Author name: EuroWindoor

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:

1. Increasing the renovation rate of European buildings to obtain larger energy use reductions
2. Using the energy balance approach to assess the energy performance of windows
3. 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 The previous interpretation of the REACH declaration for an article made of articles is no longer applicable.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 6^th, 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”]

The EuroWindoor AISBL Newsletter 08/2016 is available for download.

The Newsletter informs about recent activities of EuroWindoor AISBL and has the following content:

• The Crucial role of windows in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
• EuroWindoor information REACh – fast facts
• EuroWindoor Timber Study Tour 2016 on May 18- 20th, 2016 in Finland (short review)
• EuroWindoor grows – New Members
• Appointments 2016/ 2017

For more information please download the EuroWindoor AISBL Newsletter 08/2016 or visit the section Position papers and Publications.

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 18^th, 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 29^th, 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 15^th, 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 29^th, 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 applied in cooperation with EPPA an exemption to the RoHS II directive for using recycled PVC for windows and doors profiles.

Please find more information in section RoHS2 of "Health and Environment" 

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]