Door Industry Journal - Summer 2014

industry news 21 THE door industry journal summer 2014 EXOVA INVESTMENT TRIPLES WINDOW TESTING CAPACITY Exova Warringtonfire, the specialist fire and security testing and certification provider, has announced new investment in door and window testing capabilities at its Willenhall site, with new window durability test rigs tripling existing capacity. The investment will enhance capacity and allow a faster turnaround of testing results and reports for customers. Mark West, Door & Window Laboratory Manager, explains: “The recent move of our Door & Window testing division into its own dedicated facility has freed up the extra space to increase our durability testing capabilities. We have received a large number of enquiries for these tests in the past 12 months, and this expansion allows us to complete the suite of operational, security and weather tests within a much shorter timeframe.” Durability testing of windows has become a key area since it was introduced into the British Standard for operational & strength requirements BS6375-2 in 2009. For products to claim compliance with PAS24, and the material specific standards BS644 for timber windows, BS7412 for PVC windows or BS4873 for aluminium windows, or be entered into Secured by Design approved certification schemes, all windows are required to undertake a minimum of 10,000 opening and closing cycles. These ‘real life’ tests simulate years of service of a window in just a few days, and can identify potential problems far in advance of failures in the operational environment. Many customers are also keen to state the durability performance of their windows on their CE-marking Declaration of Performance, a mandatory requirement to sell windows in the UK and Europe, where products that have completed a number of cycles in excess of the UK industry minimum classification of 10,000 can appear more attractive than their competition. Mark adds: “With the help of our increased capacity many of our clients are now looking to go above and beyond the minimum requirements providing them with a clear competitive edge in the market place.” About Exova Warringtonfire Exova Warringtonfire offers independent fire engineering, fire testing and fire certification services that are a globally- respected mark of quality assurance, from its network of sites across Europe, the Middle East, Canada, Australia and Asia Pacific. Exova Warringtonfire tests reaction to fire, as well as fire resistance of different materials and products for the construction and transportation sectors. Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk GETTING A HANDLE ON HOME SECURITY WITH HOPPE Concerns raised in the media about entrance door locks that can be opened by burglars “in just five minutes” have made homeowners nervous that they are vulnerable to breaking and entering. This is exacerbated by the fact that insurers sometimes refuse to pay out if there is no evidence of a break in because the cylinder has been “bumped” or snapped. Hardware specialist HOPPE manufactures a range of quality door hardware that can help combat these problems including a range of security lever handles that have been tested to withstand attack under the PAS24 regulations for security hardware. HOPPE is working with local partners to get this message across, including Warwickshire-based architectural ironmonger Tuscan Hardware. The two companies have held meetings in the local community with neighbourhood crime prevention organisations and the police attending. HOPPE’s Lisa Nightingale explains. “We explained how easy it is to make a significant upgrade on front door security using the right hardware. At the crime prevention evenings with Tuscan we demonstrated our Atlanta security handle set which is really easy for a householder or locksmith to fit and, because of its integral guard plates, will deter burglars from snapping the lock cylinder.” The meeting has proved popular in local neighbourhoods with Tuscan Hardware, for example, reporting a number of orders as a result. “It has been very interesting to see the reaction from homeowners who were worried about their front door’s security,” says’ Tuscan’s Dave Hilton. They didn’t realise that just by changing the lever handle to a security product like the HOPPE Atlanta, they could really make a difference to their homes’ security.” The HOPPE Atlanta series security handle set has been tested to withstand and exceed the 3 minutes attack time in PAS24: 2012, Annex A – the standard for security hardware. It has a built-in cylinder with anti-drill, -core extraction and- manipulation features and external backplates manufactured from solid aluminium extrusion, thus providing added strength and attack resistance. For more information please visit www.hoppe.com or email jessica.ward@hoppe.com