Three new guides have been published by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers to make hardware specifiers of additional considerations relating to a post-pandemic world, the IoT, and sustainability.
Based on the RIBA-approved CPD presentations created by the GAI, each guide contains comprehensive product information, diagrams and detail on the relevant building regulations and industry standards. All of the guides are available to download free of charge from the GAI website.
The ‘Ironmongery specification in a post-pandemic world’ specifier’s guide outlines the different types of hardware that can be introduced into buildings to help minimise contact with surfaces without compromising safety or security.
It provides details on specialist closing devices, door automation, access control and anti-microbial devices. It also looks at ancillary products that may be used in more specific areas, such as washrooms, and things to be aware of when retrofitting hardware.
New hardware innovations for smart homes and smart buildings are the focus of the ‘Ironmongery and the impact of the Internet of Things’ specifier’s guide.
It looks at how the rise of interrelated technology is affecting the ironmongery industry, including various smart locking and access control products. The guide includes details on building information modelling (BIM) and how it can benefit projects, as well as the relevant standards that apply to the Internet of Things (IoT), including the BSI Kitemark Scheme for IoT devices that launched in May 2018.
The ‘Ironmongery and the impact of the environment’ specifier’s guide is designed to highlight the environmental impact of construction products, including door hardware. It covers how architectural ironmongers can help to reduce carbon emissions from buildings as well as how they can change their own processes to reduce their effect on the environment.
It covers industry initiatives and programmes including the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) activities, building certification schemes such as BREEAM and LEED, as well as ISO 14001 and other relevant environmental standards. It also discusses the role of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and how these relate to architectural ironmongery specifically.
The GAI now has eight Specifier’s Guides in total covering fire and escape doors, specialist applications, accessibility, security and access control.
www.gai.org.uk/GAISpecGuides
