CE Marking: performance and safety requirements of external blinds and shutters (EN 13659)

Product standards UNI EN 13561:2015 and UNI EN 13659:2015 define the essential requirements of safety that have to be satisfied by external blinds and shutters installed in buildings.
 
For the CE marking scheme, the mandatory performance requirement is the determination of the wind resistance. Under the wind action, resulting in negative or positive pressure, the blind or the shutter shall not: 

• sustain a deformation or deterioration which is detrimental to its correct operation (nominal load p);
• cause a risk for the safety of people (safety load 1,2p for blinds or 1,5 p for shutters)

 
Both standards also give a classification based on the product ability, in terms of the right functioning and safety, to stresses of the wind to which is subjected.
 

CLASSES OF WIND RESISTANCE FOR BLINDS
Class	0	1	2	3	4	5	6
Nominal test pressure p (N/m2)	<40	40	70	110	170	270	400
Safety test pressure 1,2 p (N/m2)	<48	48	84	132	204	324	480

 
If we translate the table above, in terms of Beaufort Scale (*), classes become:

• Class 1 = wind speed 29 km/h – 40 N/ m² – Beaufort Scale 4 Moderate Wind “Lifting of dust and paper. Branches are agitated”;
• Class 2 = wind speed 38 km/h – 70 N/ m²- Beaufort Scale 5 Tense Wind "The shrubs swing with leaves. There are small waves in internal waters";
• Class 3 = wind speed 48 km/h - 110 N/m2 - Beaufort Scale 6 Fresh Wind "Big branches also move; umbrellas are used with difficulty"
• Class 4 = wind speed 60 km/h - 170 N/m2 - Beaufort Scale 7 Strong Wind "Whole trees agitated. Difficulty walking against wind";
• Class 5 = wind speed 76 km/h - 270 N/m2 - Beaufort Scale 8 Storm "Twigs break from trees. Generally it is impossible to walk against wind";
• Class 6 = wind speed 92 km/h - 400 N/m2 - Beaufort Scale 9 Heavy storm "Light damages to structures (chimneys and tiles removed)".

 

CLASSES OF WIND RESISTANCE FOR SHUTTERS
Class	0	1	2	3	4	5	6
Nominal test pressure p (N/m2)	<50	50	70	100	170	270	400
Safety test pressure 1,5 p (N/m2)	<75	75	100	150	250	400	600

 
If we translate the table above in terms of Beaufort Scale (*) classes become:

• Class 1 = wind speed 32 km/h – 50 N/ m² – Beaufort Scale 4 Moderate Wind “Lifting of dust and paper. Branches are agitated”;
• Class 2 = wind speed 38 km/h – 70 N/ m²- Beaufort Scale 5 Tense Wind "The shrubs swing with leaves. There are small waves in internal waters";
• Class 3 = wind speed 46 km/h - 100 N/m2 - Beaufort Scale 6 Fresh Wind "Big branches also move; umbrellas are used with difficulty"
• Class 4 = wind speed 60 km/h - 170 N/m2 - Beaufort Scale 7 Strong Wind "Whole trees agitated. Difficulty walking against wind";
• Class 5 = wind speed 76 km/h - 270 N/m2 - Beaufort Scale 8 Storm "Twigs break from trees. Generally it is impossible to walk against wind";
• Class 6 = wind speed 92 km/h - 400 N/m2 - Beaufort Scale 9 Heavy storm "Light damages to structures (chimneys and tiles removed)".

The Beaufort Scale is an empirical measure (therefore it is not an exact, conventionally standardized measure) of wind force.


STABILITY LAW: deductions for the energetic upgrading of buildings
 
The current Stability Law has extended for the whole 2024, the deduction for the energetic upgrading of buildings (article 1 paragraph 37 letter b of the Budget Law 2022).

The support consists of a deduction from the IRPEF or IRES and it is granted when interventions are carried out and they increase the level of energetic efficiency of existing buildings. In general, deductions are recognised for:

• The reduction of the energetic needs for heating
• The thermal improvement of the building (insulation – floors – windows, including fixtures);
• The installation of solar panels;
• The replacement of winter air conditioning systems.

The deduction also applies to:

• The purchase and installation of solar screens;
• The purchase and installation of winter air conditioning systems equipped with heat generators powered by combustible biomass;
• The purchase, installation and opening of multimedia systems for remote control of heating, hot water or air conditioning systems in residential units;
• The purchase and installation of micro-cogenerators to replace existing plants;
• The purchase of condensing hot air generators; the replacement of winter air conditioning systems with hybrid appliances consisting of integrated heat pump with condensing boiler

Deductions, that have to be divided into 10 annual payments of the same amount, change depending on whether the intervention relates to the single unit or condominium buildings and the year in which it was made.

An indispensable condition to benefit from the relief is that the interventions are carried out on existing buildings and buildings (or parts of buildings) of any cadastral category, even if rural, including those instrumental for business or professional activity.

The relief can be requested for expenses incurred by 31 December 2022. For most of the measures, the deduction is 65%, for others 50%.

As already reported the ecobonus is also up to the SOLAR SCREENS, which has officially recognized the fundamental role played by the different types of screens for the purpose of energy efficiency of buildings and summer energy savings. Among the facilitated products are all sun protection devices such as, for example, curtains, shutters (roller shutters, blinds, etc.) and, in general, all the screens referred to Annex M of Legislative Decree no. 311/2006 which mentions as reference standards:
 

• UNI EN 13561 "External blinds – performance requirements including safety" (CE marking is mandatory);
• UNI EN 13659 " Shutters – performance requirements including safety” (CE marking is mandatory);
• UNI EN 14501 "Thermal and visual comfort - performance characteristics and classification”;
• UNI EN 13363-1 "Solar protection devices combined with glazing - calculation of solar and light transmittance - simplified  method”(Replaced by UNI EN ISO 52022-1);
   
• UNI EN 13363-2 "Solar protection devices combined with glazing - calculation of total solar energy transmittance and light transmittance – detailed calculation method” (Replaced by Uni EN ISO  52022-3).

Consumers who want to take advantage of the tax deduction, will have to therefore take care that the purchased product complies with the performance of suitability for use, thermal and visual comfort shown below.
 
 
 For information: Security and Safety Laboratory.
 

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