With compulsory CE marking of external doorsets, including emergency escape doorsets, just weeks away, the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) is ensuring specifiers and contractors understand the legal requirements manufacturers and suppliers will have to meet from July 1 this year.
To help specifiers and end users understand the obligations of manufacturers, the DHF is developing a suite of online technical guides advising on the advantages that CE marked doorsets will bring to the market.
Specifiers, architects, contractors, clients and other professionals can download the first two guides from the DHF website: www.dhfonline.org.uk .
The DHF Guide to specifying CE marked doorsets helps all building professionals in the construction sector to prepare for the new CE mark legislation coming into effect. Under the new Construction Product Regulation, from that date it will be illegal to supply doorsets covered by a harmonised European standard without a CE mark.
It also makes building professionals aware of the benefits of specifying CE marked doorsets rather than traditional multi-supplier sourced door assemblies. CE marked doorsets are subjected to a series of mandatory performance tests set down in the product standards.
The second guide in the suite of publications is the DHF Guide to specifying CE marked external metal doorsets (non-fire). This spells out the benefits offered by metal doorsets which include CE mark compliance, durability, extended service life, low maintenance and versatile designs.
Recognising that specifying decisions are increasingly being made on-site rather than at the planning stage, a further guide will be available for download shortly: the DHF CE marking guide for construction site management. This will enable specifiers and contractors to quickly and easily choose the right doorsets that are both compliant and fit for purpose.
The DHF is working closely with a number of influential groups to promote a wider understanding of the benefits of CE marking of doors, doorsets and components. These include architects, contractors, housebuilders, enforcement authorities including Trading Standards and Building Control, and other construction trade associations.
Underpinning this DHF campaign to encourage correct CE marking of doorsets is a continuing programme of advice and help for its own members. Every DHF member supplying doorsets is advised to work within the guidelines set down in the DHF Guide to manufacturers and suppliers of CE marked doorsets. This guide is only available to DHF members.
Said Michael Skelding, DHF general manager and secretary: "CE marking of non-fire doorsets is imminent and it's vital that building professionals understand the legal responsibilities surrounding CE marking. Specifiers can take comfort from the fact that all DHF member companies operate within the guidelines set out in the DHF guide to the manufacture and supply of CE marked doorsets."
The compulsory CE marking of internal doorsets and fire resisting doorsets will follow later and the DHF will produce further guides when the standards are published.
