The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) are working very closely with trading standards officers to help reduce the number of unsafe and non-compliant domestic garage doors that are being installed. The DHF Garage Door Group believe that out of the thousands of garage doors that are installed each year, 15% are either unsafe or have not undergone the legally required testing procedures.
The DHF, who represents the UK's leading suppliers and installers of domestic garage doors, calculated this estimate following a number of site inspections carried out over the last 12 months.
Michael Skelding, DHF general manager and secretary said:
"The extent of non-compliance is shocking, particularly regarding roller shutter doors. In one case, our inspectors identified a non-DHF company which has supplied hundreds of non-compliant domestic garage doors. A garage door can be the largest and heaviest moving part in the home. If it's unsafe then it's quite capable of causing serious injury, or worse.
He added:
"Householders wanting a new garage door, or are having their existing door motorised, need the confidence that their supplier will fit a product that is legal and safe for their family to use."
DHF investigations into non-compliant garage door installations announced an alarming list of faults, including:
- Unprotected roller mechanisms that could trap hands
- Deficient fixings that could collapse without warning
- Lack of protection against the door closing violently in the event of parts failing
- Lack of touch sensitive protection to prevent crushing injury
- Faulty electrics
It is important for homeowners to find out that their garage door has been CE marked and should speak to the garage door company to provide Declarations of Performance and Conformity to ensure it has undergone the necessary testing and complies with the Construction Products Regulation and the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations.
Michael Skelding goes on to say:
"As a trade association we've made great strides in ensuring our members comply with all relevant safety, legal and performance criteria. We provide comprehensive guidance on meeting standards to our own installer members. The DHF is a member of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and we intend to work closely with trading standards officials over the coming months to carry on raising levels of compliance and safety throughout the industry and stop the use of non-compliant products."
Automated Garage Doors
Our team have over 20 years of experience, specialising in supply, installing and repairing electric garage doors. We have been able to build up a great relationship with some of the industry's leading manufacturer's, ensuring our customers get a wide choice of designs, styles and finishes. As well as installing automated garage doors, we can also automate your existing door.
If you would like further information on our garage doors, feel free to come into our showroom on Sweet Briar Industrial Estate, Norwich and one of our team will be happy to help you.
