DHF Hosts A Series Of Bespoke Webinars On UKCA Marking For Its Members

Specifically tailored for members of the ‘Garage Door Group’, the first webinar was delivered via Zoom and hosted by DHF’s Training & Compliance Officer, Nick Perkins.

It served to highlight the pertinent points regarding the replacement of the CE mark following Brexit, relevant to manufacturers and suppliers of domestic garage doors, for example, non-compliant competitors offering cut price hold-to-run powered doors operated by long range radio controls, and the potential problem that existing system three test reports may not be valid between GB, NI & EU. On the latter point, DHF is awaiting clarification from a range of sources, including the UK Construction Products Association, Construction Products Europe, BSI and, indirectly, the UK Government Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

Webinars of a similar nature will follow shortly for DHF’s other groups which cover the locks and building hardware, metal and timber doorsets, industrial doors and shutters, and automated gate sectors. The webinars will seek to provide detailed guidance on what each specific group will need to consider now that CE marking is no longer recognised in the UK.

From 1 January 2021, the new UKCA mark is the only recognised conformity mark for the GB market (although not be recognised in the EU 27 nor in Northern Ireland) and applies to goods placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), replacing the existing CE mark.

During November 2020, DHF hosted a four-part webinar series highlighting the details of the changes, such as moving goods from the EU 27 to GB, and a series of briefing papers were created to guide its members. Now, it is ‘drilling down’ into the particulars, and in so doing, highlighting what each group will need to be aware of going forward, although this information is subject to change.

“Our initial series of webinars, delivered in November, were extremely well-received, and we are delighted with the positive feedback already being received on this one,” says DHF’s General Manager and Secretary, Michael Skelding. “There are obvious complexities surrounding UKCA now that the old CE mark has been replaced, and each group will experience its own unique set of challenges. In delivering a thorough overview of the potential problems for each individual sector, we are confident that our members will be able to navigate the intricacies of the new CE/UKCA marking system in the UK, relevant to their area.”