Clearview National October 2019 - Issue 215 | Page 28

INDUSTRYASSOCIATIONS
DHF: 122 YEARS OF LEADING THE INDUSTRY,
BEST PRACTICE, AND PROMOTING EXCELLENCE
WHO WE ARE AND
WHAT WE DO:
122 years ago, the now Tamworth-based
trade association, the Door and Hardware
Federation (DHF), was launched in
Birmingham; it remains the oldest trade
association in the industry. This was in 1897,
and the federation was named the ‘Brass
Masters Association’ back then. Its early
objectives were to establish fair wages and
conditions. A number of name changes later,
and a century on, DHF remains a leading
independent voice of authority in the areas it
serves: locks & building hardware, doorsets,
industrial doors & shutters, domestic garage
doors and automated gates. With such a rich
history and heritage, the organisation’s deep-
rooted industry reputation has taken years to
nurture. Quite simply, it is the ‘go to’ body for
technical knowledge, information, advice, and
practical help, with a team of the industry’s
finest experts choosing to work there and
a network of professional consultants in all
sectors. It has become the ‘preferred place of
employment’ for those attracted to its pursuit
of excellence and standards, and its company
culture.
“Our position as the UK’s leading
independent authority in these areas is to
support our members by helping them work
through challenging legislation, raise industry
standards, and most importantly, put safe
products on the market which remain legally
compliant,” explains DHF’s CEO, Bob Perry,
who has led the organisation since 2009.
“This has been our raison d’être for more
than 120 years and our members know they
can rely on us to go ‘above and beyond’ on
their behalf. But most importantly, we have
effected change, be that hammering home
the importance of safe automated gates,
our behind-the-scenes work on Approved
Document Q, (created to guarantee greater
standards of security for all new dwellings in
England) or campaigning to highlight the
importance of compartmentation and issues
surrounding poorly or ill-fitted door closers,
or had fallen into disrepair or had been de-
activated, following the Grenfell tragedy in
June 2017.”
28 » OCT 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
GROWTH, SUCCESS AND
COLLABORATION:
The federation has experienced considerable
member growth, particularly over the past
seven years, with more than 500 members in
2019, compared to just 220 in 2012. 60 new
members have joined the organisation this year
alone. And as with all good trade associations,
change equals progress; DHF has continued to
move forward, expanding its workforce (now
15 employees and six consultants), and raising
its profile within both the industry, and with
the consumer. Over the past year, in particular,
DHF has shown its mettle by lobbying
tirelessly for the issues it is passionate about,
increasing its training offering, and joining
forces with other high-profile organisations to
shape and influence its crusade for excellence,
and with that, greater standards of safety.
In March of this year, the federation
partnered with industry heavyweights,
Secured by Design (SBD) and the Fire
Industry Association (FIA), to publish a joint
document on fire safety. Since the Grenfell
fire tragedy, DHF’s voice has been one of
the most powerful in its drive for third-party
certification of manufacture, installation,
maintenance and inspection of fire, smoke
and security doors. The publication: A
Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets;
A publication for housing associations,
landlords, building owners and local
authorities in England, brings together the
very best combined advice available from the
industry in one straightforward document to
highlight the fundamental issues of fire safety
and security for those selecting fire doorsets.
There is little doubt that it has accomplished
a genuine need for greater clarity in a
complicated market.
‘We were delighted to
have worked together with
SBD and FIA in sharing
our joint expertise and
guidance on doorsets
and fire safety’
“We remain convinced that certification
remains the best and only way to assure that
effective, quality products are delivered to
market, providing the additional assurance of
performance,” said Bob. “We were delighted
to have worked together with SBD and FIA
in sharing our joint expertise and guidance on
doorsets and fire safety. It really was a natural
partnership.”