CEN/TC 33/WG 3 - Blinds and shutters

This document defines test and calculation methods for the determination of the reflection and transmission characteristics to be used to determine the thermal and visual comfort performance classes of external blinds, internal blinds and shutters, as specified in EN 14501:2021.
This document also specifies the method to determine the darkening performance of external blinds, internal blinds and shutters, as specified in EN 14501:2021.
This document applies to the whole range of shutters, awnings and blinds defined in EN 12216, described as solar protection devices in this document. Some of the characteristics (e.g. gtot) are not applicable when products are not parallel to the glazing (e.g. folding-arm awnings).
NOTE 1   Informative Annex D presents an approach for the determination of characteristics in case of projectable products.
Retro-reflecting products are outside the scope of this document for reflectance measurements.
NOTE 2   Retro-reflecting products refer to products for which the reflected radiation comes back to the light source in the same direction.
Products using a significant amount of fluorescent are outside the scope of this document.
NOTE 3   "Significant amount" refers to materials which are designed to be fluorescent or retroreflective and marketed as such. It does not refer to trace amounts of materials exhibiting fluorescence, e.g. for colour or identification purposes. Small amounts of materials such as titanium dioxide, which are not primarily included to achieve fluorescence, can be present.

This document applies to the whole range of shutters, awnings and blinds defined in EN 12216, described as solar protection devices in this document.
It specifies the corresponding properties and classifications:
-   relating to thermal comfort:
-   the solar factor (total solar energy transmittance);
-   the secondary heat transfer factor;
-   the direct solar transmittance;
-   relating to visual comfort:
-   the darkening performance;
-   the night privacy;
-   the visual contact with the outside;
-   the glare control;
-   the daylight utilization;
-   the rendering of colours.
NOTE   For other purposes, more detailed methods using different parameters can be used.
Some of the characteristics (e.g. gtot) are not applicable when solar protection devices are not parallel to the glazing (e.g. folding-arm awnings).
This document is not applicable to the solar protection devices using fluorescent materials.

This European Standard details the general terminology for internal blinds, external blinds and shutters as they are normally used and applied to buildings.
Internal blinds, external blinds and shutters are covered by product standards EN 13120, EN 13561 and EN 13659, respectively.
This European Standard does not apply to industrial, commercial or garage doors, such as rolling shutters and rolling grilles used in retail premises which are mainly provided for the access of persons rather vehicules and goods, covered by EN 13241.
The figures in this standard are solely for the purpose of terminology and should not be seen as recommendations for design, construction, etc.

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements for shutters and external venetian blinds intended to be fitted externally to buildings and other construction works. It deals also with the significant hazards for assembly, transport, installation, operation and maintenance (see list of significant machine hazards in Annex C).
It applies to all shutters and external venetian blinds whatever their use and nature of the materials used, as follows and defined in EN 12216:
-   external venetian blind, roller shutter, wing shutter, Venetian shutter, flat-closing concertina shutter, concertina shutter or sliding panel shutter, with or without a system of projection.
These products can be operated manually with or without compensating spring, or by means of electric motors (power operated products). However, the durability and endurance of the autonomous supply for power operated shutters and external venetian blinds not connected to the mains supply are not covered.
This European Standard deals also with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events when shutters and external venetian blinds are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Annex D).
This European Standard covers shutters and external venetian blinds mounted externally. In case such products are installed internally, they should fulfil all relevant safety requirements defined in EN 13120.
The noise emission of power operated shutters and external venetian blinds is not considered to be a relevant hazard health and safety requirements. Therefore this European Standard does not contain any specific requirements on noise health and safety objective.

Corrigendum: TC origin - correction of a value in Table 1.

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements for blinds and awnings intended to be fitted externally to buildings and other construction works. It deals also with the significant hazards for assembly, transport, installation, operation and maintenance (see list of significant machine hazards in Annex B).
It applies to all external blinds and awnings whatever their design and nature of the materials used, as follows and defined in EN 12216:
―   folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, pivot arm awning, slide arm awning, vertical roller blind, marquisolette, façade awning, skylight awning, conservatory awning, Pergola awning, Dutch awning, insect screen; brise-soleil.
This European Standard does not cover the wind resistance of non-retractable products, e.g. Dutch awnings and brise-soleil.
The structural part to which the Pergola awning is fixed is not covered.
The products covered by this European Standard may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs or by means of electric motors (power operated products). However, the durability and endurance of the autonomous supply for power operated external blinds and awnings not connected to the mains supply are not covered.
This European Standard deals also with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events when external blinds and awnings are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer (see Annex B).
This European Standard covers external blinds and awnings mounted externally. In case such products are installed internally, they should fulfil all relevant safety requirements defined in EN 13120.
The noise emission of power operated external blinds and awnings is not considered to be a relevant hazard according to the machinery health and safety requirements. Therefore this European Standard does not contain any specific requirements on noise health and safety objective.

CCMC mistake: editorial correction in Table 6 in the English version

The European Standard specifies the test methods to evaluate the wind resistance of external blinds and shutters to be fitted to buildings, in front of windows, doors or façades and delivered as a complete unit.
This European Standard applies to:
-   shutters: roller shutter, external venetian blind, wing shutter, venetian shutter, concertina shutter, flat closing concertina shutter and sliding panel shutter (including those with projection systems);
-   external blinds: folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, pivot arm awning, marquisolette, vertical awning, façade awning, conservatory awning, roof window awning, Pergola awning and insect screen
whatever the nature of the constituent materials, under normal operating conditions and installed in compliance with the manufacturer's installations instructions.
This European Standard does not cover non retractable shutters, external blinds and awnings such as Dutch awnings and brise-soleil as well as the structural part of Pergolas.
NOTE   The wind resistance of such products can be evaluated by calculations.

This European Standard specifies test methods for the determination of the resistance of shutters under the application of a conventional hard body impact and test methods of the prevention of access by shutters.
Shutters covered by this European Standard are:
-   external venetian blind,
-   roller shutter,
-   venetian shutter,
-   flat closing concertina shutter,
-   concertina shutter,
-   wing shutter and
-   sliding panel shutter.

This European Standard specifies requirements and test methods for safety devices to be used for protection from strangulation in internal blinds as specified in EN 13120 and insect screens as specified in EN 13561.
These devices might be fitted to internal blinds and insect screens at the time of manufacture or for retrofitting.
This European Standard applies to any design of device including the following:
-   tensioning devices;
-   breakaway devices;
-   accumulation devices;
-   non tangling devices;
-   inner cord stops.
Although at the time this standard has been published, no product standard exists for draperies, requirements and test methods specified in the present standard may be applied to safety devices used in such products.
For clarification purpose, the term "internal blinds" used in the present standard should mean "internal blinds and insect screens".

This European Standard specifies test methods for the verification of the requirements relating to the protection from strangulation.
This European Standard applies to all internal blinds as specified in EN 13120, insect screens as specified in EN 13561 and to blinds in sealed glazed units.
These products may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs, or by means of electric motors (power operated products).
Although at the time this standard has been published, no product standard exists for draperies, test methods specified in the present standard may be used for such products.

This European Standard specifies the requirements which internal blinds shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant machinery hazards relating to construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of internal blinds (see list of significant hazards in Annex B).
It applies to internal blinds, whatever their design and the nature of the materials used, as listed below:
-   venetian blind: free hanging, guided, non-retractable;
-   roller blind: free hanging, side guided, with tensioned fabric;
-   vertical blind: free hanging, with top and bottom track, sloping headrail;
-   pleated and honeycomb blind: free hanging, guided, laterally moving, tensioned;
-   Roman Shades;
-   Austrian / Festoon blinds;
-   panel blinds;
-   plantation shutters;
-   roll-up blinds.
These products may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs, or by means of electric motors (power operated products).
This standard does not apply to draperies and insect screens. It does not apply to blinds in sealed glazed units with the exception of requirements related to protection from strangulation.
NOTE   Insect screens may be installed either internally or externally. However, because they are always exposed to external conditions in use ( windows/doors opened), insects screens are covered by EN 13561 applying to external blinds and awnings.
Noise aspects are not treated in this standard because this is not considered a safety issue.
This standard is not applicable to internal blinds which are manufactured before the date of publication of this standard.

The current standard applies to manufacturers of windows who wish to take advantage of additional acoustical performances brought by built-in shutter with window delivered as such on the market or brought by the addition of a shutter delivered separately (built-in shutter installed in a prefabricated box or built-on shutter).

This European Standard specifies the requirements and tests to be performed for electric tubular or square drives without driven part, to be applied to power operated blinds and shutters, in addition to their conformity to the electrical safety requirements specified in EN 60335-1 and EN 60335-2-97.
It does not apply to drives with driven part.

This European Standard specifies the tests to be carried out to determine the mechanical endurance of products comprising :
- internal blinds,
- external blinds,
- shutters,
according to a defined number of extension/retraction cycles of the curtain and tilting of the laths (for blinds and shutters with tilting laths).
It applies to complete products e.g. those equipped with their hardware and operating mechanisms in normal operating conditions.
Manual override mechanisms for use in case of mechanical breakdown are excluded when they form part of motorized blinds and shutters.

This European Standard specifies the functional performances of mechanical drive systems with crank handle for shutters, external blinds and internal blinds and the supply conditions of these systems between blinds and shutters manufacturers on one hand, and operating systems manufacturers on the other, for the following four families of use :
- roller shutters
- venetian blinds
- folding arm awnings
- other awnings and blinds
Excluded from this standard are gears with crank handle fitted to power operated products and used as manual override actuators.

This European Standard specifies the methods of test to be applied to evaluate the snow load resistance performances of shutters inclined less than 60° from the horizontal, those resistant either alone or in mechanical association with the glazing.
It applies to
- skylight roller shutters ;
- conservatory roller shutters.

The present standard defines the tests to be carried out to determine the ability of the shutters and blinds to resist abnormal use of the operating mechanism in terms of rough/forced/reversed operation. It applies to the following products: - Internal blinds: Internal venetian, roller, vertical and pleated blinds and darkening blinds; - External blinds: Folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, vertical roller awning, pivot arm awning, marquisolette, façade awning, roof light awning, verandah awning or conservatory awning, dutch awning, insect screen awning, louvre array;...

The present standard defines the tests methods to be carried out to determine the operating force required for shutters and blinds. It applies to the following products: - Internal blinds: Internal venetian, roller, vertical and pleated blinds; - External blinds: Folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, vertical roller awning, pivot arm awning, marquisolette, façade awning, roof light awning, verandah awning or conservatory awning, dutch awning, insect screen awning, louvre array;...

This European Standard specifies a test method for determining the air permeability of shutters that claim to conform to class 5 of thermal resistance "airtight shutters" according to standards prEN ISO 10077-1:1999 and prEN 13125:1998, when allocation cannot be given by geometrical criteria.

This European Standard specifies the classification criteria of shutters and internal and external blinds in relation with their air permeability for the calculation of additional thermal resistance given by these products according to EN ISO 10077-1.
This standard applies to shutters and blinds fitted to a window, a French window or a curtain walling in such a way that in extended and closed position they inclose an air layer of thickness roughly constant between 15 mm and 300 mm (shutters and blinds parallel to the window or to the façade).
This standard applies to the following shutters and blinds :
- Shutters : roller shutter, external venetien blind, wing shutter, sliding panel shutter, venetian shutter, concertina shutter, flat-closing concertina shutter ;
- External blinds : vertical awning, facade awning, conservatory awning ;
- Internal blinds : venetian blind, roller blind, vertical blind, pleated blind ;
- Blinds incorporated into glazing.

The present standard defines the tests method for measuring the transmitted force developped by motorised shutters and blinds (hold to run control, semi- automatic or automatic) in the precise conditions of use detailed in the standards prEN 13120:1998, prEN 13561:1999, prEN 13659:1999. This applies to the following motorised products:- guided internal blinds:venetian, roller,vertical and pleated blinds, insect screen; - external awnings: folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, guided vertical awning, pivot arm awning, marquisolette, façade awning, roof-light awning or conservatory awning, Dutch awning; - shutters.

This European Standard specifies a test method for determining the ability of exterior blinds to resist loads caused by the retention of rain water by the fabric. This Standard is applicable to exterior blinds forming an overhang when they are in extended position. These are: - folding arm blind; - trellis arm blind; - adjustable or fixed Dutch awning.

This document applies to the whole range of shutters, awnings and blinds defined in EN 12216, described as solar protection devices in this document.
It specifies the corresponding properties and classifications:
-   relating to thermal comfort:
-   the solar factor (total solar energy transmittance);
-   the secondary heat transfer factor;
-   the direct solar transmittance;
-   relating to visual comfort:
-   the darkening performance;
-   the night privacy;
-   the visual contact with the outside;
-   the glare control;
-   the daylight utilization;
-   the rendering of colours.
NOTE   For other purposes, more detailed methods using different parameters can be used.
Some of the characteristics (e.g. gtot) are not applicable when solar protection devices are not parallel to the glazing (e.g. folding-arm awnings).
This document is not applicable to the solar protection devices using fluorescent materials.

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements which external blinds shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant hazards for construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the external blinds (see list of significant machine hazards in annex B). It applies to all external blinds as well as similar products whatever their design and nature of the materials used, as follows and defined in EN 12216: - folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, pivot arm awning, slide arm awning, vertical roller awning, marquisolette, façade awning, skylight awning, conservatory awning, Dutch awning, insect screen; - solar screen. This European Standard does not cover the wind resistance of fixed nor semi-fixed products, e.g. Dutch awnings, fixed or mobile and solar screen. They are not exempt from wind resistance requirements although no test methods have been established at the present time. The products covered by this European Standard may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs or by means of electric motors (power operated products). This document is not applicable to external blinds which are manufactured before the date of publication of this document.

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements which shutters shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant hazards for construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the shutters (see list of significant machine hazards in annex C). It applies to all shutters as well as similar products whatever their use and nature of the materials used, as follows: - external Venetian blind, roller shutter, wing shutter, Venetian shutter, flat-closing concertina shutter, concertina shutter or sliding panel shutter, with or without a system of projection. These products can be operated manually with or without compensating spring, or by means of electric motors (power operated products). This document is not applicable to shutters which are manufactured before the date of application of this document by CEN.

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements which shutters shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant hazards for construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the shutters (see list of significant machine hazards in annex C).
It applies to all shutters as well as similar products whatever their use and nature of the materials used, as follows:
- external Venetian blind, roller shutter, wing shutter, Venetian shutter, flat-closing concertina shutter, concertina shutter or sliding panel shutter, with or without a system of projection.
These products can be operated manually with or without compensating spring, or by means of electric motors (power operated products). This document is not applicable to shutters which are manufactured before the date of application of this document by CEN.

The European Standard defines the methods of test to be applied to evaluate the thermal and visual comfort of blinds and shutters.

This European Standard specifies the requirements which internal blinds shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant machinery hazards relating to construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of internal blinds (see list of significant hazards in Annex B).
It applies to all internal blinds, whatever their design and the nature of the materials used, such as:
-   venetian blind: free hanging, guided, non-retractable;
-   roller blind: free hanging, side guided, with tensioned fabric;
-   vertical blind: free hanging, with top and bottom track, sloping headrail;
-   pleated and honeycomb blind: free hanging, guided, laterally moving;
-   Roman Shades;
-   Austrian / Festoon blinds;
-   panel blinds;
-   plantation shutters;
-   roll-up blinds.
These products may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs, or by means of electric motors (power operated products). This standard does not apply to draperies, insect screens and blinds in sealed glazed units.
NOTE   Insect screens may be installed either internally or externally. However, because they are always exposed to external conditions in use (windows/doors opened), insects screens are covered by EN 13561 applying to external blinds and awnings.  
Noise aspects are not treated in this standard because this is not considered a safety issue. This standard is not applicable to internal blinds which are manufactured before the date of publication of this standard.

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements which external blinds shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant hazards for construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the external blinds (see list of significant machine hazards in annex B).
It applies to all external blinds as well as similar products whatever their design and nature of the materials used, as follows and defined in EN 12216:
- folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, pivot arm awning, slide arm awning, vertical roller awning, marquisolette, façade awning, skylight awning, conservatory awning, Dutch awning, insect screen;
- solar screen.
This European Standard does not cover the wind resistance of fixed nor semi-fixed products, e.g. Dutch awnings, fixed or mobile and solar screen. They are not exempt from wind resistance requirements although no test methods have been established at the present time. The products covered by this European Standard may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs or by means of electric motors (power operated products). This document is not applicable to external blinds which are manufactured before the date of publication of this document.

This European Standard defines test and calculation methods for the determination of the reflection and transmission characteristics to be used to determine the thermal and visual comfort performance classes of external blinds, internal blinds and shutters, as specified in EN 14501.
This European Standard also specifies the method to determine opacity characteristics of dim-out/black-out external blinds, internal blinds and shutters, as specified in EN 14501.
This European Standard applies to the whole range of shutters, awnings and blinds defined in EN 12216, described as solar protection devices in this European Standard. Some of the characteristics (e.g. gtot) are not applicable when products are not parallel to the glazing (e.g. folding-arm awnings).
NOTE   Informative Annex D presents an approach for the determination of characteristics in case of projectable products.
Products using fluorescent or retroreflecting materials are outside the scope of this European Standard.

This European Standard applies to the whole range of shutters, awnings and blinds defined in EN 12216, described as solar protection devices in this European Standard.
It states the properties that shall be taken into account when comparing products.
It also specifies the corresponding parameters and classifications to quantify the following properties:
-   for the thermal comfort:
-   the solar factor (total solar energy transmittance);
-   the shading factor;
-   the secondary heat transfer factor;
-   the direct solar transmittance;
-   for the visual comfort:
-   the opacity control;
-   the night privacy;
-   the visual contact with the outside;
-   the glare control;
-   the daylight utilisation;
-   the rendering of colours.
NOTE   For other purposes, more detailed methods using different parameters can be used.
Some of the characteristics (e.g. gtot) are not applicable when products are not parallel to the glazing (e.g. folding-arm awnings).
This European Standard is not applicable to the products using fluorescent materials.

This document applies to all types of blinds, awnings and shutters regardless of their purpose, and design, and the component materials, as they are normally used and applied in buldings. It does not apply to industrial, commercial and garage doors (for houses and dwellings).

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements which shutters shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant hazards for construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the shutters (see list of significant machine hazards in annex C).
It applies to all shutters as well as similar products whatever their use and nature of the materials used, as follows:
-   external Venetian blind, roller shutter, wing shutter, Venetian shutter, flat-closing concertina shutter, concertina shutter or sliding panel shutter, with or without a system of projection.
These products can be operated manually with or without compensating spring, or by means of electric motors (power operated products).
This document is not applicable to shutters which are manufactured before the date of application of this document by CEN.
Noise aspects are not treated in the standard because this is not considered a safety issue.

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements which external blinds shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant hazards for construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the external blinds (see list of significant machine hazards in annex B).
It applies to all external blinds as well as similar products whatever their design and nature of the materials used, as follows and defined in EN 12216:
-   folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, pivot arm awning, slide arm awning, vertical roller awning, marquisolette, façade awning, skylight awning, conservatory awning, Dutch awning, insect screen;
-   solar screen.
This European Standard does not cover the wind resistance of fixed nor semi-fixed products, e.g. Dutch awnings, fixed or mobile and solar screen. They are not exempt from wind resistance requirements although no test methods have been established at the present time.
The products covered by this European Standard may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs or by means of electric motors (power operated products).
This document is not applicable to external blinds which are manufactured before the date of publication of this document.
Noise aspects are not treated in the standard because this is not considered a safety issue.

This European Standard specifies the requirements which internal blinds shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant machinery hazards relating to construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the blinds (see list of significant hazards in Annex B).
It applies to the internal blinds, whatever their design and nature of the materials used, as listed below:
-   venetian blind: free hanging, guided, non-retractable;
-   roller blind: free hanging, side guided, with tensioned fabric;
-   vertical blind: free hanging, with top and bottom track, and sloping headrail;
-   pleated blind: free hanging and guided.
These products may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs, or by means of electric motors (power operated products).
This standard does not apply to Roman Shades, Austrian, Festoon, Pinoleum, laterally moving pleated blinds, insect screens or blinds in sealed glazed units.
Noise aspects are not treated in this standard because this is not considered a safety issue.
This standard is not applicable to internal blinds which are manufactured before the date of publication of this standard.

This European Standard specifies tests to be done for determining behaviour, under conventional hard body impact, of the the shutters. These are :  - external venetian blind, roller shutter, venetian shutter, flat closing concertina shutter, concertina shutter, wing shutter, sliding panel shutter.  The nature of hard body and the energy generated as they relate to the preservation of performance of the product (function and appearance).

The current standard defines the test methods to be applied to evaluate the wind resistance of blinds and shutters designed to be used in front windows, windows/doors or fa\ades and delivered as a complete unit. This standard applies to: - Shutters: roller shutter, external venetians blind, wing shutter, venetian shutter, concertina shutter and sliding panel shutters. (Including those with projection systems).

This Standard lists the functions which Internal Blinds shall perform when fitted whithin a building.  This standard applies to all blinds as listed :  Internal Venetian Blinds : Free Hanging, Guided, Non-Retractable and Mid-Pane Roller Blinds : Free hanging, Automatic Spring Roller, Side Guided with Tensioned Fabric Vertical Blinds : Free Hanging, with Top and Bottom Track, and Sloping Headrail Pleated Blinds : Free Hanging and Guided Darkening Blinds : Blackout and Dim-out.

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements which shutters shall fulfil when fitted within a building. It deals also with the significant hazards for construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the shutters (see list of significant machine hazards in annex C).
It applies to all shutters as well as similar products whatever their use and nature of the materials used, as follows :
- external Venetian blind, roller shutter, wing shutter, Venetian shutter, flat-closing concertina shutter, concertina shutter or sliding panel shutter, with or without a system of projection.
These products can be operated manually with or without compensating spring, or by means of electric motors (power operated products).
This document is not applicable to shutters which are manufactured before the date of application of this document by CEN.

This European Standard specifies the performance requirements which external blinds shall fulfil when fitted to a building. It deals also with the significant hazards for construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of the external blinds (see list of significant machine hazards in annex B).
It applies to all external blinds as well as similar products whatever their design and nature of the materials used, as follows and defined in EN 12216:
-   folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, pivot arm awning, slide arm awning, vertical roller awning, marquisolette, façade awning, skylight awning, conservatory awning, Dutch awning, insect screen awning;
-   solar screen.
The wind resistance of fixed or semi-fixed products is not covered, e.g. Dutch awnings, fixed or
mobile and solar screen. They are not exempt from wind resistance requirements although no test methods have been established at the present time.
These products may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs
or by means of electric motors (power operated products).
This document is not applicable to external blinds which are manufactured before the date of publication of this document.
This European Standard specifies the requirements for external blinds, the levels of performances and where applicable, the associated classes.
It is completed by test standards as well as by the standards referring to specific performance requirements.