The Construction Products Directive or CPD (89/106/CE) concerns all products and construction work that is defined as being “produced or assembled for incorporation in a permanent manner in construction work, including both buildings and civil engineering work”. CPD requires that all products carry obligatory CE certification.
The manufacturer is responsible for demonstrating, either in person or via an authorised certifying body, that the product conforms to the required technical specifications (European norms)..

The attestation of conformity (AoC) system adopted by the manufacturer verifies the degree to which the product is tested at the production plant and on the market. There are various AoC systems:
- system 1+
- system 1
- system 2+
- system 2
- system 3
- system 4
The rigidness of tests and controls needed, gradually decrease depending on the use of the product,  the most rigorous standards being applied for those products where the safety of people is of paramount importance (as in the case of fire doors, etc.)

Manufacturers must obviously declare compliance with CE requirements to have the CE mark. Any such declaration is legally binding and requires that the company bear full responsibility for product compliance with all norms currently in force.

The UNI EN 14351-1, European harmonized standard (product standard), specifies performance parameters for windows and external pedestrian doors, including a framework of requirements, criteria and necessary trials and tests to be carried out in order to ensure that obligatory CPD requirements are complied with. In particular, attachment ZA, details obligatory requirements that manufacturers have to respect in order to display the CE mark.
Table ZA.2, also states that the AoC control system for doors and windows, where the use does not involve limiting potential hazards or safeguarding against injury, is set at level 3. As such, and in order to have the CE mark, manufacturers of this product type are required to declare, on their own responsibility, product compliance with UNI EN 14351-1, based on:
1 – The carrying out of preliminary ITT-type tests by a recognised laboratory on a representative sample of manufactured products.
2 – Implement an FPC plant and production control plan capable of guaranteeing long-term product homogeneity and compliance with standard product performance requirements.
Whilst ITT standards require  that one single sample window or door fitting be tested at a certified body prior to production, FPC standards require that specific control procedures – as outlined in the respective manual - be constantly observed during the entire manufacturing process of the door or window fitting.
These requirements are fundamental if a manufacturer wishes to have the CE mark for  external pedestrian doors and windows where the use does not involve safeguarding against injury.

Table ZA.3b deals with product standards and product compliance in the following areas:
FUNDAMENTAL PRODUCT FEATURES
- Resistance to wind-load
- Air permeability
- Water tightness
- Heat insulation
- Sound-proofing
- Locking device safety
Preliminary testing procedures, such as ITT tests, as described in section 7.2 of the standards, should be carried out. Furthermore, the FPC production control plan should be applied and reported as required by section 7.3 in the standards.
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