business-news@doorindustryjournal.co.uk GARAGE DOOR MEMBERS OPEN DOOR TO
CLOSER ALLIANCE It is pleasing to see that garage door installer and manufacturer members of the Door & Hardware Federation are now working closely together to further improve standards.
This is a huge benefit of having both the garage door manufacturers and garage door installers in the same federation. An initial joint meeting of the installers and manufacturers has already been held to explore areas of mutual benefit, particularly focusing on the standards and promotion of DHF members to the end user.
Bob Perry, Chairman, Door & Hardware Federation
The Door & Hardware Federation represents all of the UK’s leading door, shutter and garage door manufacturers and installers and manufacturers of building hardware and architectural ironmongery. In each issue of The Door Industry Journal we will be asking its Chairman, Bob Perry, to comment on the current issues concerning the federation and the door and hardware industry sectors.
I believe this joined up approach can only result in the delivery of higher quality standards which will be of benefit both to the industry and to the end user. The end user will have the confidence that not only is the supplier of the product a member of the federation, but also that the installer is a member, too. So the garage door the customer is buying will have been tested to the latest product standards, and he has the additional comfort factor that it will be installed correctly by a reputable company and the installation will meet all legal and safety requirements.
Compulsory CE marking was one of the factors that led the garage door installers and manufacturers to work together in a more joined up way. They have a commitment to ensuring products and installations are correctly and legally CE marked. If both the supplier and installer are DHF members, then the end user has the confidence that CE marks are applied correctly in the finished installation.
Of course, there are direct benefits for our garage door members in working together. Installers will benefit from recommendations by manufacturers to use DHF installers whenever possible. Manufacturers will benefit by experiencing fewer warranty claims because of the higher standards of installation.
I am confident that by building business with each other and driving quality throughout the supply chain, our garage door members will gain further commercial benefit by being members of the DHF and also that end users will derive valuable benefits, too.
DHF INITIATIVE DRIVES POWERED GATE SAFETY FORWARD
A significant step forward in powered gate safety is taking place. The DHF has formed a powered gate focus group representing manufacturers, suppliers and installers of powered perimeter gates.
Within weeks, a guidance document will be published advising all those within the industry on the legislation, standards and HSE guidelines that need to be followed to ensure every gate installation is safe. In the longer term - but before the year end - we plan to publish a comprehensive Standard covering all aspects of perimeter gate safety.
At a recent meeting of more than 25 leading gate manufacturers and installers, chaired by Garage Door Manufacturers Group chairman Simon Hipgrave, it was encouraging to hear what a warm welcome they gave to this important DHF initiative.
The whole subject of automatic powered gate safety has been in the spotlight following two recent tragic fatal accidents involving powered gates. The DHF has been closely involved in the setting of safety standards covering automatic doors and shutters for more than 20 years so has extensive experience of legislative issues covering safety. That long experience - and the independence of the DHF- were the two factors that have led to the industry’s willingness to put its weight behind the DHF initiative.
One of the issues that the DHF will tackle 2
immediately is the confusion that exists within the industry about exactly which legislation actually covers powered automatic gates. Since most perimeter gate installations are not covered by Building Regulations, the Construction Products Directive cannot be applied.
In fact, it is the Machinery Directive that governs safety on new automatic gates. Yet because the harmonised standard was not originally prepared with on-site assembled gates in mind, a gate installer faces the prospect of having to use expensive testing equipment operated by a qualified person to ensure compliance under certain circumstances.
The DHF’s best practice guide will cut through this confusion and give clear guidance to gate manufacturers and installers on the various safety aspects of the gate’s performance and design. This guide will provide a summary of the key requirements of each standard and show clearly how to apply appropriate solutions to meet each requirement.
The next meeting of the new DHF powered gate focus group will drive this important DHF initiative forward. I am confident that given the warm reception the industry has given to our lead, we will continue to recruit the leading gate installers and manufacturers into the fold and that the federation will make a valuable contribution to raising gate safety standards.
Also online at:
www.doorindustryjournal.co.uk
business news
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