Chain approach to quality assurance in the plastic facade industry counts
For many building products, the end result is a concatenation of the work of various companies; of the chain. For the quality of the end result, all links are important. To guarantee the level of quality, it counts that all links in the entire chain are aware of the importance of quality and its assurance.
With the introduction of the Building Quality Assurance Act in 2022, the chain becomes even more relevant, as the law requires the demonstration of the quality of the final product and compliance with the Building Code. With four links, the quality chain in the windows and doors industry is closed.
Within the window and door industry, SKG-IKOB Certification has been a leading certification body and testing laboratory in the field of production and assembly of metal and plastic façade elements since its establishment in 1977. SKG-IKOB can serve the entire window and door industry and makes a valuable contribution to industry-specific integral quality assurance. The chain of quality assurance in the facade industry consists of four links. Depending on the quality risks, it differs per branch which links are subject to external supervision by SKG-IKOB.
Quality chain plastic window and door industry
Profiles, the first link
Plastic profiles come for very many different applications. If they are used for the construction of plastic window frames, they must have essential qualities. When certifying plastic profiles, in addition to assessing the producer's quality system, the focus is on aspects such as:
Dimensions and dimensional deviations
Appearance
Material (recipe)
Resistance to aging
Resistance to impact or shock
Shrinkage and behavior when heated
Weldability
Adhesion of top layers
SKG-IKOB supervises the control of the quality of the plastic profiles during certification on BRL 0702 This lays a good foundation for the further engineering and production of plastic windows and doors.
Frame system equipped with triple-glazing
Source: GEALAN Fenster-Systeme GmbH
Window and door systems, the second link
Good profiles alone do not make good frames, windows and doors. The profiles are an important part of the system. For a window or door system to function correctly, the system must be fully designed, developed and tested to achieve the desired performance. To this end, the engineering phase considers, for example, the dewatering and aeration principles, strength and rigidity, burglar resistance and energy performance of the system. Taking into account achieving the required performance on these properties, choices are made in, for example, profile dimensions, stiffeners, profile connections and sealing principles. SKG-IKOB gives its approval for the application of a system for the production of frames, windows and doors on the basis of calculations and tests in accordance with BRL 0703.
Frames, windows and doors, the third link
If the specifications and instructions of the system houses are followed, the final products perform as achieved during tests on the system. With developments in the facade industry in the areas of corner joints, insulation values, triple glazing and stiffeners, systems are changing and becoming more complex. Small deviations in the production process can already determine the performance of the final product. By monitoring in factories the production, final products and internal quality assurance, BRL 0703 assesses and guarantees that frames are produced according to the specifications and instructions of approved systems.
Assembly of frames, windows and doors, the fourth link
In quality products that have left the factory, problems can arise in the use phase due to improper handling and assembly. Often, problems such as air and water leaks do not surface until after the building has been occupied. Repairs can create unpleasant situations, especially for the building occupant. That is why supervision of assembly at the building site in accordance with BRL 0709 is also part of SKG-IKOB's certification and inspection package. Only then is the quality chain for the windows and doors industry closed.
Integral quality assurance
The requirements relevant to all individual links in this sector are laid down in instruments such as certification regulations. As an independent certification body and testing laboratory, SKG-IKOB uses these instruments during supervision of the relevant links. In this way, we make an important contribution to closing the quality chain for the windows and doors sector.
With the introduction of the Building Quality Assurance Act in 2022, the chain approach becomes even more relevant, because this Act requires that the quality of the end product and compliance with the Building Decree be demonstrated. With four links, the quality chain in the windows and doors industry is closed.
Want to know more?
For more information, contact certification manager Harm van Dartel,
