30 | AUGUST 2020
Hardware & Security
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
THE UK’S OLDEST TRADE ASSOCIATION
LEADS THE INDUSTRY THROUGH TRAINING
EXCELLENCE AND RAISING STANDARDS
Longevity and sustainability
are two words most associated
with DHF. Afterall, it is the UK’s
oldest trade association with a
rich history and heritage dating
back to 1897. It started life as an
employers’ association named
the Brass Masters’ Association,
and was formed in Birmingham
to negotiate pay and conditions
with the industry trade union, the
National Society of Amalgamated
Brassworkers (later to become
the National Society of Metal Mechanics).
By 1943, the association
had come to be known as the
National Brassfoundry Association
and by the early 1970s, had
established two sections, one
dealing with plumbers’ brassfoundry
(which kept the NBA
name) and a second, dealing
with building hardware which
was known as the Association of
Building Hardware Manufacturers
(ABHM).
Today, DHF continues its
valuable work as a not-for-profit
trade association for companies
associated with Locks & Building
Hardware; Doorsets; Industrial
Doors & Shutters; Domestic
Garage Doors and Automated
Gates. It remains the ‘go to’ place
for technical advice and training
which lends itself to raising
standards across the industry.
It’s been almost 10
years since DHF
created TS 007…
In 2011, DHF, together with
the Glass and Glazing Federation,
created TS 007, a technical specification
for the enhanced security
performance requirements for
replacement cylinders and/or associated
hardware. The specification
was prepared following the
emergence of an attack method
focused on cylinders used in
locks. In 2019, part two of TS
007: TS 007 - 2:2019 - Enhanced
security for mechatronic cylinders
and/or associated hardware, was
created by DHF. It remains one of
the federation’s most successful
undertakings.
The members keep
on coming…
In 2015, DHF had less than
300 members on its books, but
the past five years in particular
has seen considerable growth
across every area of the organisation;
today, it has more than
500 members. The federation
continues to support its various
industry sectors by representing
them on BSI standards committees,
liaising with compliance
authorities such as the Health
and Safety Executive and Trading
Standards as well as fire safety
organisations across the UK and
Europe. In 2019, it expanded its
workforce to 13 employees (plus
five consultants).
Its rebrand proved ‘transformational’…
2017 – DHF’s 120th anniversary – couldn’t have been a better
time to announce the launch of its new strong and modern
branding and website. Identifying a need to bring its logo,
literature and website up to date, DHF successfully embraced a
new ‘look and feel’ without forgetting its roots. The rebrand has
proved transformational and moved the trade association onto a
more professional footing. Today, DHF members are sought for
various councils and bodies across the UK as a result of their
affiliation with the federation, and DHF continues to attract the
most talented employees in the industry. They have identified
the organisation as one that’s ‘going places’.