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Last month, our Managing Director, Alex Mamas Dip GAI, MGAI, RegAI , was approached by a London university to undertake an invasive fire door ironmongery inspection. The alarming results revealed an all-too-common lack of understanding when it comes to choosing ironmongery for fire doors, which puts lives at risk. Case study: fire door ironmongery inspection conducted at a London university   The university advised that over the last two years (and still ongoing) they had spent a significant amount with a contractor who specialises in the installation of fire doors. This was to install many new door sets and carry out remedial works needed on existing doors. The door assemblies were purchased from a large, very well-known door manufacturer, who have their fire doors tested to BS 476 Part 22. This company specify the standards that each ironmongery product must comply with to enable the fire door certification to be valid. To assist with this, they provide an installation guide to accompany the self-certification certificate. This certificate is signed by the contractor and then passed onto the end user/ building owner once the door has been installed. Within the university campus there was a combination of FD30 and FD60 doors installed.  Alex undertook his inspection, checking components such as: Door hinges Locks and latches Door closing mechanisms, both surface mounted and concealed Lever action flush bolt Door handles Fire door seals and signage The findings: an alarming truth uncovered In brief the findings, which were quite alarming, were as follows: Hinges At least 40% of the fire doors inspected had either no intumescent hinge pads or had the incorrect thickness pad fitted.   Locks and latches Many of the fire doors either had no intumescent kits installed or they were of the wrong thickness. The fire door manufacturer clearly specifies within the installation guide that a material thickness of 1mm for FD30 doors and 2mm for FD60 doors is required. Where fitted, the fire door installer had used 0.8mm on all door types.   Door closing mechanisms Budget “rack and pinion” overhead surface mounted door closers were fitted. Whilst these have been tested to BS EN 1154 and are Warrington Certifire approved, this is only when fitted in the Fig.1 application (fitted PULL side). However, the manufacturer of the door closer supplies, as standard, a Fig. 6 bracket (fitted PUSH side) which, when installed this way, has no fire door certification.    In addition to this issue, when undertaking random checks using a newton meter gauge none of the closers met the requirements of the Equality Act BS 8300 approved by Document M. This requires the force needed to open the door to be at a level to allow people with disabilities to use the door. All doors failed, needing more force than allowed to be opened.   Also, many of the FD60 doors had been installed with the Synergy S1036 concealed door closer. Every unit inspected was missing its mono ammonium phosphate intumescent gasket set.   Flush bolts These need to comply with BS EN 12051. There are only a couple of manufacturers which supply flush bolts with this standard. This is then laser etched on the reverse of the product. None of the flush bolts inspected had the BS EN standard or any intumescent kits installed.     Lever handles Within the certification and installation guide it states that lever handles must comply with BS EN 1906. This is an 8 digit coding system where the door handle undergoes various tests including fire resistance, durability and corrosion.   The lever handles installed by the fire door installer were a known product, however they have no test data. When checking with the UK distributor they confirmed that it had NOT been tested to any BS EN standard.   Alex then spoke again with the door manufacturer, who confirmed that if the lever handle has not been tested to the standard required then the door assembly will NOT have a valid fire door certificate. Signs and seals It was noted that there was a lack of drop-down smoke seals and intumescent seals to many fire only and fire and smoke doors. There were also pairs of doors fitted with Dorma EMB electro-magnetic hold open floor springs which, when the fire alarm is sounded, closes the door automatically. These doors had been fitted with “Fire door keep shut” signs rather than the correct “Automatic fire door keep clear” signs.   How can you to avoid the consequences of non-compliant fire door ironmongery?   Unfortunately, this visit is just one of many similar ones Alex has undertaken which clearly illustrates the lack of understanding when it comes to choosing ironmongery for fire doors. Too often cheap, non-compliant products are fitted.   It is important to speak with professionals within the industry, who are members of the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI), who can give correct and detailed advice before specifying or buying ironmongery and do not rely on a brief description found on the Internet, in a catalogue or verbal advice given from non-qualified or inexperienced individuals. View our requirements of a fire door guide for additional information. Alex has over 40 years’ experience within the industry and obtained his Guild of Architectural Ironmongery Diploma after taking a four year course. Indeed, within the technical sales team of at Poole Waite we have over 191  years of experience within the architectural ironmongery trade and ensure we keep fully up to date with the frequent changes in Standards.   If you ever need assistance with any ironmongery related issue, please do make contact to ensure you obtain correct and proper advice.

Define the entrance to any office space with individually styled pull handles, engineered in the UK to your own design. The entrance handle serves as the first impression of your space, presenting a prime opportunity to exhibit your brand to visitors from the instant they touch the door. Designing the bespoke entrance handles for our new showroom Our brand new, prestigious showroom and trade counter has opened in the heart of Clerkenwell. As a long-standing ironmonger celebrating 89 years of trading in 2024, we wanted to make an impact with the new entrance handles for our showroom. Considering the importance of first impressions, it was evident that our handle needed to be distinctive. The design, conceptualised by our Managing Director, Alex Mamas, was meticulously sketched to outline the vision for the handles. The letters 'POOLE WAITE' with a nod to our history 'EST 1935' were featured in the design. This initial idea was refined and rendered into a 3D design using specialised software to visualise the final product in its true dimensions. The design features a flat bar handle with square ends and straight offset square section legs. It was ultimately approved and produced using stainless steel with waterjet cutting technology to achieve precise and clean edges. The completed entrance pull handles have been installed on the door, creating a striking impression to all visitors from the moment the door is touched. Create bespoke entrance door handles for your building Our team can expertly craft a bespoke handle for your offices and building entrances. We offer a sleek Eco-friendly Matt Black powder coating with our unique antimicrobial additive. Contact our sales department to explore tailored entrance handle options for your space. Our Matt Black Antimicrobial finish is proven to reduce harmful microbes, including MRSA and E. coli, by as much as 99.99%, and is proven effective against the COVID-19 virus through independent laboratory testing to ISO 21702. The Matt Black coated finishes incorporate the latest low energy powder technology from Akzonobel (Interpon 610E) estimated to have a 29% embodied carbon saving when assessed against similar products powder coated overseas. Tested to ISO 14025. Visit our new architectural ironmongery showroom to see our bespoke entrance handles in action! There has never been a better time to visit our new showroom. Whether you are an existing client or a potential new customer, we are excited to welcome you and show you the best in architectural ironmongery. Explore our product ranges, enjoy a coffee with our team, and discover how we can help bring your vision to life. Join us at 8 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, EC1M 7AN . You’ll find us next door to Pret A Manger, a short walk from the Barbican or Farringdon Underground Stations, (Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Circle lines) and 7-10 minutes walk from Old Street Underground (Northern Line). All of these stations provide easy access to London’s mainline stations. We look forward to welcoming you soon!

We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of Poole Waite & Co Ltd’s brand new, purpose-built architectural ironmongery showroom! Located just 20 metres from our old premises, our new home at 8 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, EC1M 7AN , is ready to welcome you. If you visited the City of London for the recent Clerkenwell Design Week, you might have seen the balloons and bubbles as we kick-started the next chapter of Poole Waite! But if you've not yet had the opportunity to do so, why not take a tour inside and enjoy a coffee with our sales team? A proud legacy in architectural ironmongery continues 2024 is a historic year for us as we celebrate 89 years of trading as one of the oldest architectural ironmongers in the UK. Originally founded in 1935 by Mr Poole and Mr Frederick Wille Waite, our original showroom was opened at 129 Grays Inn Road. Our history is rich, but our eyes are firmly set on the future. We invite you to join us at our new showroom and be part of the next exciting chapter of Poole Waite & Co Ltd. Explore our comprehensive range of ironmongery Our modern showroom and specifier hub showcases an impressive array of architectural ironmongery products designed for various commercial and residential projects. Whether you are outfitting offices, hotels, schools, restaurants, or residential homes, we have the right product for you. Our product highlights include: Office Fit-Out and Refurbishment Hardware Bobrick Washroom Products Fire Door Ironmongery Eco-friendly Low Carbon Footprint Ranges  (ISO-certified, available in Matt Black and Matt White) We also feature a broad selection of ironmongery tailored for house builders, buy-to-let, and residential properties, including products from the Heritage Brass and Carlisle Brass ranges in a wide array of finishes. How can Poole Waite & Co Ltd assist your business? Our showroom isn’t just a display space; it’s a collaborative environment where you, your design team, and your clients can find inspiration and support for your projects. We’re delighted to offer our showroom for hire, making it an ideal venue for talks, presentations, and events. Enjoy our coffee and WC facilities, and let us know if you require any additional refreshments. Educational opportunities We are committed to education and knowledge sharing. That’s why we offer CPDs and ‘Lunch & Learn’ events covering a wide range of technical topics, including: Eco-friendly products Rejuvenated and upcycled hardware Selecting and specifying the correct fire door ironmongery Antimicrobial coated products Latest UKCA and BSEN standards These sessions are designed to keep you and your team up-to-date with the latest industry trends and innovations. Did you know? Our internal sales team, all of whom have spent a large portion of their professional career with us, have a combined architectural ironmongery experience of 191 years! Visit our new architectural ironmongery showroom in London There has never been a better time to visit our new showroom. Whether you are an existing client or a potential new customer, we are excited to welcome you and show you the best in architectural ironmongery. Explore our product ranges, enjoy a coffee with our team, and discover how we can help bring your vision to life. Join us at 8 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, EC1M 7AN . You’ll find us next door to Pret A Manger, a short walk from the Barbican or Farringdon Underground Stations, (Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Circle lines) and 7-10 minutes walk from Old Street Underground (Northern Line). All of these stations provide easy access to London’s mainline stations. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Hillside House Location: North Hertfordshire, UK Type: Residential Date: 2007 New build home by architects Jeremy King Architects for a retired couple on a plot of land situated in a central village location in North Hertfordshire. The accommodation included four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a generous living space, a separate drawing room, office and double garage. The project was featured in Grand Designs Magazine. Ironmongery supplied by Poole Waite & Co Ltd Main contractor Conamar Building Services Images by Charlotte Wood

Waltham Forest Town Hall Location: Walthamstow, London, UK Type: Heritage Listed building / Public and civic Date: 2022 Poole Waite restored the original ironmongery for this Grade II listed town hall, including door pull handles and finger plates. Works were completed on behalf of Washroom Washroom , working with the main contractors ISG . The refurbishment of the building was overseen by architects Hawkins\Brown .

Old Gramophone Works Location: Grand Union Canal, London, UK Type: Commercial Office Units Date: 2021 Graham Construction & Poole Waite lead the way with antimicrobial ironmongery at this former vinyl factory alongside the Grand Union Canal. Fire Door Experts Ltd working with Graham Construction and architects Studio RHE , supplied and fit Antimicrobial Ironmongery from Poole Waite. Standard ironmongery was included in the original specification, but Graham (the main contractor) saw this high profile refurb project as an ideal opportunity to add the extra protection of Antimicrobial Ironmongery for the building's future users. The ironmongery was part of a timber door package for 135 fire door-sets, comprising a mix of non-fire rated, FD30 and FD60 factory finished timber fire doors and frames from specialist door manufacturer, Humphrey & Stretton plc.