Helping manufacturers pass the test

By UAP.

The government has introduced Approved Document Q: Security, Dwellings in 2015, statutory Building Regulations guidance that outlines the standards required for doors and windows.

To comply with Document Q, doors installed in new homes must pass PAS 24 testing, a rigorous testing process that requires the fully finished door, including all hardware and locks, to withstand attempts to gain access.

Barry Halpin, sales director at UAP, said: “Mandatory testing is integral to product development costs for door manufacturers, and any door that does not pass first time must be re-tested until it meets the required standard. Consequently, any element of the door that does not pass can cause the whole door to fail.

“UAP’s approach is to work in partnership with door manufacturers to provide a complete set of door hardware and the locking system, combining products that have already undergone substantial testing and quality assurance, to enable a first-time pass. We also ensure that the hardware we provide delivers a co-ordinated aesthetic, and provide full technical support and guidance during product selection, installation and throughout the testing process.”

One of the UK door manufacturers that has benefited from this approach is PDS Doorsets, a specialist in composite doors and fire doors for residential properties.

UAP provides PDS with complete sets of hardware as test samples, including Fullex multipoint locks, TS008 Soterian letterplates, Duo door handles, and Kinetica 3-Star cylinders. For fire door products, UAP provides locks and hardware from its Firemongery range of fire safety products, which have already been thoroughly tested and certified for fire-rated installations.

Ben Davies, testing compliance manager at PDS, said: “When we work with UAP, we are dealing with a company that has worked in the sector for 25 years. PAS 24 involves destructive testing, so having a partner that will provide us with enough complete sets of samples to put the required number of doors through their paces to prove compliance is a big help.”

The PAS 24 testing process includes scrutiny of both robust door fabrication and the hardware. The test procedures include a manipulation test, with attempts made to gain entry by the hardware being operated, released or disengaged, and a security hardware and cylinder test, which assesses the door furniture, hardware and cylinder’s resistance to manual attack. The door furniture and cylinder must also remain intact and firmly fixed in place during a series of loading and impact tests.

“Before we submit any door for testing, we need to be confident that all the door hardware is compliant,” Ben said. “Not only are we confident that UAP will provide a full set of hardware to meet requirements, we also know that its products are developed for ease of installation and that its technical team is on hand to assist us in checking correct installation prior to testing.”

UAP also provides products, support and guidance in preparation for fire door testing. This includes UAP’s TS008-compliant Soterian letterplates, the only TS008 letterplates with a Certifire certification, along with its Firemongery range of Document Q compliant fire-rated hardware.

“There is an increasing demand for domestic fire doors, and our range is designed to prevent fire and smoke from spreading into individual dwellings from common areas, as well as the other way around,” Barry said.

“While Certifire-approved TS008 letterplates can be fitted to timber fire doors with no further testing, composite or steel fire doors must be tested as part of a complete door configuration, and this is another way in which we support door manufacturers to achieve rapid and cost-effective approval for their products.”