Douglas Masterson, Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) Technical Manager, explores what a standard is, the impact of Brexit, and some recent and forthcoming standards. Information is correct as of May 2022.
A standard is a stakeholder-led solution which responds to defined needs, with its legitimacy being based on a process of consensus and consultation. They are often voluntary, and when they are, they can underpin regulation and give confidence to markets and governments. They can also be mandatory such as harmonised or designated standards.
Standards bodies, such as British Standards Institution (BSI) or European Committee for Standardization (CEN), do not ‘decide’ or ‘set’ standards but coordinate national expert and stakeholder views to create them. The GAI is well placed to represent the ironmongery industry in this arena, currently participating in 24 BSI committees and drafting panels across several areas, as well as four CEN committees.
Harmonised/designated standard definitions
Harmonised European standards (hENs) are European standards specially created to support European directives. Compliance with a hEN creates a legal presumption of conformity with some or all the technical requirements of a directive. The European Construction Products Regulation (CPR) requires products within their scope to declare their performance under the relevant hEN. This means, that for CE marking under the CPR, only testing carried out under the hEN is valid.
Designated standards are the GB equivalent of European harmonised standards and were created following the UK’s departure from the European Union. These are developed by a recognised national or international standards body through a process of consensus, which is designated by the UK Secretary of State and is recognised by the government in part or in full by publishing its reference on GOV.UK in a formal notice of publication.
The European and UK versions of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) have made harmonised and designated standards mandatory for any products falling under their scope. It is currently illegal to offer a non-CE marked product for sale on the UK and European market if it is covered by a harmonised standard – this will apply to UKCA marked products after 1st January 2023. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, NI remains part of the single European market therefore still requires CE or UKNI marking to place relevant products onto the market.
| Standards are constantly being amended, revised and drafted, with GAI having been on drafting panels for many of these. What are the most recent changes to standards in the ironmongery industry?
EN 16867:2020 Mechatronic door furniture EN 15684: 2021 Mechatronic cylinders EN 17372:2021 Power-operated swing door drive operators EN ISO 23386:2020 – Building information modelling and other digital processes used in construction |
| The following standards are in the process of being created or revised and are due to be published within the next twelve to eighteen months:
prEN 15685 Multipoint locks and their locking plates EN 12209:2016 Mechanically operated locks, latches and locking plates PAS 24:2016 Enhanced security performance requirements for doorsets and windows in the UK for doorsets and windows. EN 16005:2012 Power operated pedestrian doorsets |
The GAI publishes regular updates on standards and other technical issues and provides information on an ongoing basis through Specifiers’ Guides and Technical Briefings.
Douglas Masterson B.A.(Hons) DipGAI RegAI M.InstAI
Technical Manager: Guild of Architectural Ironmongers