The Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) has flagged that its partnership work to deliver a competency framework Initiative for the door, gate and shutter industry is nearing completion, following two years of intensive collaboration to define clear, role-specific competency pathways.
Final outputs are now undergoing industry consultation. This marks a significant step forward in establishing nationally recognised, structured competence frameworks across the construction industry, aligned with the requirements of the Building Safety Act and wider regulatory reform.
As part of the programme, ADSA has played a central role in the development of fire-rated and non-fire-rated installer competency frameworks for door, gate and shutter systems.
A key upshot has been the clear separation of these two product areas – recognition that fire-rated systems require additional, specialist knowledge and skills beyond those needed for standard installations. These include enhanced understanding of product performance, installation tolerances, compliance evidence and the implications of failure in life-safety scenarios.
This group has involved collaboration between ADSA, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), supported by CITB, spurred on by a shared aim of raising competence, consistency and accountability throughout the supply chain.
It has undertaken a root and branch review of existing National Occupational Standards (NOS) and is now completing a new National Occupational Standard which will be a formal benchmark for training, assessment and qualification development across the sector.
Ken Price, Managing Director of ADSA, said: “This has been a substantial piece of work and one that the industry genuinely needs. Separating fire-rated and non-fire-rated competencies was essential – fire performance products demand a higher and more specific level of knowledge, and that must be clearly recognised.
“This will give employers, training providers and individuals a clear, structured route to understanding and demonstrating competence in line with modern regulatory expectations.”
The final frameworks and National Occupational Standards will support future qualification development, employer assurance and regulatory compliance, helping the sector respond to increasing scrutiny around competence and life safety.
ADSA will continue to support the rollout and implementation of the frameworks, ensuring members are fully informed and able to align their training and workforce development strategies accordingly.
The consultation can be found on the CITB website (Non-Timber and Non-Composite Fire-Resisting Door, Shutter or Curtain Systems) and is available for viewings/feedback until the end of July.
For more information about ADSA visit: www.adsa.org.uk
