Nationwide Door and Shutter Quality Mark accreditation strategy for the maintenance and repair of metal doors and shutters has now become live. It is set to considerably improve the standards throughout the industry, according to the DHF (Door and Hardware Federation). The quality standard mark can only be featured by companies providing high standards in door repair. Door companies from all across the country have now been accredited under this system.

According to DHF chief executive officer Ian Wood - "As an industry we have acted decisively by launching the DHF Quality Mark.”
There is wide lack of knowledge amongst building owners and occupiers, facilities managers and maintenance managers about their legal responsibilities to keep their doors and shutters in proper working condition and this necessitates to be addressed.

According to DHF professionals on an estimate more than 80 % of the owners and occupiers of the UK's industrial premises are running a risk of significant losses and could be breaking the law as they do not have proper preventative maintenance pro grammes to protect their doors and shutters.

As awareness of the need for regular maintenance is increasing day by day, companies will be looking for door repair and service providers, which hold the DHF Quality Mark." The new Quality Mark is will only be awarded to door companies having established their capability to offer superior quality maintenance and repair for industrial and commercial doors adopting rigorous checks carried out by the DHF.

End users can easily site their nearest accredited repair and services providers by browsing through the DHF website, www.dhfonline.org.uk.

The DHF Quality Mark holders for the repair and maintenance of doors and shutters should -

• Present their capability and experience in the repair and maintenance
• Have a completely documented quality management system in place
• Provide levels of training compliant with CSCS card qualification or have NVQ training procedures in place Hold repair and maintenance records for a minimum of seven years
• Offer high levels of maintenance including maintenance contracts, 24 hour answering service and an emergency call out service, which provides onsite visits within 4 hours of an emergency call
• Prove full compliance with DHF repair and service approved standards
  
  

The creation of the quality mark follows recent changes in the legislation covering certification.Fire officers no longer license industrial buildings, rather there is now a self certification obligation on the building owner/occupier to announce that proper maintenance procedures are in place. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations Act 1992 compel employers to ensure that industrial doors in workplaces are competently maintained on a regular basis.

Other legislation contains extra provisions that require regular maintenance of powered doors and fire resisting doors.

DHF Repair and Service Approved Standard TS004 regulates minimum maintenance standards for 11 classes of products, which include all types of manual and power operated industrial and commercial doors, gates, shutters, power operated domestic garage doors and barriers.