EN 12608-3:2026
(Main)Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles for the fabrication of windows and doors - Classification, requirements and test methods - Part 3: PVC-U profiles covered with paint.
General Information
- Abstract
This document specifies the classifications, requirements and test methods for unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles covered with paint designed for external uses which are intended to be used for the fabrication of windows and doors.
NOTE 1 The terms lacquer, varnish and coating are used as synonyms for paint.
NOTE 2 For editorial reasons in this document the term "window" is used for window/door.
NOTE 3 For the purpose of production control, test methods other than those specified in this document can be used.
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 13-Oct-2026
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 249 - Plastics
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 249/WG 21 - Profiles for windows and doors
- Current Stage
- 6055 - CEN Ratification completed (DOR) - Publishing
- Start Date
- 24-Aug-2026
- Due Date
- 13-Nov-2026
- Completion Date
- 24-Aug-2026
Overview
EN 12608-3:2026 specifies the classification, requirements, and test methods for unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles covered with paint, intended for the fabrication of windows and doors for external use. This standard, developed by CEN/TC 249, addresses the performance characteristics and durability of painted PVC-U profiles, setting criteria to ensure product quality, consistency, and reliable performance in real-world building applications.
The document covers definitions, material properties, surface requirements, dimensional tolerances, colour and appearance standards, test methods, and traceability provisions. The terms lacquer, varnish, and coating are used synonymously with "paint" in this context.
Key Topics
- Classifications: Profiles are classified based on criteria such as wall thickness, impact resistance, and artificial weathering resistance of both the base profile and the paint.
- Material Requirements: Details on acceptable materials for base profiles, including UV-resistant materials for exposed areas and specific allowances for surfaces intended to be painted.
- Paint Properties: Requirements for paints suitable for external use, focused on durability, UV resistance, colour retention, and solar direct reflectance.
- Appearance and Finish: Standards for surface appearance, smoothness, consistency, uniformity of paint layer, colour matching, and acceptable deviations.
- Performance Testing: Methods for evaluating adhesion (cross-cut test), colour stability, artificial weathering, impact resistance, thickness of paint layers, and weld strength of profiles.
- Test Methods: Reference to established European and international standards for laboratory procedures, including EN 410, EN ISO 2409, EN ISO 179-1, and EN ISO 4892-2.
- Traceability: Requirements for profile identification to ensure complete traceability for manufacturing and conformity purposes, including recycled content and fibre reinforcement labeling.
Applications
EN 12608-3:2026 applies to manufacturers and suppliers of PVC-U window and door profiles with painted finishes, particularly for:
- Residential and commercial building construction where aesthetic versatility and exterior durability are important
- Renovation and retrofitting projects seeking to upgrade windows and doors with painted profiles
- Quality assurance and certification for procurement of building components involving painted PVC-U products
Compliance with this standard helps ensure:
- Consistent product performance across manufacturers and markets
- Durability and resistance to environmental stressors such as UV exposure, thermal cycling, and mechanical impacts
- Colour stability and surface quality of painted profiles over long service life
- Compatibility of painted profiles with welding and installation processes used in window and door fabrication
Architects, specifiers, and contractors benefit from this standard by being able to select and specify painted PVC-U profiles that meet stringent European requirements, ensuring reliable, attractive, and low-maintenance solutions for building envelopes.
Related Standards
For organizations implementing or referencing EN 12608-3:2026, the following related standards are important for comprehensive quality control:
- EN 12608-1: Non-covered PVC-U profiles - Classification and requirements
- EN 513: Resistance to artificial weathering for PVC-based profiles
- EN 514: Strength of welded corners and T-joints
- EN 410: Determination of luminous and solar characteristics of glazing
- EN ISO 2409: Paints and varnishes cross-cut test
- EN ISO 179-1: Charpy impact properties of plastics
- EN ISO 4892-2: Exposure of plastics to laboratory light sources (xenon-arc lamps)
- EN ISO/CIE 11664-4 / -6: Colorimetry and colour-difference calculation
Adhering to EN 12608-3:2026 supports product quality, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction in the European and global building products market.
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 12608-3:2026 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles for the fabrication of windows and doors - Classification, requirements and test methods - Part 3: PVC-U profiles covered with paint.". This standard covers: This document specifies the classifications, requirements and test methods for unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles covered with paint designed for external uses which are intended to be used for the fabrication of windows and doors. NOTE 1 The terms lacquer, varnish and coating are used as synonyms for paint. NOTE 2 For editorial reasons in this document the term "window" is used for window/door. NOTE 3 For the purpose of production control, test methods other than those specified in this document can be used.
This document specifies the classifications, requirements and test methods for unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles covered with paint designed for external uses which are intended to be used for the fabrication of windows and doors. NOTE 1 The terms lacquer, varnish and coating are used as synonyms for paint. NOTE 2 For editorial reasons in this document the term "window" is used for window/door. NOTE 3 For the purpose of production control, test methods other than those specified in this document can be used.
EN 12608-3:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 83.140.99 - Other rubber and plastics products; 91.060.50 - Doors and windows. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 12608-3:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 12608-3:2025
01-oktober-2025
Profili iz nemehčanega polivinilklorida (PVC-U) za izdelavo oken in vrat -
Razvrščanje, zahteve in preskusne metode - 3. del: Profili PVC-U, prevlečeni z
barvo
Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles for the fabrication of windows and
doors - Classification, requirements and test methods - Part 3: PVC-U profiles covered
with paint.
Profile aus weichmacherfreiem Polyvinylchlorid (PVC-U) zur Herstellung von Fenstern
und Türen - Klassifizierung, Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren - Teil3: PVC-U-Profile mit
Lackierung
Profilés de poly(chlorure de vinyle) non plastifié (PVC‐U) pour la fabrication des
fenêtres et des portes - Classification, exigences et méthodes d’essai - Partie 3 : Profilés
en PVC‐U avec un revêtement laqué
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 12608-3
ICS:
83.140.99 Drugi izdelki iz gume in Other rubber and plastics
polimernih materialov products
91.060.50 Vrata in okna Doors and windows
oSIST prEN 12608-3:2025 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
oSIST prEN 12608-3:2025
oSIST prEN 12608-3:2025
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 12608-3
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2025
ICS 83.140.99; 91.060.50
English Version
Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles for the
fabrication of windows and doors - Classification,
requirements and test methods - Part 3: PVC-U profiles
covered with paint.
Profilés de poly(chlorure de vinyle) non plastifié (PVC- Profile aus weichmacherfreiem Polyvinylchlorid (PVC-
U) pour la fabrication des fenêtres et des portes - U) zur Herstellung von Fenstern und Türen -
Classification, exigences et méthodes d'essai - Partie 3 : Klassifizierung, Anforderungen und Prüfverfahren -
Profilés en PVC-U avec un revêtement laqué Teil3: PVC-U-Profile mit Lackierung
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 249.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 12608-3:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
oSIST prEN 12608-3:2025
prEN 12608-3:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Classifications . 5
4.1 General. 5
4.2 Classification of main base profiles according to the wall thickness of the external walls 5
4.3 Classification of main base profiles according to the resistance to impact by falling mass5
4.4 Classification of base profile materials according to the resistance to artificial weathering
............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
4.5 Classification of paints according to the resistance to artificial weathering . 5
5 Requirements for base profiles . 6
5.1 Base profiles in conformance with EN 12608-1 . 6
5.2 Other base profiles . 6
5.2.1 Material . 6
5.2.2 Appearance . 6
5.2.3 Dimensions and tolerances of base profiles . 6
5.2.4 Linear weight of the base profiles . 6
5.2.5 Heat reversion . 6
5.2.6 Resistance to impact by falling mass of the base profiles . 7
6 Requirements for paints . 7
6.1 General. 7
6.2 Resistance to artificial weathering . 7
6.3 Solar direct reflectance . 8
7 Requirements for painted profiles . 8
7.1 General. 8
7.2 Appearance . 8
7.3 Colour . 8
7.4 Deviation from straightness of the painted main profiles . 8
7.5 Resistance to cross cut . 9
7.6 Layer thickness . 9
7.7 Strength of welded corners and T-joints of painted main profiles . 9
7.8 Resistance to artificial weathering . 9
8 Test methods . 10
8.1 Visual inspection . 10
8.2 Determination of colorimetric coordinates . 10
9 Traceability . 10
Annex A (normative) Determination of the reflection behaviour of paints by spectral analysis11
oSIST prEN 12608-3:2025
prEN 12608-3:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 12608-3:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics”,
the secretariat of which is held by SIS.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
EN 12608, Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles for the fabrication of windows and
doors — Classification, requirements and test methods, is currently composed with the following parts:
— Part 1: Non-covered PVC-U profiles
— Part 2: PVC-U profiles with laminated foils bonded with adhesives
— Part 3: PVC-U profiles covered with paint
— Part 4: PVC-U profiles with thermo-laminated foils
— Part 5: PVC-U profiles with coextruded coloured top-layer (in preparation)
oSIST prEN 12608-3:2025
prEN 12608-3:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies the classifications, requirements and test methods for unplasticized poly(vinyl
chloride) (PVC-U) profiles covered with paint designed for external uses which are intended to be used
for the fabrication of windows and doors.
NOTE 1 The terms lacquer, varnish and coating are used as synonyms for paint.
NOTE 2 For editorial reasons in this document the term “window” is used for window/door.
NOTE 3 For the purpose of production control, test methods other than those specified in this document can be
used.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 410, Glass in building — Determination of luminous and solar characteristics of glazing
EN 513, Plastics — Poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) based profiles — Determination of the resistance to artificial
weathering
EN 514, Plastics — Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) based profiles — Determination of the strength of welded
corners and T-joints
prEN 12608-1:2025, Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles for the fabrication of windows and
doors — Classification, requirements and test methods — Part 1: Non-covered PVC-U profiles
EN 17508, Plastics — Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles for the fabrication of windows and
doors — Terminology of PVC based materials
EN 20105-A02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A02: Grey scale for assessing change in colour
(ISO 105-A02)
EN ISO 179-1, Plastics — Determination of Charpy impact properties — Part 1: Non-instrumented impact
test (ISO 179-1)
EN ISO 2409, Paints and varnishes — Cross-cut test (ISO 2409)
EN ISO 4892-2:2013, Plastics — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 2: Xenon-arc
lamps (ISO 4892-2:2013)
EN ISO 16474-1, Paints and varnishes — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 1: General
guidance
EN ISO/CIE 11664-4, Colorimetry — Part 4: CIE 1976 L*a*b* colour space (ISO/CIE 11664-4)
EN ISO/CIE 11664-6, Colorimetry — Part 6: CIEDE2000 colour-difference formula (ISO/CIE 11664-6)
oSIST prEN 12608-3:2025
prEN 12608-3:2025 (E)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 17508 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
base profile
profile without covering paint intended for painting
3.2
painted profile
profile covered with paint
3.3
paint
one or several layer(s) of lacquer (e.g. acrylic or polyurethane resin) or varnish (clear coating material)
that cover(s) a base profile
4 Classifications
4.1 General
The selection of appropriate classes necessary to fulfil national requirements may be given in the national
foreword of this document.
4.2 Classification of main base profiles according to the wall thickness of the external
walls
For the wall thickness of the external walls, the main base profiles shall be classified according to
prEN 12608-1:2025, 4.5.
4.3 Classification of main base profiles according to the resistance to impact by falling
mass
For the resistance to impact by falling mass, the main base profiles shall be classified according to
prEN 12608-1:2025, 4.4.
4.4 Classification of base profile materials according to the resistance to artificial
weathering
For the resistance to artificial weathering, the base profile materials shall be classified according to
prEN 12608-1:2025, 4.3.
4.5 Classification of paints according to the resistance to artificial weathering
The resistance to artificial weathering of paints shall be classified according to Table 1 after testing
according to 6.2.
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