It is their guarantee that the product has been third party tested, therefore absolving them from any duty to carry out a risk assessment on the products for themselves.

In fact, it is now illegal across most of Europe to sell door closing devices claimed to be suitable for use on fire doors within the scope of EN 1154, the European standard for door closer products, unless they bear the CE mark, although it is not yet a legal obligation in this country.

DHF Chief Executive Officer Ian Wood said: “All our building hardware and architectural ironmongery members are aware that CE marking of door closing devices is a legal declaration by the manufacturer that the product complies with the product standard EN 1154.

The CE mark must be backed by a third party ‘notified body’ responsible for testing and certification of compliance.

“Architects, specifiers, contractors and building owners should insist that all door closers now carry the CE mark. It guarantees that the product comes from a supplier who is responsible enough to ensure his product has been inspected, certified and tested to EN 1154 by a third party body that has been judged fit and proper by the authorities to carry out certification. In addition it means the product has been through a fire test, has satisfactorily passed a factory production control inspection and only maintains its CE mark by audit testing.”

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