COMMERCIAL SECTOR
EXPERT PROFILE
LOCATION
JOB TITLE
Scotland, United Kingdom
Business Development Manager
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Door Hardware
ALEX AIRNES
QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE
WHAT’ S YOUR STORY?
GAI- Foundation In Hardware
Joining Allegion UK in 2021 as business development manager, Alex draws upon his experience with locking solutions and architectural ironmongery to foster trusted sector relationships. Alex is focused on providing specification support and services to many of Scotland’ s top architectural ironmongers, builders merchants and distributors and prides himself on delivering above and beyond expectations.
Throughout his career, Alex has worked with several recognisable leading brands, but has focused on architectural ironmongery since 2016. With a strong background in sales and customer service, Alex is now further developing his knowledge and expertise through GAI qualifications as he aims to raise standards across the industry by educating and raising awareness on the importance of correctly specified and installed door hardware.
• The door furniture
• The hinges
• Locks and latches
• Door closers
• Hold open devices
• Signage
• Exit devices
• Door seals
• The gaps around the door( 3mm is recommended for fire doors)
When performing a closing action, a fire door calls upon each of these components and as such, not one element can fail in the event of a fire. To meet the necessary standards, the complete fire doorset must pass a series of standardised tests in the form of UKCA and CE certifications, which healthcare officials can identify- alongside a fire door’ s FD ratings- by reviewing the label, usually found on the top edge of the door.
Correct specification is essential to long-term performance too. For highuse areas in large hospitals, for example, electromagnetic hold-open devices are a more appropriate choice and allow fire doors to close once a fire alarm is activated, automatically releasing the door in a safe
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and controlled manner. In smaller, slowerpaced settings, cam-action closers with slide arms can fulfil fire door regulations whilst providing ease of operation and accessibility for vulnerable users who may otherwise struggle with heavy doors.
Regardless of size, layout and the building’ s needs, all healthcare facilities must look to inherit a regular maintenance plan for their fire doors and emergency exit routes. In doing so, teams can highlight any early signs that a fire door is not performing as it’ s required to, which can help prevent irreparable damage to the door and its hardware- saving the need for replacements and reducing costs for establishments
With his young family, Alex enjoys weekend adventures and exploration. Alex is also passionate about radio broadcasting and is regularly involved with his local community radio station.
Alex Airnes
Monday- Friday( Office Hours)
Allegion PR Office Contact- tomwhitehouse. pr @ gmail. com
managing budget restraints. When a fire door and its hardware is no longer compliant, teams must ensure repairs and replacements are made quickly and at a professional standard.
Fire door safety is an ongoing responsibility for healthcare management teams and requires comprehensive planning and regular action. Where patient safety remains the primary focus, a proactive approach is necessary. As such, healthcare officials are urged to pay close attention to their estate’ s fire door safety measures, because although fire is unpredictable, it is in most cases preventable.
www. allegion. com
Sources: https:// www. legislation. gov. uk / uksi / 2005 / 1541 / contents, https:// www. gov. uk / guidance / ukca-marking-conformityassessment-and-documentation, https:// www. gov. uk / guidance / ce-marking, https:// www. firesafe. org. uk / fire-doors /
MAY 2025
35 locksmithjournal. co. uk