Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security
NEWS FROM THE DHF
External Pedestrian Doorsets – Demonstrating Compliance with Designated Standards
Fiona Critchley, Chair of the Timber Doorsets Group at the Door & Hardware Federation and Head of Communications, Gerda Security Products, outlines key points of which to be aware.
THE CONSTRUCTION Products Reform White Paper places product safety at the centre of proposed reforms to the construction products regulatory regime. It identifies that only just over a third of construction products are currently regulated through designated standards and highlights ongoing concerns regarding incomplete, unclear, and misleading product information.
The Government’ s objective is to ensure that construction products are safe, trusted, and supported by accurate, accessible, and transparent information.
Although new standards and Digital Product Passports are expected from 2028 / 29, the existing designated standards remain applicable today. CPR 305 / 2011 continues in UK law and is policed by the Office for Product Safety and Standards( OPSS).
For developers, architects, Principal Designers, manufacturers, economic operators and the wider supply chain, understanding the applicable standards and evidence is essential to ensure that external pedestrian doorsets are correctly specified, manufactured and installed.
The compliance route depends on the type of doorset. There are three important categories:
1. Standard external pedestrian doorsets, such as flat entrance / balcony doors and serviceroom doors;
2. External pedestrian doorsets incorporating panic hardware; and
3. External pedestrian doorsets requiring fire resistance and / or smoke control.
These categories have different assessment and verification requirements.
Designated Standards
Two designated standards apply:
BS EN 14351-1:2006 + A2:2016
Windows and doors – Product standard, performance characteristics – Part 1: Windows and external pedestrian doorsets. BS EN 16034:2014
Pedestrian doorsets, industrial, commercial, garage doors and openable windows – Product standard, performance characteristics – Fire resisting and / or smoke control characteristics.
BS EN 16034 cannot be used independently. Where fire resistance and / or smoke control is required, it must always be applied alongside another designated standard.
1. Standard External Pedestrian Doorsets
Standard external pedestrian doorsets without fire, smoke or panic-hardware requirements are covered by BS EN 14351-1:2006 + A2:2016.
Examples include flat entrance or balcony doors; front entrance doors; and service-room doors.
These products are subject to AVCP System 3. This means that the manufacturer or economic operator must ensure that initial type testing has been completed for the applicable Annex ZA essential characteristics. Testing must be undertaken by a UKAS-accredited test laboratory using the relevant test methods.
Applicable essential characteristics include: Thermal transmittance; Watertightness; Wind resistance; Air permeability; Acoustic performance; and Dangerous substances.( Just to note security is not an essential characteristic in Annex Za).
Where permitted, No Performance Declared( NPD) may be used. However, Thermal transmittance cannot be declared as NPD in the UK and must comply with Building Regulations.
For England, the current maximum U-values are 1.4 W / m ² K for non-fire-rated external pedestrian doorsets; and 1.8 W / m ² K for external pedestrian doorsets with fire resistance / smoke control.
Declaration of Performance The Declaration of Performance( DoP) is the legal document under the Construction Products Regulation and provides the basis for UKCA or CE marking.
It should identify the applicable designated standard; the manufacturer; the product and product reference; the intended use; the date of issue; and the applicable Annex ZA essential characteristics.
Marking is on the product or the packaging, or accompanying documentation
2. External Pedestrian Doorsets with Panic Hardware
External pedestrian doorsets incorporating panic hardware remain within BS EN 14351-1, but they are subject to AVCP System 1 rather than System 3.
This is because of the safety-critical characteristic of ability to release.
An Approved Body is responsible for assessing ability to release and is also involved in sampling assessment of relevant characteristics, including: Thermal transmittance; Watertightness; Resistance to wind load; Air permeability; and Acoustic performance.
94 Autumn 2026 Door Industry Journal