113 Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal winter 2025 Retrofit and upgrades: more than a like-for-like swap Replacing hardware is not simply a case of fitting the same product again. Changes in building use, regulations or environmental conditions can all mean a higher-grade or more durable finish is needed. Air gaps, for example, are a common oversight. Excessive clearance between leaf and frame can seriously reduce fire, acoustic and security performance. BS 8214 recommends 2–4 mm for timber-based fire doors, and the gap should be checked as part of any retrofit. Environments such as coastal locations or swimming pools demand higher corrosion resistance than standard stainless steel. Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) coatings or marine-grade alloys can extend service life dramatically. Meeting corporate ESG goals as well as green building certification requirements is now a key consideration in door hardware specification. When this is combined with proper maintenance, it maximises both performance and environmental value over the product’s lifecycle. Specifying products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), such as those manufactured by HOPPE (UK) and ARRONE, guarantees they possess verified data on their life-cycle environmental impact. EPDs are not yet compulsory in the UK but they may be in the future, and they are fast becoming part of the product specification decision making process. A simple troubleshooting mindset Whether during installation or a maintenance round, the same principle applies: identify the cause, not just the symptom. If a door refuses to latch, is it a faulty lock – or a dropped hinge? If a handle feels loose, is the return spring worn, or are the fixings the wrong type? Looking beyond the obvious saves time, money and repeat call-outs, while retaining compliance. The long view The best-performing door hardware is the result of three disciplines working together: correct product specification, competent installation, and planned preventative maintenance. Skimping on any of these almost guarantees problems later. For facilities teams, contractors and anyone responsible for maintaining compliance and keeping a building’s doors in working order a proactive approach pays back many times over – not just in fewer breakdowns, but in maintaining the security, accessibility and compliance that good hardware is there to provide. www.hoppe.co.uk
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