Clearview National January 2019 - Issue 206 | Page 25

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Composite fire door sales resumed
following landmark agreement
between ACDM and Government
Following three months of intensive
discussions between the Association
of Composite Door Manufacturers
(ACDM) and Ministry of Housing,
Communities & Local Government
(MHCLG) to resolve the industry’s self-
imposed moratorium on composite
fire door sales, an agreement has been
reached to allow sales to resume.
» » SALES OF COMPOSITE
fire doors were suspended
following the issue of a press
statement by the MHCLG
that named a number of
manufacturers whose products
had failed to comply with
Building Regulations after testing
was carried out as part of the
Grenfell Tower investigations.
Following early discussions with
the Government, the ACDM and
its members took the decision to
suspend sales unilaterally until
evidence could be shown that
manufacturers and suppliers of
such products were testing in full
compliance with the Building
Regulations, in addition to a
number of other criteria.
These state that fire door set
manufacturers must have primary
test evidence illustrating that
products have passed the required
fire tests from both sides, with
written confirmation from the
test house confirming this result.
Additionally, a director from
the manufacturer of the doors
should write a confirmation to
the supplier of the door blank,
enclosing successful bi-directional
test evidence confirming that
the door sets they intend to
manufacture and supply will
use, without exception, only the
components within the door
sets tested. Continued supply of
door blanks will continue only
when such evidence has been
provided.
Andrew Fowlds, Chair of the
ACDM, says that the discussions
have been lengthy, detailed
and challenging but with a
positive outcome: “The cost to
the composite door industry
during this period has been
very heavy, with a number of
casualties in terms of jobs and
revenue. However, as long as all
manufacturers of such products
have completed bi-lateral testing
in strict accordance with the
Building Regulations, and
provided the necessary written
confirmation to their supplier,
then supply may resume.
“The Task Force set up by the
ACDM to tackle this issue has
spent a great deal of time and
energy to bring this to the earliest
possible conclusion. I am pleased
that we have been able to finalise
and agree the process to allow the
resumption of the manufacture
and supply of GRP Fire Doors
to the market under the terms
outlined to the Under Secretary.
This is essential to prevent further
damage to an industry that is
already severely weakened and
suffering job losses, but which has
reacted positively and responsibly
by voluntarily withdrawing from
the market until this resolution
could be found.”
Regarding the issue of
remediation, Fowlds adds: “I have
advised the Under Secretary that
this will be dealt with separately
from the re-supply of new
products. A proposal and action
plan by the ACDM on how this
may be dealt with is currently
under consideration.”
The ACDM will also become
the Governing Body for the
composite door industry, leading
the development, implementation
and policing of standards whilst
also promoting the use of
composite doors in established
markets as well as developing
further opportunities. In response
to the MHCLG the association
will also compile a database
of all fire door products tested
by members, in addition to
providing technical advice.
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