1. Generale
1.1
These General Terms and Conditions (in the following: „GTC“) in the latest version as printed below form the basis of all offers, order confirmations, and all purchase contracts of VELUX Commercial Deutschland GmbH (in the following: „VELUX Commercial“) in business relationships with entrepreneurs – hereinafter referred to as Customers – and shall also apply in current and future business relationships unless otherwise agreed. An entrepreneur means a natural or legal person or a partnership with legal personality who or which, when entering into a legal transaction, acts in exercise of his or its trade, business or profession. These GTC shall apply accordingly to contractual agreements for work and services. These GTC shall be deemed accepted by the Customer with order placement, and in any event no later than receipt by the Customer of VELUX Commercial‘s delivery and/or service.
1.2
Unless VELUX Commercial expressly agrees in writing, any terms and conditions of purchase of the Customer shall not apply to a contract, even in the event that VELUX Commercial does not expressly object to them at any time after receipt.
1.3
Derogations from these GTC are subject to VELUX Commercial’s express agreement in writing. Additions, supplements, or side agreements require VELUX Commercial’s written approval to be binding under a contract, regardless of the method by which they are communicated.
1.4
Unless otherwise agreed in the concluded contract, VOB Part B shall be deemed agreed in contracts for work and services, including the periods listed there for liability for defects. In such cases, VOB Part B shall take precedence over any deviating provisions in these GTC. Should the parties agree on the application of the VOL Part B, all provisions in VOL Part B shall take precedence over any deviating provisions in these GTC.
2. Conclusion of contract, product changes
2.1 Unless otherwise stated in the individual contract offer, VELUX Commercial’s offers are capable of acceptance within 30 days of their date.
2.2 VELUX Commercial reserves the right at any time to make changes to the products to be supplied which are a result of a technical enhancement, and to make industry-standard deviations from masses, weights, and other technical data if and insofar as this is not unreasonable in the individual case. All samples are non-binding product samples.
3. Prices, Packaging
3.1
The contract price is calculated from the most current VELUX Commercial price list accounting for any agreed discount, the basis of any individual offer or price. Prices include delivery to construction sites within the Federal Republic of Germany. Where agreed to be undertaken by VELUX Commercial, services such as, but not limited to, unloading, stacking, the provision of any required equipment and freight costs for delivery abroad will be payable for by the Customer as additional services and will be invoiced for separately. The agreed prices listed in the written contract order confirmation shall be binding. All prices do not include, and Customer is responsible for paying, any foreign or domestic taxes or charges of any kind that may be applicable (including without limitation excise, sales, use, or value-added taxes; customs or other import duties; or other taxes, tariffs or duties).
3.2
The agreed prices are based on the prime costs to VELUX Commercial on conclusion of the contract. In the event that there are at least four months between the conclusion of the contract and the agreed delivery date, the following provision shall apply: VELUX Commercial shall furthermore adjust the prices to be paid on the basis of the concluded purchase contracts at its reasonable discretion in accordance with the development of the costs to VELUX Commercial of undertaking the contract which are relevant to the price calculation. A contract price increase shall be considered and - on request of the Customer - a price reduction shall be made if, for example, the costs to VELUX Commercial for the procurement of input materials or energy or transport costs increase or decrease. Increases in one type of cost, e.g. transport costs, will be applied subject to consideration being given to the increase being compensated for by possible decreases in other respects, e.g. costs for input materials. In the event of cost reductions, e.g. in transport costs, VELUX Commercial shall at its discretion reduce the contract prices to the extent that these cost reductions are not fully or partially offset by increases in other respects. When exercising its reasonable discretion, VELUX Commercial shall choose the respective points in time of a price change in such a way that cost reductions are not taken into account according to standards that are less favourable for the Customer than cost increases, so that cost reductions have at least the same effect on prices as cost increases.
3.3
If and to the extent that VELUX Commercial is required under the contract, or otherwise, to take back packaging, this take-back shall take place in each individual case upon request by the Customer. The return will then be carried out at VELUX Commercial's discretion either by a service company, which organises the return independently, or by VELUX Commercial or a company instructed by VELUX Commercial in the individual case. In the event that VELUX Commercial carries out or organises the take-back itself, the place of take-back shall be determined by VELUX Commercial at its reasonable discretion, taking due account of the interests of the Customer. The costs of the take-back shall be borne by the Customer.
4. Delivery times, force majeure, self-delivery
4.1
Delivery dates and times are set out in the order confirmations. Such periods are intended to be considered as approximate only.
4.2
Adherence to delivery periods is dependent on timely fulfilment of the Customer’s contractual duties. Delivery periods shall be calculated from the date of VELUX Commercial’s order confirmation, but not before clarification of all details regarding order fulfilment and receipt of all information required for order fulfilment, as well as other details to be provided by the Customer, and also subject to receipt of any agreed payment in accordance with the agreed terms of payment. VELUX Commercial shall have no liability where delivery cannot be completed within the delivery period due to circumstances for which VELUX Commercial are not responsible. The aforementioned provisions shall apply accordingly to delivery dates.
4.3
Unforeseeable events beyond VELUX Commercial’s control which impact on its ability to perform the contract such as war, risk of war, insurrection, violence by third parties against persons or property, force majeure including currency and commercial measures, industrial action within VELUX Commercial‘s company or its suppliers or transport companies, interruption to the designated transport services, fire, lack of raw materials, energy shortages, epidemics and pandemics, and other operational disruptions on VELUX Commercial‘s premises or those of VELUX Commercial’s suppliers, shall entitle VELUX Commercial to an extension of any contract delivery period accounting for the effect on VELUX Commercial of the event in question. This shall also apply if VELUX Commercial is in default or if the performance impediments listed above were already present prior to conclusion of the contract but were not known to VELUX Commercial and VELUX Commercial was not responsible for this lack of knowledge. VELUX Commercial shall notify the Customer of impediments of the aforementioned types without undue delay.
4.4
If delivery delays attributable to the aforementioned impediment types (sec. 4.3) last longer than two months, both parties shall be entitled to rescind the contract. However, the Customer may only rescind if VELUX Commercial does not declare at the Customer’s request within one week whether VELUX Commercial wants to rescind or deliver within a reasonable period. The same right of rescission shall arise regardless of the aforementioned period, if one of the parties no longer has an interest in performance of the contract in view of the delay. In all other cases, any statutory right of the Customer to rescind the contract on an earlier date shall remain unaffected by this provision.
4.5
Should VELUX Commercial be in default of delivery, the Customer shall set a reasonable period for performance or subsequent performance. Otherwise, no claim for compensation may be demanded in lieu of performance, nor may the Customer rescind the contract. The period does not need to be set if VELUX Commercial seriously and finally refuses to perform, or VELUX Commercial does not affect performance on a date set in the contract or within a set period, and the Customer has linked its continued interest in performance to the timeliness of performance, or there are special circumstances which justify immediate rescission in due consideration of mutual interests.
4.6
If fixed dates for delivery are agreed, they shall only apply provided that all details of the order are clarified in full and in a timely manner, in particular all information, permits and authorisations to be acquired by the Customer, and punctual receipt of any agreed advance payment. If a final date is agreed, this shall not be met if the deliveries and/or services are incomplete and defective on this date, with the result that overall commissioning cannot be completed by the set date. Insignificant defects or short deliveries and low performance shall not be taken into consideration.
4.7
After expiry of a reasonable period set for performance or subsequent performance by VELUX Commercial in the event of default, the Customer shall be entitled to rescind the contract.
4.8
VELUX Commercial reserves the right to make partial deliveries, acting reasonably including to account for the interests of the Customer. Such deliveries shall be deemed closed deliveries for billing purposes.
4.9
If deliveries cannot be made by an agreed date or is delayed, due to reasons which are the fault of the Customer, all costs of VELUX Commercial incurred relating to storage and transportation costs shall be payable by the Customer.
4.10
Delivery is subject to correct and timely delivery of products and pre-materials to VELUX Commercial and its affiliates.
5. Passing of risk
5.1
Risk shall pass to the Customer even in the case of carriage-paid delivery:
5.1.1
for deliveries, when the products are made available for pickup by VELUX Commercial (EXW Incoterms 2020),
5.1.2
for the setup or installation – if this is part of VELUX Commercial‘s contractual duties in the individual case - on acceptance or, if agreed, after a successful test run. Insofar as acceptance is dispensable or replaced according to the statutory provisions, these statutory provisions shall take precedence.
5.2
If the shipment, delivery, commencement, setup or installation, transfer to the Customer’s own operations or test run is delayed due to reasons for which the Customer is at fault, or if the Customer is in default of acceptance for other reasons, the risk shall pass to the Customer.
6. Terms of payment
Unless otherwise agreed, the following terms of payment shall apply:
6.1
Delivery and installation is against prepayment without deductions = net cash. Unless otherwise agreed, for invoice amounts of up to € 250.00 net VELUX Commercial charges a handling charge of € 25.00 net per invoice and for invoice amounts exceeding € 250.00 up to € 1,000.00 net VELUX Commercial charges a handling charge of € 40.00 net per invoice.
6.2
Without limiting any other rights or remedies that may be available to VELUX under this agreement, late payments will accrue interest at the highest rate allowed by applicable law (if any).
6.3
The Customer shall only have rights to set-off and retention in regard to a contract if and insofar as there is reciprocity between the claims asserted by VELUX Commercial and the Customer’s counterclaims or if the Customer’s counterclaims are recognised by a declaratory judgement of a legal tribunal, are undisputed or are acknowledged by VELUX Commercial. VELUX Commercial is entitled to at any time, without notice, set off any liability of the Customer against any liability the Customer has to VELUX Commercial, whether that liability is present or future, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not the liability arises under the contract or otherwise. Any exercise of such a right under this clause shall not limit or affect any other rights or remedies of VELUX Commercial under the contract or otherwise.
6.4
If the Customer is in default of payment of an invoice by more than two weeks, or if insolvency related proceedings in any form are instigated concerning the Customer, or if the Customer has issued a claim or is involved in proceedings regarding debt or has ceased payments, or if VELUX Commercial becomes aware of other circumstances which substantially reduce the Customer’s creditworthiness and which put at risk payment of the consideration owed by the Customer, VELUX Commercial shall be entitled at any time to demand security by means of advance payment or bank guarantee (at the Customer’s discretion) for outstanding deliveries, while giving at least one week’s notice, and to refuse performance under a contract until payment of the invoice, or the putting in place of, the security. Following unfulfilled expiry of a reasonable grace period, VELUX Commercial shall also be entitled to give notice in writing to rescind this contract with immediate effect and to be paid for such losses, costs and expenses as it has incurred as a result.
7. Retention of title
7.1. Title to products shall not pass to the Customer until VELUX Commercial receives payment in full (in cash or cleared funds) for the products.
8. Rights in the case of defects
8.1
The Customer shall inspect the delivered products with due diligence and without undue delay, and – if required by sample processing – shall check the characteristics of the delivered products and notify VELUX Commercial of apparent defects in writing without undue delay but in any case within ten days of receipt. Hidden defects shall be reported in the same way without undue delay after their discovery. Otherwise the products are deemed accepted without reservation. Upon delivery, the Customer must immediately inspect the products for transport damage and immediately notify the transport company and VELUX Commercial of any such damage.
8.2
If there is a defect and it is reported in the correct form and within the correct time frame, the Customer shall be entitled, at VELUX Commercial’s discretion, to rectification or a replacement delivery. The Customer is only entitled to other legal remedies, in particular a reduction of the purchase price or rescission of the contract, if the conditions provided for by law are met.
8.3
Unless expressly agreed in writing, VELUX Commercial has no liability for damage caused by (1) the Customer, (2) incorrect installation (unless this is part of VELUX Commercial’s contractual obligations), (3) a lack of or inadequate maintenance, (4) incorrect storage or handling of deliveries, and (4) processing of the delivery by the Customer.
8.4
VELUX Commercial shall not be liable for (1) superficial alterations including the fading of colours, (2) interference effects, effects specific to multiple glazing and anisotropy of the glazing (for definitions, see Section 4.2 of Guidelines for assessing the visual quality of glass for construction purposes of the Bundesverband Flachglas (Federal Flat Glass Manufacturers’ Association)), (3) unavoidable and/or expected reductions in the efficiency of VELUX products, and (4) natural changes to related materials.
8.5
VELUX Commercial shall have no liability for defects, damage, and losses, as well as personal injury due to (1) inadequate aerodynamic dimensioning of the flue by the Customer or building owner, (2) usability and capability of the blank panel for a special use or purpose, (3) the installation in swimming pools or other interiors with high humidity or high concentrations of salt, chlorides, and similar aggressive substances, (4) installation of products less than 2.5 metres above the floor because of a risk of pinching.
8.6
If the planning and/or installation is not part of the obligations accepted in the contract by VELUX Commercial, VELUX Commercial is responsible for product specifications only, but assumes no liability for the planning and the installation of products. VELUX Commercial shall not be liable in this respect for fulfilment of requirements according to the tender documentation, compliance with building, fire safety, and other regulations, choice of installation method, and static dimensioning of adjacent components and those which support the sold product.
8.7
VELUX Commercial shall not be liable for Customers’ assumptions regarding the usability of VELUX products or their special characteristics, qualities, or functions, unless
9. Limitations of liability
9.1
Claims for damages of any kind against VELUX Commercial, its legal representatives or vicarious agents are excluded unless wilful misconduct, gross negligence, or breach of a material contractual duty has taken place.
9.2
In this context, a “material contractual duty” is defined as any duty which must, as a prerequisite, be fulfilled for the proper performance of the contract, and upon compliance with which the Customer may regularly rely.
9.3
Liability shall, however, be limited to compensation for the foreseeable damage typical for the contract, provided that only simple or gross negligence is involved.
9.4
The aforementioned limitations and exclusions of liability do not apply to liability pursuant to the Product Liability Act or other national implementations of the European Product Liability Directive or injury to life, body or health.
9.5
Any claims the Customer may have to compensation of the expenses which he has made in reliance on receiving performance are waived insofar as claims for
10. Declaration of conformity
10.1
Only products delivered by VELUX Commercial are subject to VELUX Commercial‘s declaration of conformity. Enhancements or modifications to products carried out by the Customer are excluded.
11. Industrial IP rights and copyright
11.1
If products need to be manufactured or delivered according to the specifications of designs, drawings, models, or samples provided by the Customer, the Customer shall warrant that industrial IP rights or copyright shall not be infringed by the manufacturing or delivery of such products. If manufacture or delivery by third parties is prohibited with reference to industrial IP rights or copyright, VELUX Commercial shall suspend manufacturing or delivery. VELUX Commercial shall not be liable for review of the legal position. At the same time, VELUX Commercial excludes Customer claims for compensation if the Customer is at fault for infringement of industrial IP rights or copyright.
12. Final provisions
12.1
The law of Germany with explicit exclusion of its conflict of laws rules shall apply. The provisions of the CISG shall not apply.
12.2
In the event of a dispute between the parties, if an amicable solution cannot be reached without the involvement of a third party, the parties should examine whether the dispute mainly concerns technical issues. If this is the case, they should consider and discuss with each other agreeing on the involvement of an expert arbitrator to make a binding and final decision on these issues. There is no obligation to conduct expert arbitration proceedings. If the parties agree on expert arbitration proceedings, the following provisions shall apply unless and to the extent that the parties agree otherwise: At the request of one party or both parties, a publicly appointed and sworn expert to be appointed by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce shall be commissioned as expert arbitrator. If no such publicly appointed and sworn expert is available, another person with the required expertise may be considered. The expert arbitrator shall determine the course of the proceedings at his reasonable discretion. The arbitrator shall make a binding and final decision on the questions submitted to him for examination. The arbitrator’s entitlement to fees and reimbursement of costs shall be determined by applying the rules on the remuneration of experts in court proceedings mutatis mutandis. The costs of the arbitrator's report shall be borne by the losing party according to the findings of the report. In the event of partial defeat, the apportionment shall be determined in proportion to the respective victory or defeat. The parties shall be jointly and severally liable vis-à-vis the expert arbitrator.
12.3
For any dispute which the parties are unable to settle, the following shall also apply: If the amount in dispute of the claim filed by the claimant is either at least € 500,000 and concerns a contract in which an installation was also part of the performance to be rendered or if the amount in dispute is at least € 1,000,000 irrespective of the subject matter of the performance, the Arbitration Court of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce shall have exclusive jurisdiction to decide the dispute. In the event of a lower amount in dispute, the ordinary courts at VELUX Commercial‘s registered office shall have exclusive jurisdiction instead if the Customer is a merchant, corporate body under public law or special fund under public law or does not have a general place of jurisdiction in the country where VELUX Commercial has its seat. If the amount in dispute changes after the action has been filed, e.g. due to partial withdrawal of the action or extension of the action, this does not change the jurisdiction. A counterclaim may be filed with the arbitral tribunal or court before which the plaintiff filed the action, irrespective of the amount in dispute.
12.4
Place of performance for all reciprocal services (e.g. payments, deliveries) and for warranty claims is at VELUX Commercial‘s seat.
12.5
Should individual provisions of the contract with the Customer, including these GTC, be or become partly or wholly invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall remain unaffected. The wholly or partly invalid provision shall be replaced by a provision whose economic intent comes closest to that of the invalid provision.
Version: July 2022