Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
AUGUST 2020 | 31
Hardware & Security
AN EXCEPTIONAL REPUTATION FOR
OFFERING FIRST-CLASS TRAINING
Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has long been a
fierce advocate for appropriate levels of training and is
renowned industry-wide for its 100% commitment to
raising standards. It continues to champion safe, compliant
products and installations, and through its comprehensive
training courses, is encouraging both managers and
operatives to consistently employ legal and ethical practices.
An influential voice
in the wake of the
Grenfell tragedy…
In the wake of the 2017
Grenfell tragedy, DHF continues
to be one of the industry’s most
passionate voices for correctly
installed and maintained fire
doorsets. Third party certification
of manufacture, installation,
maintenance and inspection of
fire, smoke and security doors
is something the federation has
lobbied for tirelessly, as well as
issues surrounding poorly or
ill-fitting door closers. Its 2019
collaboration with Secured by Design
(SBD) and the Fire Industry
Association (FIA), saw the publication
of a joint document on fire
safety. 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 best
industry advice in one straightforward
document, highlighting the
fundamental issues of fire safety
and security for those selecting
fire doorsets and enabling greater
clarity in an increasingly complex
market. DHF was actively
involved in the technical committees
of the Industry Response
Group, formed in response to
Dame Judith Hackitt’s Report:
‘Building a Safer Future’, and also
works on BSI Standards Committees,
with compliance authorities
HSE and Trading Standards as
well as fire safety organisations in
the UK and Europe.
DHF’s ‘Reachout
Programme’ is
gathering pace…
DHF’s innovative ‘Reachout
Programme’ offers free seminars
to its vertical markets. Launched
in February 2020, DHF delivered
the first seminar to local authorities
and housing associations in
the West Midlands. This new initiative
provided information about
selecting a compliant entrance
doorset.
‘
the perfect guide
to keeping safe
and compliant
products on
the market
’
Fast forward to July 2020 and
the seminars adopted a different
platform and subject matter. This
time delivered via Zoom, it targeted
its members’ customers such
as facilities managers and supermarket
chains on their on-going
legal responsibility with regards
to owning automated products.
These have proved especially
popular for local authorities,
housing associations, architects
and companies with maintenance
teams, and are the perfect guide
to keeping safe and compliant
products on the market.
In 2019 alone, DHF trained
close to 1000 people, with more
than 450 candidates attending the
two-day safety diploma courses
and the same number of learners
opting for the Level 2 Award oneday
safety training courses. In
2019, 100 inspection and installation
of metal or timber fire door
courses were held in conjunction
with BRE Academy. To date, more
than 3200 individuals completed
at least one of DHF’s safety training
courses, whether a diploma
or Award course, and in July, it
announced the launch of its first
one-day public Automated Gate
Group Level 2 Award Course in
Ireland. Indeed, so successful
was this, that the federation held
a second one-day public Level 2
Award in Automated Gate and
Traffic Barrier Safety in Ireland
in February. The training day for
installers and maintenance operatives
of automated gates took
place in Clondalkin, Dublin.
“We are particularly proud of
our exceptional reputation for
offering first-class training and do
believe this is an area of expertise
for us,” explains DHF’s Head
of Commercial Operations, Patricia
Sowsbery-Stevens. “We have
set a number of industry ‘first’s’,
for example, becoming the very
first UK organisation to offer an
official theory-based qualification
for those working in the automated
gate, industrial door and
domestic garage door sectors.”
The one-day ABBE-accredited
Level 2 Award for is approved
and regulated by Ofqual, the
Government Office of Examination
Regulation. ABBE (Awarding
Body of the Built Environment) is
the UK’s leading awarding organisation
providing qualifications
for the built environment. Qualifications
are offered through its
‘
the past four
months have truly
defined DHF’s
ability to adapt
’
network of assessment centres,
approved against a set of national
criteria, laid down by Ofqual, the
regulator of qualifications, tests
and examinations in England.
But it has undoubtedly been
the past four months that have
truly defined DHF’s ability to
adapt and continue to serve its
membership with regards to
training. Whilst panic engulfed
much of the UK at the start of the
COVID-19 crisis, DHF’s proactive
team was working hard behind
the scenes putting special measures
into place to limit the potential
disruption for its learners.
Just two weeks into ‘lockdown’,
DHF successfully launched its
online digital training facility,
enabling its audience to purchase
online training courses that combined
all elements from the complete
course. In particular, the
one-day, Level 2 Award courses in
Automated Gate & Traffic Barrier
Safety and Industrial & Garage
Door Safety, were filmed and
edited to enable DHF to share
knowledge with its learners.
From 1st June, DHF reinstated
its on-site face-to-face training
sessions, taking full benefit of
its spacious training academy at
Tamworth. A comprehensive risk
assessment took place ahead of
welcoming its first delegates back
on site in a safe and secure environment.
Attendee numbers have
now increased to 10 per session.
In recent weeks, DHF has
developed a ‘Distance Learning
Programme’ (DLP) delivered via
Zoom, with learners attended
to by Senior Compliance and
Training Officer, Nick Perkins.
Nick has been on-hand to guide
and mentor trainees throughout
the duration of their courses with
examinations completed online.
This unique undertaking has enabled
those at a distance to maintain
their training obligations.
“We have been extremely successful
in identifying a healthy
balance between safety and continuing
to provide value for our
members; we have achieved this,”
says Patricia. “Both face-to-face
learners and those on our DLP
have been very positive about
their experience. In fact, the
DLP will now become a permanent
fixture on the federation’s
training calendar. It has been
imperative for DHF to deliver a
continuous provision of training
for those who must remain compliant
in spite of the disruption to
‘normal life’. Whether face-to-face
or distance learning, and whether
in Devon or Northumberland, we
have continued to put our learners
first. Furthermore, as a trade
association, we are confident
that, whatever the future might
hold, we know that we can adapt
quickly and productively, whilst
effectively considering the wants
and needs of our members.”
www.dhfonline.org.uk