SECTOR INSIGHT
How does the Guild impact the wider construction industry on behalf of its membership?
» THE GUILD OF ARCHITECTURAL Ironmongers( GAI) plays a role in representing the ironmongery sector across a broad spectrum of wider construction industry activities. This includes leading the way in industry consultations; participation on standards committees in UK and internationally.
Industry Consultations
One example of significant work on consultations was the GAI, working alongside the BSI public information symbols committee, PH / 8 / 2, issued a survey last year to assess public and industry opinion on the international symbol for accessibility( currently depicted by a wheelchair) and the potential for it to be replaced by a new symbol. This was an important question to be asked as the potential impact for not just the ironmongery and construction industry, but wider society would be significant should the symbol be replaced.
This was a strong indicative poll with 248 respondents who were UK based and represented a broad cross-section of the industry. A slim majority of those who responded( 114 vs 108 with remainder unsure) felt that the wheelchair symbol should not be replaced and the status quo maintained.
The overwhelming majority of respondents felt that it did not depict accessibility and that should the symbol be replaced that this should not be it.( 208 against vs 12 for- with remainder unsure)
The results of the survey have been passed to BSI who will be feeding this back to ISO for further consideration on whether the symbol be replaced and if so whether the proposed symbol is the correct one. GAI was pleased to play its part in channelling the strong feeling on acceptability of this proposed symbol to ISO through its work in BSI.
Participation in Standards Work
In addition to representing the industry on British, European and ISO standards committees, at any given time GAI will be involved in specific drafting panels of a number of standards. GAI is currently actively involved in the following standards:
• BSI – standards in the process of being revised or created- BS 8214( fire doors), BS 8670 / 2( Competence in Construction Products), BS 8300( Accessibility). Standards which have just been published with GAI involvement- BS 3621,8621,10621( Locking devices) PAS 24( security of doorsets and windows) and BS 9991( Fire safety in design).
• CEN – EN 1906( Lever handles), EN 17210( Accessibility) prEN standard( Data dictionaries).
• ISO – New standard on vocabulary on door hardware.
Our participation in this work, in addition to chairing the influential BSI Committee B538 / 4 for building hardware means that GAI members are not only represented, but also continually kept informed as to what is happening in this world.
Advocacy
GAI continues to work closely with UK Government across a number of departments and has strong links with OPSS the UK National Construction Products Regulator. The recent proposed changes to Approved Document B in respect of BS 476 22 is an example of where GAI consulted its membership and then conveyed the strong feelings in this regard to UK Government. Whilst BS 476 22 will be removed from ADB in 2029, there is also a potential scenario for assessments to be retained which is being explored. Further discussions are being held with government in relation to this and GAI remain a key stakeholder in this area.
UK Competency Agenda
GAI represents the construction product industry at Industry Competence Steering Group level( which is now within the remit of the UK Building Safety Regulator). It also co-chairs SLG5 on competence in construction product manufacturing and is a member of SLG4 Competency Group dealing with certification, assessments and testing. Lessons being learnt from this work will be implemented in the ironmongery industry through the GAI Industry Competence Working Group which is currently producing a series of Competence Frameworks for key ironmongery sector functions such as specifying, estimating, manufacturing and selling.
GAI Member Voice GAI is pleased to make its members voices heard across industry; harnessed through those who participate in member surveys and consultations; GAI Industry Committees such as Technical, Education and Community as well as working groups such as Sustainability and Competence. Anyone wishing to engage further with GAI is advised to keep an eye out for opportunities to participate in any of these when the opportunity arises.
www. gai. org. uk
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FEBRUARY 2025
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