1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Business School
  3. Research
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We offer usability tests, design optimisation and product development for your windows and doors.

As part of the building envelope, windows, doors and shutters have to meet a number of requirements in order to perform the necessary functions satisfactorily throughout their life cycle. We provide you with verifiable, quantified statements about the performance of your products. This boosts customer confidence and delivers persuasive arguments.

Range of services

We perform audits and consultations for private and public clients.

All orders are carried out by qualified professionals from the relevant specialist field and treated confidentially.

Most of the testing performed is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS), accreditation number: STS 317. The SAS is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This means that the tests accredited by us are recognised internationally.

We offer the following services:

  • Windows and doors – Product standard (EN 14351-1)
  • Windows and doors – Air permeability – Test methods, classification (EN 1026, EN 12207)
  • Windows and doors – Protection against driving rain – Test methods, classification (EN 1027, EN 12208)
  • Windows and doors – Resistance to wind load – Test methods, classification (EN 12211, EN 12210)
  • Windows and doors – Long-term functional performance – Test method (EN 1191)
  • Windows and doors – Mechanical durability – Requirements and classification (EN 12400)
  • Windows, doors, shutters – Burglar resistance – Test methods and classification (EN 1627 – EN 1630)
  • Windows – Determination of resistance to racking (EN 14608)
  • Windows – Determination of resistance to static torsion (EN 14609)
  • Windows – Classification of mechanical properties – Vertical loads, torsion, operating forces (EN 13115)
  • Windows – Soft and heavy body impact – Test methods, safety requirements and classification (EN 13049)
  • Windows – Behaviour between different climates – Test method (EN 13420)
  • Doors – Behaviour between two different climates – Test method (EN 1121)
  • Door leaves – Determination of the behaviour under humidity variations in successive uniform climates (EN 1294)
  • Doors – Climatic influences – Requirements and classification (EN 12219)
  • Part 1: Windows – Operating forces – Test methods (EN 12046-1)
  • Part 2: Doors – Operating forces – Test methods (EN 12046-2)
  • Doors – Operating forces – Requirements and classification (EN 12217)
  • Doors – Classification of strength requirements (EN 1192)
  • Swing-type doors – Determination of resistance to vertical loading (EN 947)
  • Swing-type doors – Determination of resistance to static distortion (EN 948)
  • Windows, doors, shutters, blinds and curtain walling – Determination of the resistance of doors to soft and heavy body impact (EN 949)
  • Curtain walling – Impact resistance – Performance requirements (EN 14019)
  • External blinds and shutters – Resistance to wind loads – Test methods (EN 1932)
  • Door leaves – Determination of height, width, thickness and squareness – Tolerance classes (EN 951, EN 1529)
  • Door leaves – General and local flatness – Measuring methods, tolerance classes (EN 952, EN 1530)
  • Power operated doors – Safety in use – Requirements and test methods (EN 16005, Kap. 5.8)
  • Regulations and verification procedures for awarding the MINERGIE® certificate for MINERGIE® module windows
  • Regulations and verification procedures for awarding the Minergie label for doors in the residential sector
  • Thermal performance of windows, doors and shutters – Calculation of thermal transmittance (EN ISO 10077-1, EN ISO 10077-2)
  • Thermal insulation – Determination of steady-state thermal transmittance properties – Calibrated and guarded hot box (EN ISO 8990)
  • Thermal performance of windows and doors – Determination of the thermal transmittance by the hot box method – Part 1: Complete windows and doors (EN ISO 12567-1)
  • Thermal performance of windows, doors and shutters – Determination of the heat transfer coefficient using the hot box method – Part 2: Frames (EN 12412-2)
  • Thermal performance of windows and doors – Determination of the thermal transmittance by hot box method – Part 2: Roof windows and other projecting windows (EN ISO 12567-2)
  • Thermal performance of curtain walling – Calculation of thermal transmittance (EN ISO 12631)
  • Thermal bridges in building construction – Heat flows and surface temperatures – Detailed calculations (EN ISO 10211)
  • Glass in building – Determination of thermal transmittance (U-value) – Calculation method (EN 673)
  • Thermal performance of buildings – Determination of air permeability of buildings – Fan pressurisation method (blower door) (EN 13829)
  • Measurement of the thermal resistance R of homogeneous and layered non-metallic building materials (ISO 8302, EN 12664, EN 12667, EN 12939)
  • Determination of the thermal conductivity i.e. the transfer factor T of building components
  • Determination of the heat transfer coefficient (Ug value) of insulating glass in horizontal and vertical position (EN 674)
  • Shutters and blinds – Additional thermal resistance – Allocation of a class of air permeability to a product (U-value of roller shutters) (EN 13125)
  • Shutters and external venetian blinds – Performance and safety requirements (EN 13659)
  • Adhesives – Wood adhesives – Determination of tensile strength of lap joints at elevated temperature (WATT '91) (EN 14257)
  • Classification of thermoplastic wood adhesives for non-structural applications (EN 204)
  • Directive "Solid, finger-jointed and laminated profiles for wooden windows"
  • Plastic window profile systems, quality assurance RAL-GZ 716/1 Section III, Part A: System description for bonded glazing in PVC frame constructions

Notification

BFH is a European Notified Body (NB 2172) for the product standard eN 14351-1 Windows and external pedestrian doorsets without resistance to fire and/or smoke leakage characteristics. In this function, we also support companies seeking to achieve compliance with the Swiss Construction Products Act (BauPG) and the Construction Products Ordinance (BauPV), which have been in force since 1 October 2014, as well as the European Construction Products Regulation (CPR).

Infrastructure

We are able to provide services and carry out development tasks with a high degree of proficiency in our well-equipped laboratories that include the following:

  • Window and façade test stand
  • Differential climate chambers for façade elements up to 350x280cm, temperatures from -30° C to 80° C and relative humidity from 30% to 95%
  • Break-in test stand for window, door and façade elements as well as gates
  • Continuous function test bench for windows and doors
  • Alternating pressure test bench for glazing subject to high stress
  • Climatic chambers for building components up to 7m long
  • Test bench with robot for complex motion sequences
  • Test stand for measuring heat transmission of windows, doors and frames with a guarded hot box and a swivelling guarded hot plate for hot box methods
  • Various weathering devices
  • Various tensile and compression testers

Contact

We would be happy to provide you with further information and look forward to hearing from you:

Stephan Hofer

  • Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter
  • +41 32 344 03 11
  • Show e-mail

Further information