Windows and Doors Installation Inspection

Per the Construction Products Regulation (EU No 305/2011) and NF EN 14351-1, all windows and exterior doors placed on the market must carry the CE mark declaring their essential characteristics: thermal transmittance (Uw), air permeability, watertightness, wind resistance, acoustic performance, and safety properties. In France, products should additionally carry the NF or equivalent certification mark confirming compliance with the declared performance levels. The Declaration of Performance (DoP) must be available for each product.

1. Verify that each window and door unit carries the CE marking label with the manufacturer's name, year of marking, and reference to NF EN 14351-1

2. Request and review the Declaration of Performance (DoP) for each product type, confirming declared values for Uw, air permeability, watertightness, and wind resistance

3. Check for the NF certification mark (or Acotherm label) which confirms that declared performances have been independently verified

4. Verify that the declared Uw value meets the RE 2020 project requirement for the climate zone

5. Confirm that the product type delivered to site matches the specification and DoP — check dimensions, glazing type, and hardware configuration

- CE marking label missing or illegible, preventing verification of declared performance

- Declaration of Performance not available from the supplier, indicating possible non-compliance

- Products delivered without NF or Acotherm certification, relying solely on manufacturer self-declaration

- Declared Uw values not meeting the project specification or RE 2020 requirements for the climate zone

Per NF DTU 36.5, window and door frames must be installed plumb, level, and square within the opening. Maximum permitted deviations are 2 mm per metre for plumb and level, and 3 mm diagonal difference for squareness. Frames must be fixed at specified intervals depending on material type and size.

1. Check frame plumbness on both jambs — maximum 2 mm per metre deviation per NF DTU 36.5

2. Verify head and sill level — maximum 2 mm per metre deviation per NF DTU 36.5

3. Measure diagonals to confirm squareness — maximum 3 mm difference between diagonals per NF DTU 36.5

4. Check fixing centres — maximum 800 mm for PVC frames, 600 mm for aluminium, with fixings within 200 mm of each corner

5. Verify that the frame is centred in the opening with even gaps for sealant application

- Frames out of plumb causing uneven gaps and difficulty with opening/closing

- Insufficient fixings or fixing centres too wide, leading to frame deflection under wind load

- Frame distorted during installation due to uneven packing or over-tightening of fixings

- Uneven gaps between frame and structure making proper sealing difficult

Per RE 2020 and NF EN 14351-1, windows and doors must achieve the specified thermal transmittance (Uw value) to contribute to the building's overall energy performance. Typical requirements are Uw ≤ 1.3 W/m²K for windows and Uw ≤ 1.7 W/m²K for doors. Glazing solar factor (Sw) must also meet RE 2020 requirements to limit summer overheating.

1. Verify Uw values from product certificates — must meet or exceed the RE 2020 specification (typically Uw ≤ 1.3 W/m²K for windows)

2. Check glazing specification — typically double or triple glazing with low-E coating and argon fill per RE 2020 requirements

3. Confirm solar factor (Sw) values for south and west-facing windows to verify summer comfort compliance per RE 2020

4. Use thermal imaging to identify cold bridges at frame-to-wall junctions indicating installation defects

5. Verify that thermal breaks are present and continuous in aluminium frames

- Windows with Uw values exceeding RE 2020 limits, compromising building energy performance

- Missing or damaged thermal breaks in aluminium frames creating cold bridges

- Glazing specification not matching the thermal calculation assumptions (e.g. single low-E instead of double)

- Excessive solar gain on south-facing facades due to inadequate solar factor control

Per NF EN 12207, 12208, and 12210, windows must be classified for air permeability (A1-A4), watertightness (E1-E9), and wind resistance (V1-VA4) appropriate to the building's exposure. In France, the required A*E*V* classification depends on the building height, geographic wind zone, terrain category, and proximity to the coast, as defined in DTU 36.5 and the Eurocode wind map (NF EN 1991-1-4). Higher exposure locations require higher classification ratings.

1. Determine the required A*E*V* classification based on the building's location, height, and exposure per DTU 36.5 Annexe and the wind zone map

2. Verify that the installed window products carry a classification at least equal to the required A*E*V* rating on their CE marking label or NF certificate

3. Check air permeability class — A3 is typical for standard exposure, A4 required for exposed sites or buildings above 28 m

4. Verify watertightness class — minimum E4 for standard conditions, higher for exposed coastal or high-altitude locations

5. Confirm wind resistance class — must correspond to the wind pressure calculated per NF EN 1991-1-4 for the specific location and building height

- Windows with inadequate A*E*V* classification installed in exposed locations, leading to air and water infiltration

- Classification not checked against the site-specific exposure requirements, relying on a standard product for all locations

- Water infiltration at the frame junction during wind-driven rain because the product watertightness class is too low

- Air permeability class insufficient for the building height, compromising the RE 2020 air tightness target

Per NF EN 1279, insulating glass units (IGUs) must be manufactured with appropriate glass types for thermal performance, safety, and acoustic performance. Safety glazing per NF EN 12600 is mandatory in locations at risk of human impact: all glazed panels below 900 mm above finished floor level, full-height glazed doors, and glazing adjacent to doors within 300 mm. Laminated glass (NF EN ISO 12543) is required for overhead glazing and balustrade glazing per DTU 39.

1. Verify that safety glazing is installed in all required locations per NF DTU 39 — glazing below 900 mm, full-height doors, sidelights within 300 mm of doors, and overhead locations

2. Check the glazing specification matches the project requirement — confirm glass type, thickness, coating, gas fill, and spacer from the IGU marking or manufacturer label

3. Verify that laminated safety glass is used for overhead glazing and structural glazing applications per NF EN ISO 12543

4. Confirm that acoustic glazing (asymmetric glass thicknesses or laminated acoustic interlayer) is installed where specified for noise exposure zones

5. Check for the visible IGU identity label or etching confirming manufacturer, date of production, and glass composition per NF EN 1279

- Non-safety glass installed in impact-risk locations below 900 mm, creating serious injury risk

- IGU specification substituted with lower-performance glazing — single low-E instead of specified double low-E or triple glazing

- Missing IGU identity marking, preventing verification of the glass specification

- Acoustic glazing specification not met in noise-exposed facades, resulting in excessive interior noise levels

Per DTU 36.5 and DTU 44.1, the junction between the window frame and the wall must be sealed to ensure airtightness, watertightness, and thermal continuity. The sealing system must accommodate differential movement between the frame and the structure. Typically, a compressible foam tape or backing rod with sealant is used internally for airtightness, and an external weather seal provides rain protection while allowing vapour diffusion outward. The RE 2020 airtightness target (Q4Pa_surf of 0.6 m³/h/m² for individual houses) depends heavily on window sealing quality.

1. Inspect the internal seal between the frame and the wall — verify continuous airtight sealing using compressible foam tape, membrane, or sealant per DTU 36.5

2. Check the external weather seal — confirm that a weatherproof but vapour-open seal is applied, allowing moisture to escape outward per DTU 44.1

3. Verify that sealing accommodates movement — sealant joints must be correctly dimensioned (width-to-depth ratio of 2:1 minimum) with a suitable backing rod per DTU 44.1

4. Use a smoke pencil or anemometer at frame junctions to detect air leakage points, particularly at corners and sill connections

5. Confirm that the drainage system (weep holes) in the frame is unobstructed and the external sill detail prevents water tracking back behind the frame

- Internal airtight seal missing or discontinuous, causing air leakage that compromises the RE 2020 Q4Pa_surf airtightness target

- External sealant applied without backing rod, resulting in incorrect joint geometry and early sealant failure

- Expanding foam used alone as both air and weather seal — foam degrades under UV exposure and does not provide reliable long-term airtightness

- Weep holes blocked by sealant or render, preventing condensation drainage from the frame track