The UK Government's recent announcement regarding extending CE marking for construction products in the UK brings several important considerations for the fire door industry. And at London Fire Solutions we are committed to keeping our customers at the forefront of regulatory developments.
What does the extension of CE Marking mean for building owners, Responsible Persons and facilities managers?
The CE marking, a symbol of conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA), will continue to be recognised in Great Britain after its original end date of 30 June 2025. This extension allows continued compliance with European standards, facilitating access to a broad range of fire safety products that meet rigorous safety criteria, including fire doors.
For fire doors, this means that products tested and certified under European standards will continue to be available in the UK market without the need for immediate retesting to UK standards, ensuring an ongoing supply of high-quality doors.
This initiative signifies a broader overhaul to increase the robustness of the regulatory framework governing fire-rated products, potentially introducing more stringent compliance checks and influencing future fire door certification processes. This may include tightened regulations on material testing and performance benchmarks for fire doors, ensuring that all products in the market provide the necessary levels of fire resistance and integrity.
While the CE mark remains valid, the UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark continues as a parallel standard that specifically assures compliance with UK regulations. Products will often carry both markings to cover both markets. For manufacturers, this dual marking strategy requires maintaining clear documentation and product testing records demonstrating conformity to both standards, ensuring continuous product approval and market entry.
The government's commitment to revisiting the long-term application of CE and UKCA markings promises a landscape where standards may evolve to further align with global best practices or diverge to address specific UK needs. Future changes could involve adjustments in fire door testing protocols, such as enhanced thermal and mechanical performance tests, which would require manufacturers to invest in new technologies and testing procedures.
By engaging with UK Conformity Assessment Bodies and UKAS, the government aims to enhance the integrity and capacity of the UK testing market. This could lead to more accredited bodies available for testing, potentially reducing the time and cost associated with certifying fire doors. Additionally, it might increase the rigour of audits and the frequency of compliance checks.
At London Fire Solutions, we aim to actively adapt to these changes. Our commitment involves:
•Continuous training: we make sure that our team is abreast of all regulatory changes and understands their implications for product compliance.
•Enhanced product tracking using technologies like the Passifire app to maintain meticulous product testing and certification records, which supports compliance with the Golden Thread of information.
•Customer Education: offering resources that help you understand these regulatory changes and how they impact the fire safety products you use.
As these regulations evolve, London Fire Solutions remains your committed partner, ensuring that our products not only meet current standards but are also poised to adapt to future regulatory changes. We are dedicated to maintaining the highest safety and compliance standards, helping you navigate these changes confidently and efficiently.
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