In addition to fire testing, products for use on fire, smoke and escape doors are also required to meet an appropriate EN performance standard. European product performance standards (ENs) have been developed for most building components, these include a comprehensive range of performance standards for architectural
hardware. Almost all of these European architectural hardware standards follow a common format to help their understanding by specifiers, architects & users. Each product is classified under a sequence of performance headings; generally, these are the same for all products.
Products are ‘marked’ with a six or more (8 for hinges) digit classification coding, this shows what levels of product performance are being claimed for the item. This classification system enables complementary items to also be specified to, for instance, a common level of corrosion resistance, category of use, door mass etc. Each product and/or its packaging is required to be marked with:
• The manufacturer’s name or trademark or other means of identification.
• Product identification number.
• The six or more digit classification number as above.
• The BS EN standard number e.g. BS EN 1935 for hinges
• The year and week of manufacture (this may be coded)
Specifiers should note that different levels of product quality can be determined by the specific coding the product gains. It is therefore worthwhile checking the coding against apparently homogenous products.
