Oct 11 2007
A unique Code of Practice on hardware for fire and escape doors is being downloaded from the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) website in increasing numbers.
Growing awareness amongst building owners of the importance hardware has to play in fire safety is one reason for its popularity, says the DHF. The RRO (Regulatory Reform Order), which places responsibility for maintaining passive and active fire protection firmly with building owners, is another reason why construction industry professionals and specifiers are downloading the guide.
The Code of Practice offers focussed and professional advice on relevant products and standards to help and guide all those responsible for fire safety in buildings, regardless of the amount of knowledge they have of door hardware.
The guide has been specifically designed to be simple, straightforward and jargon-free. The Code is proving useful for industry insiders as well as specifiers as it gives clear and unambiguous guidance on all of the relevant standards and procedures that are current today. This is updated regularly as new regulations come into play.
The Code includes dozens of colour photographs and drawings, many of them showing approved hardware, to make identification easy for the whole construction industry. It identifies the main issues affecting products’ fire safety when they are fitted to doors, helping users to make informed decisions on the suitability of existing products or their proposed replacements.
In addition, it identifies the documentation required to show that the product is suitable for its application, proving that all parties have exercised due diligence in fulfilling their duty of care.
The Code remains available on the DHF website www.dhfonline.org.uk and can now be accessed in a fully-interactive format on its own website, www.firecode.org.uk .
The Door and Hardware Federation represents virtually all of the key players in industrial and commercial doors & shutters and garage doors and also represents the leading UK manufacturers of building hardware and architectural ironmongery.