Testing, Standards & Certifications for Quality Assurance of Hardware

Glass hardware: Along the supply chain, the durability of hardware products is the key marked (UKCA from 2023), showing they comply with the minimum regulatory requirements. However, to emphasise the highest levels of performance and durability, product manufacturers will often look towards third-party certifications such as the commonly recognised Certifire - a certification scheme that assures the performance, quality, reliability and traceability of hardware products.

For architects, specifiers and end users alike, product certifications such as Certifire boost the dependability of hardware choices and make for an easier, less time-consuming selection process. They provide additional confidence that the chosen product will perform when called upon, remaining safe and high performing throughout its lifecycle. A building is a network of design choices, all of which must work in tandem for the infrastructure to operate as intended. Should one area fail, for example, the mechanisms of a fire door closer, the infrastructure becomes compromised, heightening safety and security risks for the building’s occupants and visitors. It is critical that only the most durable products are used in these scenarios and whether using non-standard or standard arm applications, hardware must be compliant with various areas considered, such as meeting DDA requirements by paying close attention to the opening forces used in public spaces. And while manufacturers have a responsibility to test, label and supply the highest standard of product, decision-makers must then also choose to apply hardware that meets the requirements of the building in question.

Avoiding Costly Errors In some cases, design teams will face a choice between the initial costs of certified products and their less reliable counterparts. Although economic considerations are often part of the construction process, durable hardware will continue to perform long after its initial supply period, whereas cheaper hardware alternatives can become counterintuitive, failing to offer that same quality and durability, and leading to costly consequences.

Hardware: extended durability - represented through certifications - is the way forward

Later in a building’s lifecycle, where less durable products have been used, complications can arise. With this, the costs associated with future maintenance and replacements can quickly begin to add up and work against the original decision. Not to mention the expense of building safety.

More recently, sustainability continues to grow into the conversation, fairly asking questions about the environmental impact buildings omit. As was referenced at the recent COP26 conference, the built environment and construction sector accounts for 38% of the world’s Carbon Emissions, and so changes must now be made to avoid both environmental and reputational costs.

Where sustainability is concerned, there is a promise, however. Today, 82% of AEC organisations are now understood to have a dedicated sustainability team in place, and with environmental goals established, sustainable performance is more readily measured. Between COP26 and UNEP, both industries and individuals are progressively being held responsible for their environmental footprint, and the growing expectation to go beyond compliance has incited real change.

The time has come for decision-makers to do their part to limit the consumption of construction resources, and certified architectural hardware can play its part here too. Hardware can also gain environmental certifications, such as ISO 14000, which is a set of standards designed to reduce environmental waste and damage.

Similar to Certifire, BREEAM is a thirdparty sustainability assessment method focusing on infrastructure and buildings. Hardware products can become recognised under independent standards - providing users with peace of mind that products are more durable, ethically sourced and environmentally resourceful. The aim is to reduce replacement hardware and the amount of packaging that is associated with replacements. And extended durability - represented through certifications - is the way forward.

The alteration of product packaging is another area that is seeing significant change too. R&D teams are already sourcing alternative packing options and eliminating product waste in a bid to stimulate the circular economy. This commitment must also transfer through to the specification and design stages of projects too. In some cases, for example, there has been a shift to modular and off-site construction, where elements of the project are constructed and delivered in a finished form. This approach has been designed to reduce the consumption of site waste through the application of controlled manufacturing