What's the difference between CE marking and a BSI Kitemark™?

CE marking on a product is mandatory. It proves that it meets minimum legal requirements, which allow it to be placed legally on the market in any European member state.

Achieving a BSI Kitemark for a product or service is voluntary.  It is a quality mark, unique to BSI, recognized by consumers and businesses alike. It proves that the product or service for a company has been independently assessed against strict criteria to make sure it meets agreed quality standards over and above the CE marking safety characteristics. 

CE marking requirements for windows and doors.

CE marking is the manufacturer's declaration that a product conforms to legal requirements in specific European technical standards known as harmonised European Norms ('hEN') and it is a mandatory requirement under the Construction Products Regulation 20111 (CPR).

There are different levels of attestation for different products. It can be for example, self-certification, a single test, or more comprehensive testing and support to help you comply with a notified body.

CE marking covers the essential characteristics for testing for windows and doors (not on escape routes). These are mandatory:

  • Dangerous substances
  • Load bearing capacity of safety devices
  • Thermal transmittance

For locked doorsets on escape routes one other characteristic is also covered:

  • Ability to release (UK building regulations requirement)

CE marking also looks as factory production controls.

As CE marking is now mandatory, it's no longer a way of making your products stand out from the competition. Whilst CE marking looks at the safety of a product, reliability and quality are not tested.

Download our free article on CE marking for Windows and Doors

The BSI Kitemark™ for safety, quality and reliability.

Choose a BSI Kitemark and you’ll have reassurance that your products will continue to be tested over time to make sure they continually to meet high quality standards. 

Use your BSI Kitemark to help you:

  • Make your products stand out from the competition
  • Tender for new business growth opportunities
  • Get your products to market more effectively
  • Give your products credibility
  • Enhance your reputation
  • Give your customers and the end user confidence
  • Apply to Secured by Design

You’ll be confident that your quality management system is robust, plus you’ll have annual test reports on performance.

And with the BSI Kitemark stamp of approval, your clients can also use take advantage of the brand as a differentiator and mark of quality to their customers.

For extra reassurance, products or services with a BSI Kitemark are tested against a wider range of characteristics over and above those identified for CE marking. These additional characteristics are:

  • Weather tightness
  • Operating forces for PVC-U
  • Durability
  • Security

For extra peace of mind, we also:

  • Undertake sample testing annually
  • Look for evidence that factory production controls are managed correctly
  • Assess the system house or fabricator against the requirements of a quality management system such as ISO 9001. 

This means that a BSI Kitemarked product or service has had to meet far more stringent criteria which cover not only safety but quality too.