Door Industry Journal - Summer 2016

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk building hardware 117 THE door industry journal summer 2016 MEETING THE NEW BUILDING REGULATIONS SECURITY RULES - HELP FROM DHF Valuable advice on how to meet the new security requirements within the English Building Regulations has been published by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) which represents the UK’s leading manufacturers of door and window hardware and locks. For the first time, the Building Regulations require new homes to incorporate measures to resist unauthorised entry by casual or opportunist burglars. The DHF Guide to Approved Document Q of the Building Regulations advises architects, specifiers and housebuilders how the new provisions of Document Q can be met, specifically by choosing doors and window hardware that meet the required standards. The guide also gives comprehensive information on how the performance of doors and windows can be checked and assessed. The new security obligation under Document Q covers main entrance doors, windows and interlinked doors to integral garages in houses. It also covers external entrance doors to apartment blocks and to individual apartment doors that open into common areas. Document Q states that doors and windows will meet the new security requirement if they are sufficiently robust and fitted with appropriate hardware. The DHF Guide provides practical guidance on how this can be achieved. In particular, the guide describes how all easily accessible doorsets providing access should comply with PAS 24:2012 or other standards that provide similar or better performance to ensure they are secure. In the case of bespoke timber doorsets, the guide details the security standards required for construction materials and door hardware components including locks, hinges, letter plates, door limiters and glazing. The guide also lists the applicable standards relating to windows to meet the Document Q obligation that all easily accessible windows and rooflights should be secure. Michael Skelding, DHF general manager and secretary said: “Door and window suppliers now need to demonstrate to the housebuilder that the products to be installed meet the requirements of Document Q. In addition, Building Control Officers will need to check and assess the evidence offered by the contractor to determine whether the installed doors and windows comply with the relevant standards. “The DHF guide recommends that third-party certification is obtained from a UKAS-accredited certification body that has checked and assessed the evidence relating to the doors and windows. This will make the process more efficient for both the contractor and the Building Control Officer.” The DHF Guide to Document Q can be downloaded from: http://goo.gl/KrnZ07 These type of door closers are suitable for rooms in hospitals and care facilities as they negate the need for any force to open the door. In fact, the door appears to have no closer on it at all as closing the door is a silent process. Acoustic door seals Having gaps around a door is important so the door can open and close effectively. Unfortunately, these gaps allow noise to travel through. Acoustic door seals can be used in these gaps to absorb all this noise, but are well designed so they still allow the door to be used properly. A wide range of surface and morticed seals are available to suit almost any requirement and can also include bottom seals that automatically seal the threshold of the door when it’s in the closed position, but lift up automatically when the door is opened. It’s really important to remember, that with any door closers you have the correct specification to ensure that both internal and external doors are not slamming and that they have variable power settings to adjust to the building’s users. At Allegion, we have a wide range of products that are suitable for noise reduction in these facilities. Whether it’s a full door specification and solution, or just a fit of a replacement door closer. Our Try Me Product Programme gives end users, particularly Facilities Managers, the chance to try a door closer for free, before committing to fitting them throughout the building. If you have doors that are hard to open, noisy or slam shut, don’t close properly or are difficult to open, and you think you could benefit from the Try Me programme, contact our specification team on 01922 651301 or email on contactuk@allegion.com . * http://nfyilma.turner-white.com/pdf/jcom_jul12_noise.pdf ** http://www.who.int/docstore/peh/noise/guidelines2.html