Industrial doors are an essential part of many companies and businesses, as they allow the entry and exit of goods, vehicles, and people. However, these doors can pose potential safety risks to workers and users if they do not comply with certain quality and safety standards.

In this article, we will discuss the CE Marking, a mandatory certification for industrial doors that guarantees compliance with the safety and quality standards required by the European Union.

What is the CE certificate?

It is a document in which the manufacturer of a high-speed door, sectional door, or other products certifies that the applicable regulations have been considered and that the product complies with the minimum legal and technical safety requirements.

Why must industrial doors have CE marking?

CE marking indicates that high-speed doors, sectional doors, and fire-rated doors are certified. Its application to doors is mandatory and essential, as established by current regulations as a requirement for marketing them within the European Union.

It is a fundamental tool for reducing occupational risks and ensuring people’s safety.

What responsibility does the industrial door manufacturer have?

The manufacturer is responsible for the design and construction of high-speed doors, sectional doors, and fire-rated doors, and therefore for compliance with all minimum legal and technical design and construction safety requirements. The manufacturer must also define the inspection intervals and inspection points required for proper door maintenance. The manufacturer is responsible for providing the minimum documentation required by regulations:

• Declaration of conformity and/or performance.
• User and maintenance manual.
• Installation manual.
• Maintenance logbook.

Inkema provides all regulatory documentation in compliance with current regulations.

What responsibility does the owner have?

• Require the manufacturer to provide the documentation for sectional doors, high-speed doors, or fire-rated doors.
• Use, preserve, and maintain the door in accordance with the user manual and maintenance logbook.
• Adapt already installed doors to meet the new minimum safety requirements.
• Carry out the required inspections and maintenance with a maintenance provider who complies with the applicable standards.
• Prevent use and/or take the door out of service whenever they become directly or indirectly aware that the door does not meet the minimum safety requirements.

What responsibility does the maintenance provider have?

• Maintain the door in accordance with the manufacturer’s maintenance logbook.
• Warn of any serious accident risk identified.
• Inform the owner of the door about any deficiencies affecting safety.
• Respond to the owner’s requests to correct faults.
• Keep available for the owner the records of maintenance operations performed on sectional doors, high-speed doors, or fire-rated doors. These records must be retained for a minimum period of 10 years.
• The maintenance provider must be a competent professional.

Who inspects a commercial, industrial, or garage door?

The Regional Industry Authorities carry out market surveillance.

If a high-speed door, sectional door, or fire-rated door does not comply with CE marking requirements:

• Authorities may require the economic operator to bring the product into compliance.
• Authorities may prohibit or restrict the marketing of the product.
• Authorities may require the product to be withdrawn from the market.
• Authorities may impose penalties ranging from €60,000 to €100,000,000.

What would happen in the event of an accident causing damage?

The insurance company would carry out an expert assessment to determine liability among second and third parties if it detects that the door does not comply with regulations. The manufacturer, installer, maintenance provider, and even the company that marketed the component responsible for the damage may be considered involved parties.

Is it mandatory to upgrade a door that does not comply with regulations?

Existing motorised doors installed before May 2005 were not covered by the Construction Products Directive, but they were subject to the Machinery Directive. Therefore, if a significant modification is carried out, the door must be upgraded to comply with current regulations.

Inkema can help you with these types of modifications to ensure your door complies with current regulations.

What is considered a significant modification?

Below are some examples of modifications considered significant according to current regulations:

• Modification of the door mass.
• Modification of the door type. For example, converting a single-leaf sliding door into a double-leaf sliding door, or changing a sectional door from vertical headroom to horizontal headroom.
• Replacing the motor with a different type. For example, changing from a three-phase motor to a single-phase motor.
• Installation of new safety devices that were not previously present. For example: safety brakes, anti-crushing safety systems, etc.
• Replacing the control panel with a different type. For example, replacing a panel without an auto-test function with one that includes it, or replacing a panel without an anti-crushing current monitoring system with one that includes this feature.
• Converting a door from manual operation to motorised operation.

List of standards applicable to doors

• EN 12424:2000 Wind load resistance – Classification
• EN 12425:2000 Water penetration resistance – Classification
• EN12426:2000 Air permeability – Classification
• EN 12427:2000 Air permeability – Test method
• EN 12428:2013 Thermal transmittance – Requirements for calculation
• EN 12433-1:1999 Terminology – Part 1: Types of doors
• EN 12433-2:1999 Terminology – Part 2: Door components
• EN 12444:2000 Wind load resistance – Testing and calculation
• EN 12453:2017+A1:2021 Safety in use of power-operated doors – Requirements and classification
• EN 12489:2000 Water penetration resistance – Test method
• EN 12600:2003 Glass in building – Pendulum test – Impact test method and classification for flat glass
• EN 12604:2017+A1:2020 Mechanical aspects – Requirements and test methods
• EN 12635:2002+A1:2008 Installation and use
• EN 12978:2003+A1:2009 Safety devices for power-operated doors and gates – Requirements and test methods
• EN 13241:2003+A2:2016 Product standard, performance characteristics
• EN ISO 717-1:2021 Acoustics – Rating of sound insulation in buildings and building elements – Part 1: Airborne sound insulation
• EN1398:2009 Dock levellers – Safety requirements
• EN 1570-1:2011+A1:2014
• EN 1570-2:2016

In summary, CE Marking is essential for industrial doors, as it ensures compliance with the quality and safety standards required by European legislation. In addition, this certification helps protect the health and safety of the people who use them.

If you need more information about certifications or upgrades for industrial doors, please contact our team of experts at inkema@inkema.com.