Pro Installer May 2025 - Issue 146 | Page 43

Installer Support
MAY 2025 | 43

Installer Support

DHF ISSUES WARNING ABOUT EXTERNAL PANIC AND EMERGENCY EXIT DOORSETS

Door & Hardware Federation( DHF) and GAI( the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers) have recently been informed by the Office for Product Safety and Standards( OPSS) that they are aware of cases where external panic or emergency exit doorsets have been supplied, conformity marked against EN 14351-1:2006 + A2:2016, but without the necessary third-party certification.
The testing and certification required for conformity marking( CE or UKCA) is specified in the Annex Z of EN 14351- 1:2006 + A2:2016. To conformity mark an external doorset that is neither fire-resisting nor an emergency / panic exit, no third-party certification is required. Other performance characteristics, such as watertightness and resistance to wind load, will typically require third-party testing from a notified or approved test body, but not third-party certification.
“ The requirement for third-party certification arises when an external doorset being placed on the market has either or both of the following special characteristics,” explains Michael Skelding, DHF’ s General Manager & Secretary,“ that it is a panic or emergency exit( fitted with appropriate hardware), and / or that it is fire-resisting. Third-party certification must be obtained from an EU notified certification body( for CE marking) or a UK approved certification body( for UKCA marking). The certification body will issue a Certificate of Constancy of Performance, which the manufacturer( or person responsible for placing the product on the market) must retain in their technical file for the product.”
For further information on this, please contact the DHF technical team on technical @ dhfonline. org. uk

Installsure strengthens IBG Offering

Installsure, the specialised insurance provider of insurance backed guarantee schemes for the Glass & Glazing Federation has strengthened its existing IBG, to bring cost and administrative benefits to its 2,500 + strong network of window, door and conservatory installers across the UK. As a result, the organisation has agreed to work with QANW, and their underwriter Hadron, for all IBGs going forward from April onwards. Natalie Little, Chair of the Installsure Board:“ On an operational level, installers will not notice any difference, nor do they need to make any changes themselves, but many will see lower costs due to changes in the pricing structure.”
Gemma Swankie, the QANW Client Development Director added:“ We are uniquely placed to now provide all members with a market leading policy wording from a UK insurer with a financial strength rating of A-“ excellent.”
Installsure customers are invited to continue registering installations as normal and all policies taken out before, during and after the transition phase will not be affected in any way.
www. installsure. co. uk

Doorset specification software free trial now available for trade

ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland is offering new and existing trade customers a free six-month trial of its Openings Studio™ BIM; a unique software platform designed specifically for the door and hardware industry. Managing door assets from specification, through manufacturing, installation and product in service, this unrivalled program genuinely delivers the full expectations of the Golden Thread.
Openings Studio TM connects this activity right back to design intent, providing real time evidence of design development, change management and product history and therein giving all stakeholders additional peace of mind.
Information stored within the cloud environment enables buildings to be safely
and effectively designed, constructed and operated, providing a genuine seamless link between design intent during the specification process onto the product in service. Every door logged in Openings StudioTM is automatically assigned a unique
digital asset tag, which ASSA ABLOY affix to the door as an RFID Tag. The asset tag functionality enables the registered user direct access through the Mobile App to the individual door details; including product specification, hardware schedules, product data sheets, photographic evidence of factory inspections, but most importantly, gives our Trade Partners the opportunity to add digital records of onsite installation and ongoing service history.
Brian Sofley, Managing Director at ASSA ABLOY Openings Studio TM, said:“ We are always looking at ways we can support our trade customers, and one of their pain points is unwarranted counter charges often incurred from projects, or unreasonable excuses from their customers for delaying much needed payments. With
limited or disputable evidence to respond to these claims, they often find themselves out of pocket.
“ However, Openings Studio TM provides the crucial golden thread of information to demonstrate any work that has been carried out both in the factory and on site; real time reporting demonstrating project completion progress, outstanding works and final inspection reporting.
“ Through the Mobile App, an after-sales custom reporting tool can be used to complete compliance checks on the installed product in service, and keep record of any updates, changes or replacements.”
www. assaabloy. com / uk / en / solutions / topics / openings-studio / get-startedwith-opening-studios