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Save the date 5th March 2025 for our next showroom event held in association with  Manchester Society of Architects  and  Beplas UK . Are you confident in your compliance with the Building Safety Act?  With evolving regulations, architects and specifiers must stay ahead to ensure fire safety compliance and avoid costly mistakes. The Building Safety Act places greater responsibility on professionals to specify products that meet rigorous fire performance standards - are you certain your choices align with the latest requirements? This exclusive architect CPD event will cover everything you need to know, and is focussed on the latest updates in fire safety regulations , fire testing standards, fire doors and the evolving role of architects. Event agenda: Overview of changes to fire safety regulations and standards. Updates on fire doors and new responsibilities resulting from the Grenfell Inquiry. The phase-out of BS 476 and its impact on fire testing standards. Architects’ roles in ensuring compliance and mitigating risks. There will be presentations and a Q&A with speakers : John Miles, Sweco - Registered Building Inspector Karl Wallasch , Trigon Fire Safety - Fire Engineer Mark Ashmore , Beplas UK - Fire Doors and Hygienic Fire Doors John McCaffrey , Beplas UK - Fire Doors and Hygienic Fire Doors Alex Mamas DipGAI , MD, Poole Waite & Co Ltd Why should you attend this Architect CPD? Stay informed about critical regulatory updates impacting fire safety and compliance. Network with industry experts and gain practical guidance from presentations and Q&A sessions. Earn 2 hours of CPD credit under ARB and RIBA Core Curriculum . Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out! Secure your place today. Event held in association with Manchester Society of Architects and Beplas UK. Event details Date: Wednesday 5th March 2025 Time: 1700-1930 Entry: Free Location: 8 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AN

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!

Think about the last time you flew on an airplane. Before take-off, the crew gives a clear, simple safety briefing - how to fasten your seatbelt, where the exits are, and what to do in an emergency. Every airline follows these instructions without compromise , because in a crisis, there’s no room for error . In a crisis there's no room for error. Fire doors work the same way. They are life-saving systems , designed to contain fire and smoke , giving people time to escape. But just like an emergency exit on a plane, a fire door is only as good as the components that make it work . If the wrong ironmongery - hinges, locks, closers, latches - is used, the door may not function, putting lives at risk. With the Building Safety Act  and the Golden Thread , it’s now critical that specifiers, contractors, and building owners  ensure that every piece of ironmongery used on a fire door is compliant, tested, and properly marked . The alternative? A door that fails when it’s needed most. Fire Doorsets vs. Fire Door Assemblies: what’s the difference? To ensure fire doors perform correctly, it's important to distinguish between fire doorsets and fire door assemblies: Fire Doorsets : These are factory-prepared, fully tested units supplied as a complete system, including the door, frame, seals, glazing, and ironmongery. They are tested and certified as a whole to meet fire resistance requirements (e.g., FD30, FD60). Fire Door Assemblies : These are made up of individually tested components that are assembled on-site. The door leaf, frame, and ironmongery may be from different manufacturers, and each component must have independent fire test evidence to ensure compliance. Many fire doors in buildings are assemblies rather than complete doorsets, making it essential that every part used - especially ironmongery - meets fire performance standards. Key compliance markings for Fire-Rated Ironmongery When specifying ironmongery for fire doors, it’s essential to check the right markings  to ensure compliance. Here’s a simple guide to what each marking means and why it matters: 1. CE & UKCA Marking – The Legal Standard Fire-rated hinges, locks, latches, and door closers must carry either the CE mark (for EU compliance) or the UKCA mark (for UK compliance). These confirm that the product meets safety and performance standards under construction regulations. Without these marks, the product should not be used on a fire door. 2. Door Closers – BS EN 1154 Every fire door needs an approved self-closing device to ensure it shuts automatically in a fire. BS EN 1154 is the standard that guarantees door closers are tested for performance, durability, and fire resistance. Only closers with CE or UKCA certification should be specified. 3. Hinges – BS EN 1935 Fire-rated hinges must be strong enough to hold the door in place under extreme heat. BS EN 1935 is the standard that ensures hinges are fire-resistant and durable. For commercial fire doors, Grade 13 or above is required. 4. Locks & Latches – BS EN 12209 A fire door is only effective if it stays secure during a fire. BS EN 12209 ensures locks and latches can withstand high temperatures without failing. Using non-tested locks risks them failing under heat, allowing fire and smoke to spread. 5. Panic & Emergency Exit Devices – BS EN 1125 & BS EN 179 For escape routes, fire-rated doors must have panic or emergency exit devices that function under fire conditions. BS EN 1125 applies to panic bars (push bars used in public buildings). BS EN 179 covers push pads for buildings where people know the escape routes. If these devices are not fire-rated, they may malfunction in an emergency, delaying evacuation.     Why do Fire Door Ironmongery markings matter for fire door safety? Without properly tested ironmongery, a fire door can fail when it’s needed most. Checking these compliance marks ensures that every part of the door is designed to resist fire, maintain integrity, and protect lives. Don’t assume - always check.  If a component lacks the correct certification, it doesn’t belong on a fire door.   The Risk of Non-Compliant Fire Door Ironmongery Products Using substandard or untested ironmongery introduces serious risks: ❌  Doors may not self-close , allowing fire and smoke to spread. ❌  Locks or latches may fail , trapping occupants inside. ❌  Hinges may weaken , leading to door collapse under heat. ❌  Escape hardware may malfunction , delaying evacuation. A fire door that fails to perform due to incorrect ironmongery is not just a legal issue - it can mean the difference between life and death. Specifier Responsibilities Under the Building Safety Act With the Building Safety Act  and the Golden Thread , accountability has never been higher . Specifiers and contractors must ensure that: ✔  Only fully tested, CE/UKCA-marked fire door ironmongery  is specified. ✔  Full documentation and fire test evidence is retained for traceability. ✔  Installers follow regulations , ensuring correct fitting of compliant hardware. Responsibility does not end with specification —building owners and facility managers must also maintain fire doors and ensure ironmongery remains functional  over time. Just like airline safety protocols, fire door compliance must be clear and followed without compromise. Conclusion: Fire Safety is About Details Just like airline safety protocols, fire door compliance must be clear, consistent, and followed without compromise . There’s no room for assumptions, cost-cutting, or non-compliant substitutions. In an emergency, fire doors are one of the last barriers between safety and catastrophe . That’s why the correct ironmongery, markings, and installation  matter. And as in every flight safety briefing, one rule always applies: Ensure your own oxygen mask is fitted first before helping others. Ensuring compliance isn’t just a duty - it’s about protecting yourself, your reputation, and most importantly, people’s lives .

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 .

Ilona Rose House Location: London, UK Type: Commercial Office Block Date: 2023 We are proud to have supplied bespoke, Antimicrobial Matt Black ironmongery for the common areas and fit out of Ilona Rose House. A stunningly original vision by architects MATT Architecture for Soho Estates Limited , fitted out by Faithdean Plc & Choice Interior Solutions. This ironmongery has been coated using our unique blended formula, which has been tested to ISO 21702 and proven to kill COVID-19, MRSA, E. coli and many more harmful bacteria and viruses.

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.