The Association of Composite Door Manufacturers (ACDM)
Vista Panels Ltd has welcomed the role of the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers (ACDM), in promoting industry standards and the need for composite doorset manufacturers to adhere to Building Regulations, and the need for independent third-party product certification to demonstrate constancy of performance for the manufacture of composite doorsets.
The ACDM operates under a constitution which requires all members to adhere to its Code of Good Practice, claim a recognised security performance – usually PAS24 – and hold independent third-party certification by a UKAS accredited certification body.
Ian Smith’s message
Ian Smith, Vista’s Business Development and Marketing Manager, comments: “With changes to Approved Document Part L (conservation of fuel and power), and expected changes to Approved Document Part Q (security), it’s vital that everyone fabricating a composite doorset is making it to a required performance standard.
“Installers and consumers should also be aware that external doorsets must be UKAS or CE marked (valid until 1st January 2023) in accordance with the Construction Products Regulations to demonstrate claimed U-value performance, while the company should be able to provide a copy of its PAS24 test report.
“Given the government drive to improve the thermal performance of homes in the UK and the need to improve the protection of families in their homes, a U-value of 1.4W/m2.K or under for replacement doorsets and the proposed changes to Document Q, composite doorset manufacturers should be able to demonstrate compliance, and not rely on cascaded information from another manufacturer or supplier. This type of proof, which shows the manufacturer’s name on test reports as well as third-party certification, gives the end user certainty of performance and trust in the doorset.
“It’s trade associations like the ACDM that can help to develop through BSI and promote these standards by having strict membership criteria that will in turn give installers and homeowners peace of mind that the doorset they are fitting is tested and fit for purpose. The new changes that have been introduced should put off companies from trying to make and market a composite doorset without properly investing in the required testing.
“We have been proud members of the ACDM for the last three years – it is an association that promotes the correct manufacturing standards of composite doorsets, and we look forward to working closely with them going forward as legislation and standards change”.
