Warringtonfire issues warning on third party certification for door sets

The provider of testing, inspection and certification services warns that many of these door sets, which are safety-critical construction products, may not have the right level of third party certification, meaning that they’re non-compliant and, as such, illegal.

This warning follows recent scrutiny from industry bodies such as the Door and Hardware Federation and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers, who have been informed of the situation by the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

Building owners, facilities managers, specifiers, architects, construction professionals and other relevant stakeholders need to ensure the door sets they are specifying, purchasing and installing have been third party certified by an accredited laboratory.

While it’s the responsibility of manufacturers to confirm their products are correctly certified and have a Certificate of Constancy of Performance (CoCoP), industry professionals have a responsibility to select third party certified products. Receiving a CoCoP allows the product to then obtain a conformity marking (ie CE or UKCA). Without this, doors cannot be legally sold on the market, posing significant financial and reputational risks to industry professionals who purchase them, as well as putting people at risk.

Meeting compliance standards

“Simply having third party certification for individual elements and hardware of the panic or emergency exit doors is insufficient,” explained Michael Skelding, general manager and secretary of the Door and Hardware Federation. “It’s the responsibility of professionals in this industry to make certain that manufacturers have certified the entire door set to meet compliance standards. Without this, they risk repercussions from the Office for Product Safety and Standards such as building closures, along with severe reputational damage.”

Skelding continued: “While the Door and Hardware Federation and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers have noted that many door sets are non-compliant, we recognise that the majority of individuals are not deliberately breaking the law. It’s more an issue of lack of awareness. It’s now essential that the word is spread so that industry professionals can ensure they select products from manufacturers who have obtained third party certification.”

Mark West, principal product assessor at Warringtonfire, observed: “Ensuring the door sets purchased and installed are fully certified is not only a legal obligation, but also a commitment to safety and quality. Demanding to see evidence of certification means the provision of safe and compliant door sets for projects, in turn protecting building users and professional reputations.”

*Further information is available online at https://www.warringtonfire.com/certification-services/fire-certification/ce-marking