EN14428 & SGCC Certification Guide

In the shower enclosure industry, safety certifications are not just regulatory requirements—they are fundamental guarantees of product quality and user protection. Two standards stand at the forefront of global shower enclosure safety: EN14428 for European markets and SGCC for North American markets.

These certifications ensure that shower enclosures and their components meet rigorous safety, durability, and performance criteria. For manufacturers, distributors, and end-users, understanding these standards is crucial for making informed decisions about product selection, installation, and long-term reliability.

The importance of these standards extends beyond mere compliance. They represent decades of engineering research, accident analysis, and industry best practices. Products certified under these standards have undergone extensive testing for mechanical strength, durability, water tightness, and safety glass performance—ensuring they can withstand real-world usage conditions over extended periods.

EN14428 is the comprehensive European standard for shower enclosures and shower screens, officially titled "Shower enclosures - Functional requirements and test methods." Established by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), this standard provides a unified framework for evaluating shower enclosure performance across all EU member states.

Core Requirements

The EN14428 standard encompasses multiple critical aspects of shower enclosure design and performance:

One of the most critical aspects of EN14428 is its focus on long-term performance. The 50,000-cycle durability test simulates approximately 10-15 years of typical residential use, ensuring that hardware components like soft-close dampers and roller systems maintain their functionality throughout the product's expected lifespan.

The Safety Glazing Certification Council (SGCC) provides the primary certification standard for tempered glass used in shower enclosures across North America. Established in 1971, SGCC certification has become the industry benchmark for safety glazing materials in the United States and Canada.

SGCC Testing Protocol

SGCC certification focuses specifically on the safety characteristics of tempered glass, ensuring it meets stringent performance criteria:

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  Impact Resistance Testing: Glass panels undergo impact testing using a standardized impactor at various heights and locations. The glass must either resist the impact without breaking or, if it breaks, fragment into small, relatively harmless pieces.
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  Fragmentation Pattern Analysis: When tempered glass breaks, it must fragment into small, cube-like pieces rather than large, sharp shards. SGCC standards specify maximum particle sizes and distribution patterns to minimize injury risk.
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  Surface Compression Standards: The tempering process must create sufficient surface compression (typically 10,000+ PSI) to ensure proper safety characteristics. This is verified through specialized testing equipment.
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  Quality Control Requirements: Manufacturers must maintain rigorous quality control systems, with regular testing of production samples to ensure consistent compliance with SGCC standards.

For shower enclosure manufacturers, SGCC certification is essential for market access in North America. Major retailers, contractors, and building codes typically require SGCC-certified glass for all shower applications. Products like our Luxury Frameless Sliding Shower Door feature SGCC-certified tempered glass as standard, ensuring compliance with North American safety requirements.

Both EN14428 and SGCC certifications require extensive testing protocols that evaluate multiple aspects of shower enclosure performance. Understanding these requirements helps manufacturers design products that not only meet certification standards but exceed user expectations for safety and durability.

Mechanical Performance Testing

Mechanical testing evaluates how shower enclosures respond to various forces and stresses encountered during installation and daily use:

Durability and Cycle Testing

Long-term durability is assessed through extensive cycle testing that simulates years of use in accelerated timeframes. This is particularly critical for moving components like sliding doors and hinged panels.

EN14428 requires a minimum of 50,000 opening and closing cycles, but premium manufacturers often exceed this significantly. For example, our Moon Shadow Series features hardware tested to 350,000+ cycles, providing a substantial safety margin and extended product lifespan.

During cycle testing, multiple parameters are monitored:

• →Operating force required to open/close the door (must remain within specified limits)
• →Noise levels during operation (premium products target <30dB)
• →Wear patterns on rollers, tracks, and sealing components
• →Water tightness performance after cycling (must not degrade)
• →Structural integrity of mounting points and frame connections

Achieving EN14428 or SGCC certification requires a systematic approach involving design validation, testing, documentation, and ongoing quality assurance. Understanding this process helps manufacturers plan product development timelines and budget appropriately for certification costs.

Step-by-Step Certification Process

Quality Management Systems

Successful certification requires robust quality management systems. Many manufacturers implement ISO 9001 quality management alongside product-specific certifications. This integrated approach ensures consistent product quality and facilitates ongoing compliance with certification requirements.

Key quality management elements include:

• →Incoming material inspection and testing protocols
• →In-process quality checks at critical manufacturing stages
• →Final product inspection before packaging and shipment
• →Traceability systems linking products to production batches
• →Corrective action procedures for non-conforming products