Hardware industry urged to contribute to building regs reform
August 2018

Door hardware experts are being urged to use their experience in helping to shape future building regulations following the recent failure of a number of fire doors in the current FD30 test.

The call comes from their trade body, the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers which is urging all industry professionals to join it in contributing to proposed amendments to the relevant Approved Document B. 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) began investigating the fire door industry after it was found that a glazed, composite fire door from Grenfell Tower had failed a 30 minute fire resistance test after approximately 15 minutes.

The GAI will be producing a response on behalf of the ironmongery industry and is calling for door hardware professionals to participate in the submission. Its technical manager Douglas Masterson said: “Our members have such vast experience of dealing with fire door hardware. They regularly encounter ironmongery that has been incorrectly specified and have to rectify the mistakes of people who don’t understand the important role of ironmongery on a fire door, or who have struggled to interpret ADB and the other supporting documents.

“We’re encouraging our members to share these experiences and their technical expertise to drive meaningful change within legislation, helping to improve the scope of standards within the fire door industry and ensure a higher standard of hardware being used throughout the UK.” 

MHCLG has advised that in early autumn 2018 it will launch a wider technical call for evidence on ADB and supporting documents. An announcement of the outcome of the consultations into the use of combustible materials and the use of assessments in lieu of fire tests is expected in late autumn 2018, and in early 2019 a clarified ADB and roadmap for wider technical policy changes will be published.

www.gai.org.uk