We are a leading glass manufacturer based in China, specializing in high-quality glass solutions for industrial and architectural applications. With years of experience and ISO certification, we provide fast, tailored quotes and responsive support for procurement professionals, engineers, and project managers worldwide.
We are a leading glass manufacturer based in China, specializing in high-quality glass solutions for industrial and architectural applications. With years of experience and ISO certification, we provide fast, tailored quotes and responsive support for procurement professionals, engineers, and project managers worldwide.
I’ve spent years tracking regulatory shifts that manufacturers quietly hate but buyers must obey. The baseline fact is simple. The European Union doesn’t require CE marking on every product. Only products governed by harmonised rules in EU legislation can bear the mark — and if they are sold or imported into the EU, that requirement travels with them. If it’s not covered by such law, a CE mark is not just unnecessary — it’s illegal. (European Union)
That nuance gets lost in the supply chain every year. Glass sits right at that fault line.
Three words. Laws change constantly. EU rules that matter most for architectural glass come from the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), Regulation (EU) No. 305/2011 and its ongoing revisions, which do make CE marking compulsory for most glass used as a construction product in the EU. (Internal Market & SMEs)
This isn’t ivory‑tower theory. It affects how you sell IGUs, curtain wall glass, fire‑rated vision panels, low‑e insulating glass — all the stuff your customers think of as basic architectural materials. If you manufacture any of these and want them freely circulating across the EU single market, you must have CE certification and a Declaration of Performance. (Ecochain)
I’ll break down the hard requirements and the practical traps most exporters overlook.
Glass entrained into building fabric doesn’t float free from regulation. From thermal performance in façades to impact resistance in interiors, CPR treats architectural glass as a construction product if it is meant to be permanently incorporated into structures. (Compliance Gate)
Under CPR:
This is where EU Imports Architectural Glass and CE Marking Requirements intersect: importers are treated as responsible economic operators. They must ensure the product placed on EU soil actually meets these rules, including having a point of contact within the EU. (Trade.gov)
Put bluntly: If your glass is sold into the EU without CE marking when required, customs and market surveillance authorities will detain it. You’ll face re‑export orders, fines, and potentially bans.
Here’s the controversy most manufacturers don’t want to admit: Being outside the EU doesn’t absolve you of CE Marking Requirements. Whether your plant sits in Asia, North America, or anywhere else, EU law doesn’t require you to be located inside the EU — but it does require that the importer or an Authorized Representative is accountable for compliance and documentation. (Compliance Gate)
You can see this reflected in practical glass compliance services, where third‑party labs support compliance testing and Notified Body involvement under systems 1, 3, or 4 depending on the product and risk profile. (https://www.appluslaboratories.com)
And while CE marking doesn’t certify quality per se, for architects, contractors, and public tenders, that mark is now as non‑negotiable as fire ratings or thermal insulation values.
A real CE Marking and Certification process isn’t superficial stamping. It’s a regimented technical exercise:
This appears dry on paper. In practice, failing to align test data, DoP, and marking is the biggest compliance failure mode.
| Category | CE Mark Required? | Legal Basis | Common Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulating Glass Units | Yes | CPR + EN 1279 | EN 1279 Parts 1‑6 |
| Laminated Safety Glass | Yes | CPR + EN 14449 | EN 14449 |
| Tempered / Toughened Glass | Yes | CPR + EN 12150 | EN 12150 |
| Uncovered Decorative Glass | No (unless harmonised rule) | Not covered unless specific EN exists | N/A |
| Curtain Wall Components (glass) | Yes | CPR | Relevant EN / ETA |
This table reflects the reality in 2025: regulators have been updating CPR and harmonised standards, and more glass categories are being pulled into mandatory CE marking. (GW News)
Many exporters assume “glass is inert, it’s just silica” and therefore low‑risk. Wrong. EU authorities treat architectural glass as a performance product — it affects building safety, energy performance, and human safety. This is why CE Marking and Glass Strength characteristics matter under CPR. (Glass for Europe)
Another misstep: relying on non‑EU test data as sufficient evidence. EU market surveillance teams will insist on conformity to the actual harmonised standards referenced in the Official Journal — not a generic ASTM or ISO certificate.
What is CE Marking for Architectural Glass? CE Marking for architectural glass is the EU compliance indicator affixed to construction glass products that conform to applicable harmonised standards or European Technical Assessments under the Construction Products Regulation; it enables legal sale and free movement within the EU market.
Is CE Marking required for EU Imports of architectural glass? CE Marking is required for EU imports of architectural glass when the glass is defined as a construction product meant to be permanently incorporated into buildings and covered by harmonised EU standards or an ETA under the CPR, including both performance testing and a Declaration of Performance.
How do you get CE Marking for glass? To get CE Marking for glass you must determine relevant harmonised standards, perform the necessary conformity assessments (with or without a Notified Body depending on system), establish factory production control, create a Declaration of Performance, and affix the CE mark with required traceability details.
What happens if you import glass without CE marking? Importing glass without required CE marking into the EU can lead to detention by customs, refusal of market access, fines, enforcement actions by market surveillance authorities, and damage to commercial reputation.
If you supply architectural glass destined for the EU, regulatory compliance isn’t optional. Contact manufacturers of compliant products or explore how our partners’ testing and CE support can protect your shipments and reputation. Learn more about tailored supply options and performance glass solutions at The Insulated Glass Company and connect with experts through our contact page.
