Feature Tracing Footprints


In 2022, research conducted by Allegion UK into the impact of fire doors in education and healthcare sectors revealed sustainability and product traceability to be important to 78% of decision makers in education settings5 makers in healthcare settings6


and 50% of decision respectively.


Today, more than ever, higher standards are expected throughout the entirety of construction projects as stakeholders continue to place personal value on sustainability, product traceability and transparency. In recognition of this, manufacturers can choose to enrol in programmes that focus on sustainability and product credentials,


the product selection process by offering transparent and independently verified information.


In high traffic buildings, the day-to-day use of doors can often lead to wear and tear on fittings, which in turn creates the need for replacement hardware. Trusted manufacturers aim to extend the lifecycle of ironmongery, providing more robust door hardware that significantly reduces the need for replacements over time due to wear and damage. The appropriate designated standard for mechanical testing for a controlled door closing devices


is EN11544 , which ensures closers are tested to


endure use for over 500,000 cycles for example - with some manufacturers choosing to extend the testing to above and beyond. The use of these certified solutions incidentally helps building environments moderate the amount of resources being consumed at the manufacturing stage, while also minimising the waste associated with replacement products.


Although sustainable construction projects may incur short- term, budget-stretching costs, the potential ROI associated with better-quality products is also much greater over the full building lifecycle. By removing the inevitability of sourcing substitute products on multiple occasions throughout a building’s lifecycle, costs can be kept to a minimum post project completion. As such, decision makers are urged to adopt the use of optimised door hardware at the initial design stages - ensuring products are correctly specified and fit to last from the moment a project’s doors open.


further assisting decision makers throughout


The Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)7


programme for


example, is a complete mapping of a product’s environmental footprint and has become a standardised way for manufacturers to communicate the environmental impact associated with a product. For an EPD to be reported, products are subject to a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)8 Category Rules (PCR)9


and must meet Product in the process, where upon completion,


they are declared as acceptable in building rating schemes such as BREEAM.


As such, EPD’s have become a signal of intent from manufacturers, highlighting their commitment to measuring and reducing the


environmental


impact of a door hardware product, and alongside environmental management standards such as ISO 1400110


EPD’s are becoming an expected


standard hardware products.


A combined effort is needed if the industry is to meet its full environmental


responsibilities. Sustainable door hardware


is only one piece of the puzzle. Yet, with several value points to offer, decision makers must be willing to look past cost barriers where possible and choose to adopt environmentally responsible door hardware products as a long-term investment for construction and our planet.


1: https://www.thenbs.com/knowledge/construction-waste-and-materials-efficiency 2: https://architecture2030.org/why-the-building-sector/ 3: https://www.thenbs.com/sustainable-futures-report-2022/ 4: https://www.dhfonline.org.uk/media/documents/documents37a.pdf 5 & 6:https://www.briton.co.uk/content/dam/briton/downloads/M2531%20-%20Healthcare%20Guide%20FINAL.pdf 7: https://www.environdec.com/home 8: https://ecochain.com/knowledge/life-cycle-assessment-lca-guide/


9: https://www.environdec.com/product-category-rules-pcr0/product-category-rules-pcr 10: https://www.iso.org/standard/60857.html fmuk 27 for


,


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