The definitive guide to Approved Document M of the Building Regulations for the door and hardware industry has just been published by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF).
It is intended to cut though any confusion caused by issues of interpretation and apparent conflicts of advice given in various guidance documents. It is aimed at architects, specifiers, builders, buildings & facilities managers, building control officers and anyone involved in the specification of doors and hardware to be installed in buildings within the scope of Document M.
As it is designed to be a central source of reference, it will take away the need to refer to different documents and will greatly cut down the risk of misinterpretation. In particular, specifiers will be able to make the correct choice of both doors and door hardware by referring to just the one guide.
Approved Document M caused controversy when it was first published. There were fears that specifiers could face claims under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 from people who believed that the design of doors and door furniture discriminated against them.
The Guide to Approved Document M for the door and hardware Industry has been produced by the DHF and it has been endorsed by a number of trade and industry associations including the Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers’ Association; Guild of Architectural Ironmongers; British Woodworking Federation; Master Locksmiths Association; and the Intumescent Fire Seal Association.
Ian Wood, DHF Chief Executive said: “The new guide is a central summary of the principal issues raised by Approved Document M. Up to now, anyone seeking compliance with the legislation needed to refer to various approved documents published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (formerly Office of the Deputy Prime Minister). This was time consuming and often threw up conflicts over interpretation.
“This was clearly unsatisfactory, so we decided to work collectively as an industry to present one central document that pulled all the approved documents together. The guide summarises all the main issues raised under Approved Document M in terms of the doors and hardware and refers the user to the source of the guidance given.”
Subjects covered in the DHF guide include entrance doors, power operated doors, vision panels in doors, door closers, fire resisting doors, security hardware, access control systems and door furniture including hinges.
The guide is now available on the DHF website www.dhfonline.org.uk.