Builders’ merchants may find that their fire doors make them now eligible to join the BWF’s Certifire Scheme, as it is being extended to include companies that use Q-Mark fire doors.

The BWF is a business support organisation offering advice, support and wood industry information to around 700 members as well as guidance for customers. Its Certifire Scheme ensures members’ products will meet the demand for accredited fire doors, provides technical support and advice from BWF, promotional campaigns and support material, and representative support for the industry.

In a development prompted by Fire Door Safety Week, the new Fire Door Alliance will welcome companies certifying their products under the Q-Mark fire door manufacture scheme as well as the Certifire scheme.

The development will build on the core principles of the BWF Certifire scheme – namely that all doors manufactured are covered by certification, so no fire doors are sold outside the scope of certification. Companies joining must complete and maintain a stringent training process and ensure traceability through a consistent scheme labelling system.

David Oldfield, Chairman of the BWF, said: “In the wake of the Hackitt Review, it is more important than ever that we stand together as an industry to ensure that all fire doors supplied in the UK meet the required standard and continue to meet this throughout their service life.

“What we have seen in Fire Door Safety Week is a very positive and proactive approach from an industry – a clear focus on delivering safety and improving understanding. It is vital that this collaborative working spills into our wider work to ensure that we focus together on how we can embrace and build on the principles set down in the Hackitt review, how we deal with the looming challenge of CE Marking and work with our supply chain to ensure all products meet and continue to meet the required performance standards throughout their service life.”