Media information

May 14, 2015

DHF intensifies campaign against non compliant garage door installations

The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) is working closely with trading standardsofficers in a bid to reduce the number ofunsafe and non compliant domestic garage doors being installed.

Of the thousands of garage doors installed each year, the DHF Garage Door Group estimates that 15% are either unsafe or have not undergone the legally required testing procedures. The DHF Garage Door Group, which represents the UK's leading suppliers and installers of domestic garage doors, made this estimate following a number of site inspections carried out over the last 12 months.

Said Michael Skelding, DHF general manager and secretary: "The extent of non compliance is shocking, particularly regarding roller shutter doors. In one case, our audit inspectors identified a single company which has supplied hundreds of non compliant domestic garage doors. A garage door can be the largest and heaviest moving part in the home. If it's unsafe then it's quite capable of causing serious injury, or worse.

"Householders wanting a new garage door, or are having their existing door motorised, need the confidence that their supplier will fit a product that is legal and safe for their family touse."

In those cases where the DHF has found unsafe or non compliant installations, it has worked with trading standards officers in order to take appropriate action to bring suppliers into compliance.

DHF investigations into non compliant garage door installations revealed an alarming list of faults including:

• Unprotected roller mechanisms that could trap hands

• Deficient fixings that could collapse without warning

• Lack of protection against the door closing violently in the event of parts failure

• Lack of touch sensitive protection to prevent crushing injury

• Faulty electrics.

Homeowners should ensure their garage door has been CE marked and should ask the garage door company to provide Declarations of Performance and Conformity to demonstrate it has undergone the required testing and complies with the Construction Products Regulation and the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations.

Said Michael Skelding: "As a trade association we've made great strides in ensuring our members comply with all relevant safety, legal and performance criteria. We provide comprehensive guidance on meeting standards to our own installer members. The DHF is a member of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and we intend to work closely with trading standards officials over the coming months to carry on raising levels of compliance and safety throughout the industry and stop the use of non compliant products."

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Note to editors: The DHF represents all the key players in the following sectors: garage doors, industrial/commercial doors, powered gates, metal & timber doorsets and locks & architectural hardware. With the ultimate aim of maintaining and raising quality standards throughout the industry, all DHF members must meet minimum standards of competence and customer service. They all operate within a Code of Conduct governing standards of workmanship, quality assurance, training, safety business integrity and CE marking compliance.

Issued on behalf of the DHF by

Ainsworth Public Relations

0161 427 3861

guy@ainsworth-pr.co.uk

Door & Hardware Federation

01827 52337

www.dhfonline.org.uk