale degli Industriali del Vetro from Italy as new members during the meeting on March 15th, 2016 in Nuremberg. EuroWindoor counts now 16 member assoiations.
[more information about the EuroWindoor members]
Frankfurt am Main, January 20th, 2016. In 2016 Finland will be the destination of the 1st EuroWindoor Timber Study Tour. We offer you interesting company visits and an attractive social program. So EuroWindoor keeps the tradition of FEMIB to organize a study tour in the frame of the division “wood”. The Members of FEMIB (Federation of the European Building Joinery Associations) are continuing their activities in EuroWindoor. The study tour goes through Finland´s Southwest, visiting two window factories, a state-of-the-art sawmill and other attractions such as a museum with a spectacular award winning timber-frame extension. The tour starts in Tampere and finishes two days later in Helsinki.
The Timber Study tour price is 680 Euro per participant. Members of the EuroWindoor Partners pay only 575 Euro per participant. The price per accompanying person using Double room is 375 Euro. This includes besides the tour program two accommodations at the hotel including breakfast and the meals as specified in the program together with a Finnish barbecue at a lake (dependent on the weather). The Deadline for registration is shifted to March 29th, 2016.
For questions regarding the journey please contact Markus Christoffel from the EuroWindoor General Secretariat in Frankfurt am Main. You reach him by phone +49 69 955054-36 or email gs@eurowindoor.eu.
Download of the itinerary with all information and the registration form
[more information about the study tour in the section "Study Tour" of the activity "Research and Education".]
Press contact: General Sekretariat EuroWindoor AISBL, Walter-Kolb-Str. 1-7, 60594 Frankfurt am Main / Deutschland Tel.: +49 (69) 95 50 54-36, Fax: +49 (69) 95 50 54-11, email: pr@eurowindoor.eu www.eurowindoor.eu
EuroWindoor published in cooperation with European Aluminium and ift Rosenheim the Guidance Sheet CE.03: 2015-12 “Declaration of Performance and CE-Marking of Windows and Pedestrian Doorsets with fire resistance and/or smoke control characteristics according to EN 16034”.
For more information and for download of the document view the section "CE-Marking"
EuroWindoor admitted two new members: Glass og Fasadeforeningen from Norway and Ceská komora LOP (Czech Chamber of light envelope of buildings) from Czech Republic. Assovetro from Italy sent the application for membership.
For more information about the members please view this section
EuroWindoor offers in its Timber Study Tour 2016 interesting company visits (window manufacturers, saw mill, window installation etc.) and factful information events will allow deeper views in the process and progress inside the Finnish industry.
For more information please download here the itinerary and register form
For more information about the Timber Study Tour 2016 and its history please view the section "Study Tour" of the activity "Research and Education"
EuroWindoor replied to the public consultation on the evaluation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) with proposals for improvements of the EPBD to raise energy efficiency in the building sector.
For more information please download the document from the section
Position papers and Publications
EuroWindoor followed up on Consultation Forum of the Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) on window products (30/9 2015) and send additional remarks with the new Ecofys study “The current proposal for an energy label for windows – Brief Analysis of Pros and Cons” as annex.
For more information please download the document from the section
Position papers and Publications
A new European association representing the interests of the European window, door and facade industry has been founded. EuroWindoor AISBL received official accreditation on 10 August 2015 by Royal Decree in Belgium and is now a fully formalised and legally operating association.
EuroWindoor AISBL will primarily seek to address EU institutions on key issues related to windows, doors and facades. Ten national associations representing manufacturers and one European Company are the founders of the new association that represents window, door and facade manufacturers in Europe. The companies behind the associations have sales activities all over Europe, and are prominent in the market, interacting with dealers, installers and consumers buying windows and doors.
“Establishing a single independent building materials association, thereby bundling interests, with an efficient structure means that we can effectively represent the window, door and facade industry in Europe,” explains Joachim Oberrauch, President of EuroWindoor AISBL.
The association has already established itself within two key legislative frameworks, the “EU energy labelling of windows” and the “RoHS II Directive”.
EU energy labelling position – questioning the added value for consumers and business
Though EuroWindoor is a strong proponent of energy-efficient measures applicable throughout Europe, the association is unable to back the proposed EU Energy labelling for windows.
Windows are very specific products that are already regulated at national level. In addition, the energy performance of windows depends on a variety of different factors such as different climate conditions (even within countries), orientation and varying building regulations. In line with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Member states are already responsible for defining cost-optimal energy performance requirements for buildings and components, and CE marking for windows is already in place. Finally, no clear link between the introduction of EU Energy labelling and energy savings has been documented by the European Commission. Such an EU Energy label would often not be effective in guiding consumers towards the most energy- and cost-optimal products across Europe and would be highly unlikely to deliver the benefits expected from its introduction.
EuroWindoor is highly committed to continuously increasing the energy efficiency of buildings in Europe. It therefore suggests an alternative to EU Energy labelling – a new code of requirements in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive for new construction and renovation that is based on full energy balance (including solar gain) and not merely on U-Value (heat loss, to be specified in the specific climatic context of the different Member States
Rohs II Directive – scope to be limited
Since July 2011, the RoHS II Directive has been a legal EU Directive that restricts the use of hazardous substances like lead, chrome (VI) or cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment. From 2019, it will also apply to windows and doors with electrical device.
From EuroWindoors point of view, the main problem is that the Directive applies the requirement to the whole window rather than just the electrical components; EuroWindoor is urging it should be restricted to those electrical parts. Furthermore, EuroWindoor criticises the unduly short transition period and insufficient consensus with other similar directives.
Background:
EuroWindoor was founded on 28 April 2015 in Brussels and began operation in Copenhagen on 1 July 2015, when the Directing Council and the General Assembly met for the first time. In addition to agreeing on two position papers, EuroWindoor AISBL adopted its working programme to represent the interests of the European window, door and facade (curtain walling) sector.
National Associations of the European window, door and facade sector and the European association of its supplying industries and companies from Europe can become member. The former organisation EuroWindoor, a cooperative alliance of the European materials-dependent associations FAECF, FEMIB, EPW and UEMV, has been formally terminated, and the associations EPW and FEMIB have formally stopped their past activities to commit them to EuroWindoor.
The founding members of EuroWindoor AISBL
AISBL stands for „Association internationale sans but lucratif“ – Association Without Lucrative Purpose – an international non-profit association.
Associazione Nazionale per la tutela della Finestra made in Italy (ANFIT), Padua, Italy Nederlandse Branchevereniging voor de Timmerindustrie (NBvT), Bussum, Nether-lands Norsk Trevare, Oslo, Norway profine GmbH, Troisdorf, Germany RT Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries, Helsinki, Finland Schweizerische Zentralstelle für Fenster- und Fassadenbau (SZFF), Dietikon, Swit-zerland Swedish Federation of Wood and Furniture Industry (TMF), Stockholm, Sweden Træ- og Møbelindustrien (TMI), Copenhagen, Denmark Union des Fabricants de Menuiseries Extérieures (UFME), Courbevoie, France Verband Fenster + Fassade (VFF), Frankfurt a. M., Germany VinduesIndustrien, Århus, Denmark
Two new members (BF Bundesverband Flachglas from Troisdorf, Germany and VKG Vereniging Kunststof Gevelelementenindustrie from Nieuwegein, Netherlands) were admitted in Copenhagen.
[more Information about the EuroWindoor members]
