Doors go Digital – New Product Data Template shows the way to Increased Specifier Confidence

Manufacturers and distributors of doorsets looking to build confidence in their products and move closer towards implementing the Golden Thread in construction can now supply consistent performance data to specifiers, contractors and building owners thanks to the development of a new industry-approved Product Data Template (PDT) for doorsets.

The development comes at a critical time, following the recent publication of the landmark Morrell Review into the regulation, testing and verification of the performance of construction products.

A Product Data Template is a common way of describing essential product characteristics which can be traced to a credible source such as a product standard. Once a manufacturer completes a PDT, the output is a Product Data Sheet which summarises the performance and other technical characteristics of a construction product. Structuring product information in this way makes the information more consistent, audience-specific, and identifies all the performance information needed to make appropriate choices about construction products.

The doorset PDT has been published by the shadow Fenestration Relevant Authority, a group of 14 organisations and trade associations that have come together to provide PDTs for the sector. The doorset PDT is the latest to be published in a list which already includes door hardware and powered pedestrian doors.

Douglas Masterson, technical manager at the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) and chair of the shadow Fenestration Relevant Authority said:

“This new PDT is the first of its kind which has gone through a full consultation process. It incorporates many of the key functions of doors including fire, smoke, security and acoustics and presents this data in a consistent structured format. Industry will now have the ability to create a coordinated set of Product Data Sheets for any doorsets involved in their projects.”

Kevin Underwood, technical director of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) and chair of the working group which created the PDT, said:

“In the production of the doorset PDT we tried to capture all characteristics that would be of interest to those responsible for, and using, construction product data in the built environment. The characteristics were taken from relevant national and European standards, regulatory requirements, such as building regulations, and industry recommendations, such as third-party product certification. This information is now ready to be presented in a machine-readable form. 

“By involving interested parties during the initial development, through the shadow Fenestration Relevant Authority, and then subjecting the draft PDT to peer review, we have captured the information that a manufacturer or distributor would wish to communicate to their customers and would be required by end-users, such as designers and Accountable Persons.”

Hanna Clarke, digital and policy manager at the Construction Products Association (CPA) said:

“Structured product information is absolutely vital to a joined-up construction and built environment sector. But the key to arriving at this information is consensus, and the CPA is pleased to see that the trade associations in the fenestration area have come together to form a shadow Relevant Authority as per the processes identified in the LEXiCON project. 

“It is these consensus processes and due diligence that will allow all those using the template and resulting product data sheets to trust that the information has been appropriately considered and will have longevity in application.”

This PDT is part of an ongoing programme of works in this field undertaken by the Fenestration Relevant Authority, with window hardware as the next project.

Kevin Jones, senior technical officer at the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and co-chair of this working party, said:

“The GGF is pleased to be working as part of the shadow Fenestration Relevant Authority to create a set of product data templates for window hardware, to enable both our members and the wider industry to produce product data sheets in a consistent and structured manner. These templates will play a key part in helping to achieve the Golden Thread of Information.”

The following organisations are represented on the shadow Fenestration Relevant Authority: Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI), British Woodworking Federation (BWF), Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), British Standards Institution (BSI), Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB), Construction Products Association (CPA), Door and Hardware Federation (DHF), Association of Composite Door Manufacturers (ACDM), British Blind and Shutters Association (BBSA), National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers (NARM), British Plastics Federation (BPF), Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) Centre for Windows and Cladding Technology (CWCT) and Steel Window Association (SWA).

The doorset PDT was launched at the FIT Show (23-25 May 2023) and will beis available to download from www.gai.org.uk/pdt

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