ASSOCIATIONS & TRAINING
DHF APPLAUDS NEW FIRE SAFETY LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE
Post-Grenfell legislation will ‘ raise the bar for safety ’
» ON THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF the Grenfell fire tragedy that claimed 72 lives , Door & Hardware Federation ( DHF ) welcomed the announcement that cladding of the type used on Grenfell Tower is to be banned from use on any building in England . The Building etc . ( Amendment ) ( England ) Regulations 2022 outlaw the use of metal composite material panels with an unmodified polyethylene core ( MCM PE ) as part of an overhaul of the English building regulations and associated guidance that will come into effect on 1 December 2022 . This extends the restriction introduced in 2018 on the use of combustible materials on the external walls of certain buildings over 18 metres .
In addition , the Tamworth-based trade association has welcomed The Fire Safety ( England ) Regulations 2022 , that come
into effect on 23rd January 2023 , whereby flat entrance fire doors are subject to annual checks and those in the common parts of High-Risk Residential Buildings ( HRRB ), require quarterly checks . DHF has been a long-standing advocate of the critical role that fire doors play in saving lives and protecting property and has continued to stress that the use of fire doorsets , correctly installed and with robust fire door maintenance procedures , are a vital part of fire safety .
“ We believe this is a long time in coming , but there are a number of benefits for our members and the industry ,” explains DHF ’ s Head of Commercial Operations , Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens .
“ Most importantly , this change will ‘ raise the bar ’ for safety across the sector . For our members , they are ready to embrace this change as many will be supplying the new complete fire doorsets to the installation companies , the components of which will have been tested together .
“ The announcement brings together the ‘ golden thread of information ’ referred to by Dame Judith Hackitt in her report , the passing down of information that is vital in ensuring that when maintaining the product , any repairs that may be required do not compromise the integrity of the fire doorset .”
www . dhfonline . org . uk
ABUS UK JOINS DHF FOR PARTNERSHIP OF QUALITY
Security specialist ABUS UK has become the latest member of the Door & Hardware Federation ( DHF ). As an established manufacturer of quality locks , cylinders , padlocks , access control equipment and security systems , ABUS is joining the DHF as part of its commitment to best practice and to contribute to standards in the trade going forward .
» ABUS IS A GLOBAL MANUFACTURER of high quality , innovative security , access and safety solutions with nearly 100 years ’ history of innovation . ABUS UK is part of a worldwide group of companies that supplies and distributes a huge range of both electronic and mechanical security products and systems for home , mobile security , and commercial security .
“ We are very much looking forward to working with the DHF and other members , getting involved working on standards , and contributing on the issues of the day ”, says Peter Romanov , ABUS UK MD . “ Specifiers and end users as well as domestic customers increasingly want the reassurance of quality , safety and compliance with legislation when choosing products . Membership of a progressive trade association such as DHF allows us to demonstrate exactly that to our customers , and to benefit from the organisation ’ s industry-leading expertise in technical , legislative , and commercial issues .”
Head of Commercial Operations for DHF , Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens
commented , “ We are pleased to have ABUS UK join DHF and look forward to them contributing to driving safety and standards , now and in years to come .”
DHF is a not-for-profit trade association for companies associated with building hardware and door industries originally formed in 1897 . It has over 500 members and is the ‘ go to ’ place for technical advice and training providing provide members with support , technical expertise , information , knowledge , advice , and practical help . DHF represents members on BSI standards and other committees , and liaising with compliance authorities across the UK and Europe .
www . abus . com www . dhfonline . org . uk
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