Wind Load Test — EN 12211 / EN 12179 / EN 1991-1-4

What Is Wind Load?

Wind load resistance testing is the evaluation of deformation and structural integrity by applying increasing positive and negative pressure to the building component. The test has three stages: measurement of deformation at the design load, behavior under cyclic load and maintenance of integrity at the safety load.

Purpose of Wind Load

The aim is to show that the component withstands the wind pressure that will occur at the height and location of the building. Wind load is especially dangerous in the suction direction; Coating and glass breaks are mostly caused by suction.

Which Products Is Wind Load Applied To?

Window and door systems
Giydirme cepheler
Roofing systems
Blinds and sunshades
Sandwich panel facades

In Which Sectors Is Wind Load Used?

ConstructionConstructionMetalGlass

Standards Related to Wind Load

TS EN 12211 / EN 12210 (wind load resistance and classification in windows and doors)
TS EN 12179 / EN 13116 (wind load on curtain walls)
TS EN 14437 (wind absorption resistance in tiles)
TS EN 1991-1-4 (Eurocode 1 — wind effects)
TS EN 12424 (wind load resistance in industrial doors)

Wind Load Conditions

Load levels: Three stages: design load, cyclic load and safety load
Orientation: Applied separately in positive (pressure) and negative (suction) directions
Deformation measurement: At critical points, deflection is measured and proportioned to the span
Post check: Post-load air and water sealing is repeatable

Equipment for Wind Load

Pressure chamber and fan system
Deformation measurement systems (LVDT, laser)
Pressure measurement and control unit
Experimental frames and mounting fixtures

Sample Requirements for Wind Load

Actual size, fully assembled sample
Assembly detail and fasteners must represent actual application
System drawings and design load must be reported
Safety load test may cause damage

Duration of Wind Load

The test series usually lasts one or two days. What really determines the duration is sample manufacturing and assembly on the test frame.

Wind Load Procedure

1The sample is mounted on the experimental frame.
2Measurement points are determined and sensors are placed.
3The design load is applied in positive and negative directions; deformations are measured.
4Repeated load cycles are applied.
5The security payload is applied and integrity is evaluated.
6Air and water tests are repeated if necessary.

Wind Load Acceptance Criteria

EN 12210 and EN 13116 define classes for wind pressure and deformation. The required class is determined in the project according to the wind load calculated from the location, height and environmental conditions of the building according to EN 1991-1-4. Within the scope of (EU) 305/2011, the test result is not a pass/fail decision, but the performance value to be announced in the Declaration of Performance (DoP). The national regulations and project specifications of the country where the structure where the product will be used determine which performance level is sufficient.

Evaluation of Results

The suction (negative) direction is usually decisive: fasteners and fastening points try to pull in suction and breakage occurs in this direction. Moreover, the deformation limit is not only structural but also functional; A façade with excessive deflection causes damage to the glass and sealing.

Wind Load Report

System description, dimensions and installation detail
Design and safety loads applied
Deformation measurements for each stage
Permanent deformation values
Classification result
Observations and photographs

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011

Construction Materials Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Wind Load test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Construction materials testing shows whether a product performs the function it takes on within the structure. A wide field is gathered in this family, from the compressive strength of concrete to the thermal transmittance of glass, from sieve analysis of aggregate to the watertightness of windows.

What sets this family apart from the others is that the result turns directly into a REGULATORY DECLARATION. For products covered by construction products legislation a declaration of performance (DoP) is mandatory, and every essential characteristic in the declaration rests on a test result. Reaction-to-fire class, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, water permeability and release of dangerous substances are declared in this way. The declaration is a legal text carrying the manufacturer's signature; the test record behind it is the first document requested in an inspection.

The second distinguishing feature is that the product is assessed over its SERVICE LIFE. An electronic device runs for five years; a building component stays in place for fifty and is exposed throughout that time to freeze-thaw cycles, UV, moisture, chemical attack and load. Durability tests (freeze-thaw, carbonation, alkali-silica reaction, ageing) therefore carry as much weight in this field as classical strength tests.

Tests are separated by material type and each group has its own set of standards: cement and concrete, aggregate, masonry units, wood-based panels, thermal insulation, glass and glazing units, ceramic tiles, floor coverings, screeds, joint fillers and coating systems. Where the product will be installed determines which set applies — the same panel is assessed against different standards on a wall and on a floor.

Factory production control (FPC) is a continuous component of the field. CE marking on a construction product is not obtained with a single test and then left; the manufacturer must set up a system showing that it monitors production consistency, takes samples regularly and intervenes when there is a deviation. Depending on the product group, this system may have to be audited by a notified body.

Site testing is a separate body of work. In the laboratory the product is approved; on site it is checked that the product really is of the declared class and that it has been applied correctly. Fresh concrete slump, cylinder sampling, aggregate sieve analysis and in-situ watertightness tests fall within this scope.

Method groups in this field

Concrete and cement
Slump, air content and unit weight in fresh concrete; compressive and flexural strength, water permeability and freeze-thaw resistance in hardened concrete. For cement, compressive strength, setting time and composition analysis.
Aggregate
Sieve analysis, particle shape, Los Angeles abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw, alkali reactivity and density/water absorption.
Thermal and energy performance
Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, calculation of thermal transmittance (U value) in glazing units, solar energy transmittance.
Facade and joinery
Air permeability, watertightness and wind load resistance in windows and doors; fire performance in facade systems.
Fire performance
Reaction-to-fire classification and fire resistance tests; these are two separate concepts and are addressed by separate standards.
Masonry, tile and flooring
Compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, stain and chemical resistance.
Emissions and dangerous substances
Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels, VOC emissions from construction products, leaching behaviour of aggregates and waste.

Commonly confused in this field

REACTION to fire and RESISTANCE to fire are different concepts: one describes the material's contribution to a fire, the other how long a component holds the fire back.
A declaration of performance is not a certificate; it is the manufacturer's declaration. Notified body involvement varies with the product group and the assessment system.
A test result is valid for the mounting arrangement in which the product was tested. A different substrate, a different thickness or a different joint detail may require reassessment.
A site sample and a laboratory sample are not the same thing. A concrete cylinder taken on site also reflects application and curing conditions; it does not replace product approval.
ASTM and EN construction standards measure similar quantities with different specimens and scales; the results cannot be converted one-to-one.

Which decisions these results support

Declaration of performance (DoP) and CE marking
Establishing and maintaining the factory production control system
On-site conformity control of concrete, aggregate and workmanship
Meeting fire and energy performance requirements
Verifying the technical items in the project and tender specification

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Wind Load

How do we determine our wind load?

Calculated according to EN 1991-1-4: basic wind speed, terrain category, building height and geometry are used as input. Wind tunnel work can also be done in tall buildings and complex geometries.

We have a system certificate, is project-specific testing required?

The system certificate covers a specific size and configuration range. If project dimensions are outside this range or a special detail is used, additional testing or calculation is required.