This European Standard specifies the performance requirements for blinds and awnings intended to be fitted externally to buildings and other construction works. It deals also with the significant hazards for assembly, transport, installation, operation and maintenance (see list of significant machine hazards in Annex B). It applies to all external blinds and awnings whatever their design and nature of the materials used, as follows and defined in EN 12216: folding arm awning, trellis arm awning, pivot arm awning, slide arm awning, vertical roller blind, marquisolette, façade awning, skylight awning, conservatory awning, Pergola awning, Dutch awning, insect screen; brise-soleil. This European Standard does not cover the wind resistance of non-retractable products, e. g. Dutch awnings and brise-soleil. The structural part to which the Pergola awning is fixed is not covered. The products covered by this European Standard may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs or by means of electric motors (power operated products). However, the durability and endurance of the autonomous supply for power operated external blinds and awnings not connected to the mains supply are not covered. This European Standard deals also with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and events when external blinds and awnings are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer. This European Standard covers external blinds and awnings mounted externally. In case such products are installed internally, they should fulfil all relevant safety requirements defined in EN 13120. The noise emission of power operated external blinds and awnings is not considered to be a relevant hazard according to the machinery health and safety requirements. Therefore this European Standard does not contain any specific requirements on noise health and safety objective.