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The industry must ‘do better’
with passive fire measures
» » AT THE END OF 2017 – AND
following the Grenfell Fire tragedy
– the Door & Hardware Federation
(DHF) stressed the importance of
compartmentation and called for crucial
changes in building regulations, urging
the UK government to adopt and enforce
a mandatory requirement that any fire
- or smoke - resistant door should be a
factory-prepared doorset, manufactured
under a third-party certification
scheme, which is itself accredited by
UKAS. In addition, installation of the
doorsets should be undertaken only by
companies certified to do so under a
UKAS-accredited third-party certification
scheme. Certification schemes of
this type covering manufacture
and installation are currently
available.
The Tamworth-based
organisation, widely respected
as the industry’s independent
authoritative voice, has
been tirelessly lobbying for
appropriate qualification of
those responsible for manufacture,
installation, repair and maintenance
and welcomed recommendations made
in the Independent Review of Building
Regulations and Fire Safety’s Interim
Report, published on 18 December, in
particular, that those working on the
design, construction, inspection and
maintenance of complex and high-risk
buildings are suitably qualified.
DHF’s efforts to highlight the growing
commercial and legal benefits of
specifying complete timber doorsets,
as opposed to purchasing individual
components from various sources, have
seen the publication of its all-inclusive
guide highlighting the USP’s of ‘factory
prepared complete timber doorsets’
in an easy-to-download publication.
The new publication will aid building
professionals such as specifiers,
architects and contractors to achieve a
wider understanding and recognise the
advantages to purchasing a complete
product.
“Our newest
publication
explains the
USPs of choosing
a complete timber
doorset, for example,
that these products derive
from one single source of supply, are
quality-controlled products, are more
cost-effective and a greener option as
they are engineered for energy efficiency
and sustainability,” explains DHF’s
General Manager and Secretary, Michael
Skelding.
“We have witnessed exactly what
can take place when either a poorly-
fitted door, or a fire door that has had
its integrity compromised, becomes
a liability,” he says. “DHF believes
factory-prepared certified doorsets are a
no-fuss solution, that are guaranteed to
perform and are also perfect for modular
builds; it is our hope this document will
promote a greater understanding of the
benefits of these products.”
DHF represents companies
manufacturing, installing and
maintaining fire-and smoke-resisting
doors, including pedestrian hinged/
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pivoted doors and rolling shutters. A
number of its now-450 members have
experience of working with many parts
of the supply chain including architects,
building contractors, facilities
management companies and owners/
occupiers of premises. But there are
further on-going concerns across the
industry about a potentially contentious
issue: the poor state of door closers
found on some fire-resisting doorsets.
It’s an area, according to Michael,
that the industry is ‘getting wrong’
with current statistics unsettling. An
independent study recently identified
more than 60% of door closers in
the UK are installed incorrectly. Of
this number, 80% are not set-up and
commissioned correctly, with 25%
being an incorrect product in the first
place.
“Choosing the wrong product
because of a lack of understanding,
choosing the right product but
experiencing problems when this gets
changed owing to, for example, costs,
or choosing the right product, but
then having it incorrectly installed and
maintained exacerbate the problem,” he
explains.
What is required, according to
Michael, is a greater understanding
industry-wide as to what a correctly
specified, installed and maintained
fire door closer must be able to do, and
more straightforward information about
dealing with selection, installation and
maintenance.
It is hoped that with support from
DHF and other key organisations the
industry can progress toward a system
that promotes improved testing and
third-party certification.
DHF will be exhibiting at Lockex 2018
– Security & Fire Safety on Friday 8th &
Saturday 9th June, readers are invited
to visit the stand to find out more
information about the trade association
and how it can help you.
www.dhfonline.org.uk