New DHF Guide will Further Raise Safety Standards in the Door Industry

A comprehensive guide to improving the methods of restraining roller shutter door barrels has been issued by the Door and Hardware Federation (DHF). It follows a number of accidents, one of them fatal, involving industrial doors and shutters which were investigated by the Health & Safety Executive.

The DHF best practice guide details the design characteristics which must be considered when specifying or supplying roller shutter door barrels. It is available for download from the DHF website.

The DHF has been advising its own members on the correct installation and use of power operated shutters and doors for many years. The tragic death last year of a young child involving a remote controlled metal rolling shutter supplied by a non member of the DHF prompted the HSE inquiry which in turn led to the production of the DHF best practice guide.

The HSE noted that accidents occurred when industrial doors or shutters had been struck by moving vehicles or had experienced internal failure or malfunction of the support structure. The DHF best practice guide for the methods of restraining roller shutter door barrels spells out what design modifications should be made to prevent relative movement between the support plates and barrel shaft.

It recommends that where existing doors have insufficient restraint, devices preventing relative movement between the end plates and barrel shaft should be considered.

Said Ian Wood, chief executive officer of the DHF: 'It’s the role of the federation to provide guidance to both specifiers and its own members on current best practice in the design, manufacture and installation of industrial and commercial doors and shutters. The tragic death of a child served to underline the importance of further promoting all aspects of the safe specification and use of our members’ products. Use of this guide will increase safety standards throughout our industry.'

For more information contact the DHF secretary, 42 Heath Street, Tamworth, Staffs B79 7JH. Phone: 01827 52337. Fax: 01827 310827. Email: michael.skelding@dhfonline.org.uk. Or visit http://www.dhfonline.org.uk.