You Can Go Your Own Way

Funny how one's role in life can be dictated by one's nationality. As the 'tame Brit' on CEN TC33 WG6 - curtain walling group to the unenlightened - I find myself called upon to interpret various points of view expressed in passionate if not always accurate English and to deliver the result in correct and understandable English.

As always, ashamed to be the only one not fluent in at least one other language I hear my Romanian, Dutch, Italian, German, Swedish, French , Belgian, Swiss and Austrian colleagues discussing complex technical matters in a polyglot of European tongues each with their own special slant on the issues.

Perhaps more relevant to UK readers is the understanding that our fellow Europeans create, interpret and apply rules and standards very differently. Some assume that a standard referenced in a National Regulation becomes, ipso facto, a mandatory part of said regulation, others will interpret the application for their own purposes ie to fit their existing requirements. A few may pay only lip service and 'do it their way' and then you have the wonderfully vague British approach which prefers to see them as guidance for the 'reasonable man'.

While all this may bring a wry smile to some lips it is the reality of multi-national organisations. So, when you finally start to apply BS EN 14351-1 to your windows and Doorsets, BS EN 13830 to that splendid curtain walling and the plethora of glass and hardware standards to those worthy components spare a thought for the team who worked long (Oh and so long sometimes) and hard (honestly) to produce them.

For more details contact the CAB Office on 01453 828851 or enquiries@c-a-b.org.uk

David Earle
Technical Officer
Council for Aluminium in Building.