DHF CRACKDOWN ON INCORRECT CE MARKING OF LOCKS

Article first published 08/06/2010

Swift action by the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has led to the withdrawal of CE certification of a Chinese lock that wrongly carried the CE mark.  
 
The DHF, which represents the leading UK manufacturers of locks and door hardware, alerted the Government to the wrongly certified imported lock. It pointed out to them the serious health and safety implications of the incorrect application of the CE mark.  
 
The Chinese lock did not claim to be suitable for use on a fire/smoke-resisting door but nevertheless carried the CE mark. Since only locks intended for use on fire/smoke-resisting doors are regulated under the Construction Products Directive (CPD), this marking appeared to be based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the Directive.  
 
Said DHF Secretary Michael Skelding. who took up the case on behalf of the DHF: “The relevant standard, EN 12209, actually covers locks for all applications, but the CE marking instructions within it are aimed exclusively at locks intended for use on fire/smoke doors - that is, where there is a safety risk to life rather than a risk to, say, property.”  
 
Michael expressed his concerns to a senior civil servant in the Department of Communities and Local Government. The DHF has now been told by the Department that the UK notified body had been contacted by UKAS and had agreed to withdraw the offending certification. This means the lock will no longer carry the CE mark.  
 
“Naturally we’re delighted the Department took up our concerns and has taken this decisive action,” said Michael.  
 
“The point to be stressed in all this is that CE marking under the CPD is only possible for products for the intended end uses specified by the European Commission’s mandate. These are the end uses which pose a health and safety risk.  
 
“The standards, however, may not be limited as to the end use and this can result in a situation where the product falls within the scope of the standard, but outside the scope of the mandate, as it did in this case.”  
 
For more information on CE marking, visit the DHF website, www.dhfonline.org.uk

Article ID No.: 196