MARCH 2020 | 21
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
DOOR AND HARDWARE FEDERATION
(DHF) REFLECTS UPON 2019 AS ONE OF
ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL YEARS
Tamworth-based trade association, the Door and Hardware Federation
(DHF), is reflecting on what has been one of its most successful years to
date. In 2015, the pro-active federation had under 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.
Highlights from
2019 include:
A successful collaboration
with Secured by Design (SBD)
and the Fire Industry Associa-
tion (FIA) in March, to publish
a joint document on fire safety.
The publication: A Guide for
Selecting Flat Entrance Door-
sets; A publication for housing
associations, landlords, building
owners and local authorities in
England, brings together the best
industry advice in one straightfor-
ward document, highlighting the
fundamental issues of fire safety
and security for those selecting
fire doorsets and enabling greater
clarity in an increasingly complex
market. It goes without saying
that DHF’s voice has been one of
the most effective in its drive for
third-party certification of manu-
facture, installation, maintenance
and inspection of fire, smoke and
security doorsets.
In the past year
‘ alone,
nearly 1000
people have been
trained by DHF
’
Continuing to lead the indus-
try through training. In the past
year alone, nearly 1000 people
have been trained by DHF, with
more than 450 candidates attend-
ing the two-day safety diploma
courses and the same number
of learners opting for the Level
2 Award one-day safety training
courses. In 2019, 100 inspection
and installation of metal or tim-
ber fire door courses were held
in conjunction with BRE Acade-
my. More than 3200 individuals
have now completed at least one
of DHF’s safety training courses,
whether a diploma or Award
course. In July, it announced the
launch of its first one-day public
Automated Gate Group Level 2
Award Course in Ireland.
DHF ‘set the industry stand-
ard’ in July, by becoming the
very first UK organisation to offer
an official theory-based qualifi-
cation for three of the industries
it serves. The one-day ABBE-ac-
credited Level 2 Award for those
working in the automated gate,
industrial door and domestic
garage door sectors, is approved
and regulated by Ofqual, the
Government Office of Examina-
tion Regulation. ABBE (Awarding
Body of the Built Environment) is
the UK’s leading awarding organ-
isation providing qualifications
for the built environment. Qual-
ifications are offered through its
network of assessment centres,
approved against a set of national
criteria, laid down by Ofqual, the
regulator of qualifications, tests
and examinations in England.
The launch of CSCS cards in
November in collaboration with
the Automatic Door Suppliers
Association (ADSA). Whilst not
a legislative requirement, CSCS
cards provide evidence that indi-
viduals working on construction
sites have the relevant training
and qualifications for the job that
they are doing. The CSCS card
offered by DHF is for anyone
who needs to access a construc-
tion site to work specifically with
industrial doors, domestic garage
doors, automated gates & traffic
barriers and metal or timber fire
doors and is an important step
toward a safer and more compli-
ant industry.
Bob Perry,
CEO, DHF
during commitment to training,
and supporting our members
through challenging legislation
has helped to underpin our rep-
utation as a centre of excellence.
Raising standards and promoting
best practice through training
and compliance will always be
our number one priority. We
look forward to developing
these initiatives even further as
2020 progresses.”
DHF – A brief history:
“There is little doubt that
DHF’s accomplishments in 2019
have been achieved as a result
of its hands-on team, and the
expertise and efforts of the fed-
eration’s staff,” says DHF’s CEO,
Bob Perry. “In 2019, we expand-
ed the workforce to 13 employ-
ees (plus five consultants) and
raised our profile in the industry
and the press. In October, we an-
nounced the arrival of two new
team members: Craig Wilde, who
has joined as the new Member-
ship Manager, and new Senior
Training & Compliance Officer,
Steve Hill, taking the training
and technical advice team to
three. A four-strong administra-
tion team continues to support
Commercial Manager, Patricia
Sowsbery-Stevens, General
Manager and Secretary, Michael
Skelding and Administration
Manager, Kay Scattergood.”
“DHF continues to flourish
year-on-year and 2019 was no
exception,” concludes Bob. “A
strong and highly skilled team,
innovative industry ‘firsts’, an en-
DHF was formed in 1897 and
was initially named the ‘Brass
Masters Association’. Its earli-
est goals were to establish fair
wages and conditions. More than
120 years later, DHF remains a
leading independent voice of
authority in the following areas:
locks & building hardware,
doorsets, industrial doors & shut-
ters, domestic garage doors and
automated gates.
With such a rich history and
heritage, the organisation’s
deep-rooted industry reputation
has taken years to unfold. Sus-
taining this is the value it offers
it members, an unrivalled quality
of training, and an enviable team
of the industry’s finest experts
and professional consultants
who choose to work there.
DHF remains the UK’s leading
independent authority in the
areas it serves and goes ‘above
and beyond’ in lobbying for
greater standards of safety, with
national campaigns such as ‘Gate
Safety Month’. DHF has effected
change.
www.dhfonline.org.uk