ASSOCIATIONS & TRAINING
The members keep on coming…
In 2015, DHF had less than 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. The federation continues
to support its various industry sectors by representing them on BSI standards
committees, liaising with compliance authorities such as the Health and Safety
Executive and Trading Standards as well as fire safety organisations across the
UK and Europe. In 2019, it expanded its workforce to 13 employees (plus five
consultants).
Its rebrand proved ‘transformational’…
2017 – DHF’s 120th
anniversary – couldn’t
have been a better time to
announce the launch of its
new strong and modern
branding and website.
Identifying a need to bring its
logo, literature and website
up to date, DHF successfully
embraced a new ‘look and
feel’ without forgetting its
roots. The rebrand has
proved transformational
and moved the trade
association onto a more
professional footing. Today,
DHF members are sought
for various councils and
bodies across the UK as a
result of their affiliation with
the federation, and DHF
continues to attract the
most talented employees
in the industry. They have
identified the organisation
as one that’s ‘going places’.
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. 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.
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 illfitting
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.
JUL/AUG 2020
25
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