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    Increasing building safety: key tests and standards for railings

    10 September 2025

    ensayos y normas clave para barandillas

    “TECNALIA offers testing expertise, national and international regulatory knowledge and specialised facilities”

    Railings are key elements to ensure safety in buildings and infrastructure

    However, Europe does not yet have a harmonised standard establishing common requirements and test methods. This means that each country has its own standards and regulations, forcing manufacturers to adapt, sometimes within very tight deadlines, to the specific requirements of each project and market.

    In this context, TECNALIA adds value to the industry with its extensive experience in railing testing, its knowledge of national and international regulations and its specialised facilities.

    TECNALIA’s technical team works with the main national standards and offers solutions adapted to each regulatory context, facilitating compliance for manufacturers and developers. It carries out tests both in its laboratories and on site, when required by the project conditions.

    Main standards in Spain

    In the Spanish market there are several mandatory standards and technical requirements:

    • CTE DB SE-AE: it establishes the mandatory load requirement for railings. This is verified by means of the strength test with load distributed towards the exterior, which is essential in both new construction and renovation projects. TECNALIA is accredited by ENAC for the performance of this test.
    • Series of standards UNE 85237, UNE 85238, UNE 85239 and UNE 85240: they enable manufacturers to obtain a complete assessment of their railing systems by means of tests, as well as their official classification.

    Thanks to this regulatory framework, manufacturers can guarantee that their systems comply with the highest safety standards, making them stand out in the market and build the confidence of architects, developers and end users.

    TECNALIA works with industry to anticipate requirements, provide technical solutions and facilitate the introduction of products in different European markets. TECNALIA’S commitment is clear: to turn regulations into a competitive advantage for our customers.