ASSOCIATIONS & TRAINING
125 years of DHF
As one of the UK ’ s oldest trade associations , Door & Hardware Federation ( DHF ) has remained a steady and reliable source of information , technical advice , training , knowledge , and support for its more than 500 members in the Locks and Building Hardware , Industrial Doors and Shutters , Domestic Garage Doors , Automated Gates & Doorsets sectors . It continues to be a centre of excellence for technical expertise and practical help , and a hugely influential voice - industry wise - for higher industry standards and the importance of putting compliant products on the market .
General Manager , Michael Skelding
» ESTABLISHED IN 1897 , AND THEN named the Brass Masters ’ Association , this year , DHF celebrates its 125th anniversary , and for the duration of this time , its members have benefited from the important work it undertakes , and its services to them . Communication has been at the heart of DHF ’ s work , and it continues to act as a conduit to relay legislative changes to members in a straightforward way , such as the recent changes to the Building Regulations and Approved Document Q , as well as its own technical specifications such as DHF TS 007:2014 + A2:2018 and DHF TS 007-2:2019 .
Another prime example of how DHF works for , and with the industry , is in the production of the long-awaited revision to TS 008 which has recently been issued . DHF is making a clarion call to remind house builders , manufacturers , and the like , that this standard is normatively referenced in PAS 24 and is mentioned in Building Regulations Approved Document Q . Therefore , it
is recommended for new doors within scope . DHF ’ s General Manager , Michael Skelding , stated :
“ In the new standard , the ‘ fishing ’ test has been improved to ensure that compliant products have adequate resistance to key fishing .” This is just another example of how DHF works collaboratively with test laboratories and the Police scheme , Secured by Design .
Another part of its service is the provision of a technical helpline to members that covers a wide range of subjects and issues including safety and compliance advice . It also offers consumers information and delivers clear and concise guidance that educates and raises awareness of safety issues and product performance to encourage better decision making .
The federation provides regular webinars for members regarding the latest legislative changes , for example , keeping members up to date regarding changes to the UKCA and CE requirements .
Since 2013 , DHF has placed training up-front-and-centre . Its on-site training academy on the outskirts of Tamworth has become renowned as a training ‘ hub ’ for the now thousands of people who have embarked upon DHF ’ s training courses for those working in automated gates , industrial doors , or garage doors .
‘ Communication has been at the heart of DHF ’ s work , and it continues to act as a conduit to relay legislative changes to members in a straightforward way , such as the recent changes to the Building Regulations and Approved Document Q ’
“ Training and educating the industry is the backbone of what we do at DHF ,” explains DHF ’ s Head of Commercial Operations , Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens . “ Advancing skills and enabling safety
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JUL / AUG 2022
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