THE door industry journal summer 2025 16 Industry News Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk Raising the Standard: What Defines an Industry-Leading Trade Association It’s non-negotiable - competence, compliance and consistency - delivered with professionalism, are essential for the automatic door industry’s future growth and prosperity. That’s why these 3 Cs are the mission of the Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA): the heart of its work pioneering professional standards, shaping the conversation on competency, and equipping the sector to respond effectively to both regulatory and societal change. Across construction industry and its many sectors, organisations are under increasing pressure to meet evolving standards, implement best practices and demonstrate that safety and accountability are central to their operations. This is where trade associations must step in. While many exist to represent their industries, only a few are determined to lead them. Not all associations are created equal. The best don’t just serve as a badge of membership - they act as engines of professionalisation, guardians of standards and champions of future workforce development. A Profession, Not Just a Job Powered pedestrian doors perform vital functions in terms of public access, building security and safety. Behind these systems is a skilled workforce whose expertise impacts everything from fire safety and emergency planning to safeguarding and inclusivity. ADSA’s purpose has always been to professionalise the sector - to ensure those designing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining automatic doors are trained, accredited, and confident in their responsibilities. The association believes this is fundamental to improving quality and safety across the board. “We have always believed that competency and accountability go hand-in-hand,” says Ken Price, ADSA’s Managing Director. “Our focus has been on creating a pathway for individuals to not only meet standards but to exceed them—ensuring the industry can consistently demonstrate professionalism and earn the trust of the wider construction sector and the public.” Leading, Not Following While many organisations wait for change to happen, ADSA takes a different approach - it actively anticipates the challenges ahead and ensures its members are equipped to face them. The association constantly monitors changes across legislation, technical standards, health and safety and public expectations - working closely with regulatory bodies and technical experts to lead the development of new training and learning resources. The introduction of EN 17352 - a European safety standard for the safe use of power operated pedestrian entrance control equipment such as powered turnstiles, swing lanes and retractable lanes – is an example of this. ADSA was the first in its sector to anticipate requirements by developing bespoke training and guidance aligned with the new standard when it was introduced. Its course has been running since 2023 and a new renewal accreditation is being developed. “When standards like EN 17352 are introduced, we don’t wait for the industry to catch up - we get there first,” Price explains. “We work closely with manufacturers, installers and end-users to interpret the implications and provide relevant learning resources so that our members are ready to act confidently and compliantly.” This forward-looking philosophy is also guiding ADSA’s approach to Martyn’s Law - the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 - which will increase protection from terrorist threats in public spaces. It will place a legal responsibility on venues to mitigate risks, many of which involve access control and entrance systems. “Legislation like Martyn’s Law demands a level of preparedness that must be built in advance,” says Price. “Our role is to ensure that our members can respond professionally and demonstrate competency the moment it becomes law, not months or years after.” Raising the Bar on Standards Central to ADSA’s leadership is its work on industry standards and competency frameworks. These form the backbone of professional practice and are critical to building trust - between contractors and clients, employers and staff, and regulators and the wider industry. ADSA is not just a conduit for standards - it is an active participant in developing them. One of its most significant contributions in recent years has been to the Joint Competency Initiative, which emerged in response to the Building Safety Act 2022. This legislation marked a turning point in UK construction, placing new emphasis on the need for demonstrable competence at every level of the supply chain.
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