www.dhfonline.org.uk .

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.

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 & 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.

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The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has launched a major initiative to

further drive up quality standards amongst its members.