Door Industry Journal - Winter 2017

21 THE door industry journal winter 2017 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk industry news SALUTARY TALES 4 X 4 CRUSHED BY FALLING GATE The site of this case was the drive gateway to a private house situated beside a narrow country lane. The family vehicles were kept in the driveway, across which ran a substantial steel angle reinforced single leaf timber gate, approx. 25 ft. wide x 6’ 3” high, running on four wheels on a fabricated ground rail, and guided at the top of its trailing edge by a pair of vertical rollers acting on the vertical element of a fabricated rail along the top of the gate. The gate installation had presented significant problems since its original installation seven years earlier, due to excessive bowing of the very wide, heavy gate leaf, which was, in turn, due to incorrect protective treatment of the gate timbers before assembly. Modifications by the supplier had not noticeably improved matters. On the day in question, a few inches of snow had fallen. When operated, the gate opened satisfactorily, but at the trailing edge extremity of (opening) travel, snow became compacted against a back-stop, causing damage to the (closing) limit switch striker on the gate leaf. When the closing cycle was initiated, the gate leaf started to close, but as the trailing edge limit switch striker failed to activate the “Stop” limit switch, the gate continued onwards, the leading wheel came off the track, due to the excessive bow in the panel. Its leading edge missed the “catcher” shoe on the closing post, allowing the trailing edge to come clear of the guide post as there was no physical stop or third (back-up) limit switch. Then, the unsupported leaf fell inwards, (away from the lane) onto the bonnet of the householder’s very expensive “top-of-the-range” 4 x 4 vehicle, causing damage in the order of £10,000. On inspection, the installation was found to fall short of the requirements of relevant Statutory Instruments, Standards, and industry guidance and good practice. In particular: - *Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations—- EH&S and Schedule 3, *PUWER, *Workplace (HS&W) Regulations, *BSEN12604 - 2000, and *BSEN 12453 - 2001, (then current). The design, manufacturing and installation errors and defects are self-evident. John Boydell Email: jmbgpc@tiscali.co.uk Phone: 01952 432429 A regular column, which concisely outlines Door and Gate related incidents, some of which became court cases, brought to you by John Boydell, a Door Industry Consultant and Forensic Engineer since 1984. J Boydell HÖRMANN DOUBLES THE SIZE OF ITS STAND AT THE NATIONAL SELF BUILD AND RENOVATION CENTRE The UK’s leading door manufacturer, Hörmann, has announced that it has boosted its sales after doubling the size of its stand at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre (NSBRC) in Swindon. The centre, which held its last show of the year at the beginning of October, gives visitors the chance to get an exclusive first look at Hörmann’s latest products, as well as speak to Hörmann representatives for advice and guidance at the three shows it holds during the year. Hörmann, who launched its range of timber internal doors earlier this year, has held a stand at the centre for over nine years and believes that the NSBRC is the ideal place to showcase its wide range of domestic products. Marketing manager, David O’Mara, confirms: “The National Self Build and Renovation Centre gives us the perfect platform to showcase our wide range of doors for both inside and outside of the home. Following the launch of our range of timber internal doors, we decided to expand the size of our stand to ensure that we give visitors to the centre the opportunity to see the quality of the new range for themselves, and gain an idea of what we have to offer in our series of domestic products. “Since the NSBRC’s summer show in May, we have received nearly 400 strong sales leads. Having doubled the size of our stand since then and just weeks away from the centre’s final show of 2017, we are really looking forward to unveiling our new stand, plus our range of timber internal doors, to self-builders and renovators visiting this year’s Big Green Home Show.” Harvey Fremlin, managing director at the NSBRC said: “As one of our key exhibitors, we are delighted that Hörmann has made the decision to extend the size of its stand. With a wide range of products on the stand, visitors to our final show of the year will be among the first to see Hörmann’s extensive range of internal and external doors on display.” The visitor centre, which is in its 10th year, attracts thousands of homeowners who are looking to undertake a self-build, renovation or home improvement project. For more information about Hörmann’s full product range, please visit www.hormann.co.uk or to find out more about the NSBRC, visit www.nsbrc.co.uk .