The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has launched a major initiative to further drive up quality standards amongst its members.
The DHF, the voice of the UK door and hardware sector, is adopting a number of strategies to raise the bar in terms of the standards of competence, customer service and quality offered by its member companies.
It has laid down minimum standards which apply to all DHF members involved in the manufacture, supply, installation and maintenance of their products.
Strengthened code of conduct
Members must comply with the minimum standards by April 2012, but a strengthened Code of Conduct governing standards of workmanship, quality assurance, training, safety and business integrity has already been produced.
Executive chairman Bob Perry pointed out that “raising standards” has been the catchphrase underpinning the Federation’s quality drive for the past few years.
“The new minimum standards initiative for our members takes this to a completely new level,” he said. “It means that specifiers, contractors and end users will be able to obtain products and services from DHF members confident in the knowledge they will benefit from higher quality standards.
“It is also their reassurance that DHF members they are dealing with are meeting all their obligations under forthcoming CE marking legislation.”
A number of minimum standards must be reached by members, depending on whether they are manufacturers, installers, service and repair companies or distributors. These include having third party audited factory production control schemes in place, offering compliance with harmonised standards and making declarations under the Machinery Directive. Other minimum levels to be attained by DHF members include being compliant with various repair, service and installation standards, fire door certification and demonstrating a commitment to training.
The DHF represents all the key players in industrial and commercial doors and shutters, garage doors, powered gates, metal and timber doorsets, locks and architectural ironmongery.
For more information, visit www.dhfonline.org.uk .