Door Industry Journal - Spring 2012

Also online at: www.doorindustryjournal.co.uk 22 THE door industry journal spring 2012 industrial doors AGEING INDUSTRIAL DOORS CAN BRING UNNECESSARY PROBLEMS According to two well known industry experts; Derek Bridge, the Technical Director of DHF member Ascot Doors Ltd and Ray Nowell, the DHF’s Technical Officer, ageing industrial doors can bring unnecessary problems. We are all aware of the current furore over serious safety issues that powered gates have been experiencing and now we are finding evidence causing us to become increasingly concerned that industrial doors also have problems on similar lines. We at Ascot Doors, have noticed over the last 18 months or so, a significant increase in the mechanical failure of ageing industrial doors, mainly rolling shutter doors, which are causing some major Health & Safety issues for our end-user clients. The pattern emerging appears to be on doors which are: • over 20 years old • on Industrial/Warehousing locations • operated on average 10 to 20 times per day • over 16 sq m in size • retro fitted with motors • subjected to a serious lack of any maintenance (in some cases NO maintenance at all!) • lacking a historical record of any modifications or repairs carried out on the equipment being held on file by the client/owner. Derek Bridge said; “I personally feel this is potentially a major issue for the Industrial Door Industry and as a member of the DHF it is essential that we get the message out that regular maintenance must be carried out by competent persons and organisations so that owner/occupiers of premises, especially with powered doors, feel some confidence that they will not suffer a prosecution under Health and Safety legislation”. Ray Nowell said; “Minimum requirements are outlined in the DHF guidelines document TS004 and this technical standard has been adopted by all the members of DHF who are carrying out repair and maintenance work. “There is evidence that where hand chain operated rolling shutter doors have been upgraded by the addition of a drive motor, the work has not been done in accordance with the guidance in BS EN 12635, and on ageing doors in particular, this is creating dangerous machinery”. Ray Nowell continued; “We are also aware that at least one case of prosecution is pending due to injury to a person following a door accident and others where the cost of repair has become a bone of contention between parties”. There are a number of issues which have been revealed during recent door failures which include: • Not checking for single point failure broken spring(s) inside the barrel tube. • Retro fitting motors, where the door is difficult to operate due to a broken spring and therefore NOT ensuring that the motor is correctly specified for the door size and weight. • Not meeting the DHF’s “Best practice guide for Restraining Roller Shutter Barrels”. • Not carrying out a risk assessment as required by the Supply of Machinery Safety Regulations, to ensure that the existing door is suitable for power operation. • Not providing end users with operating and maintenance instructions and Declarations of Conformity. The fact that owner/occupiers of premises need to carry out regular maintenance on doors, is part of their responsibilities under the Workplace (health, safety and welfare) regulations and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment (PUWER) Regulations. Unfortunately, a large majority are not aware of the above regulations, or don’t feel they are necessary. Ray Nowell adds; “It is up to reputable and competent door maintenance companies to ensure that they provide a safe and professional service for their clients and raise the standard of the door industry”. Derek Bridge added; “We at Ascot Doors are fully committed to involving our clients and working hand in hand with them in identifying possible failure areas. Indeed, following work with a major customer we have significantly upgraded our inspection procedure.