Donaldson Doors

Back in September we took in part the British Woodworking Federation’s Fire Door Safety Week to raise awareness of the critical role that fire doors play in saving lives and protecting property in the unfortunate event of a fire.

In the event of a fire, every second counts. And when it comes to people having time to get to safety (or be able to safely await rescue) the right certified fire door can make all the difference by delaying the spread of fire throughout a building. Depending on which door you install, that could be up to an hour’s fire resistance and smoke control.

Third party certified fire doors offer tried and tested protection – the ultimate peace of mind. As members of the BWF Fire Door Alliance, Certifire and Q-Mark scheme (which provide third party certification for fire doors), all our doors meet the highest safety standards and carry the certification to prove it.

We’re one of only a small number of verified fire door suppliers in Scotland – and every fire door we supply is certified – so when you buy from us you do so safe in the knowledge that your fire doors and door sets will perform as they should in the event of a fire.

In order to maintain our certified status, we undergo regular audits. As members of the BWF Certifire & Q-Mark Scheme a unique identification system also means that each doors journey through the supply chain, to the manufacture of the door leaf and the modification and production of the door set, all the way through to its end use is fully traceable.

Fire Door Safety Week is an important event for all those involved in the housebuilding industry but raising awareness of fire door safety must happen all year round. Get in touch with one of our experts for advice about your fire door today: https://donaldsondoorsystems.co.uk/get-in-touch/

Scotland’s leading joinery manufacturer of door sets, Donaldson Door Systems (DDS), has appointed Billy Cameron as Director of the business, and he will join the board.

Billy brings 26 years’ experience in the industry and has had multiple positions with the business in that time. He first joined as a forklift driver in 1997, and then managed both the timber yard and the transportation before later moving into account sales. After that, Billy took a role at head office, managing the fledgling joinery side of the business.

Billy’s appointment will see him continue to take involvement in the day-to-day running of DDS’ site in Plains, North Lanarkshire, along with developing the strategic long-term plan for the company. As Director, Billy will continue to support the team’s growth.

DDS specialises in manufacturing, merchanting and supplying internal and external door sets, as well as staircases. DDS is dedicated to delivering quality, exceptional service and product innovation. With vast experience and knowledge of joinery, DDS holds Secured By Design accreditation and is the only company in Scotland to be both Q Mark and Certifire certified.

Commenting on the appointment, Luke Roberts, Managing Director of Donaldson Door Systems, said: “I am delighted for Billy and I am very pleased about his new role at DDS. He has a wealth of experience and is a real asset to our company and our customers; his outstanding product knowledge is unrivalled, and he has dedicated his whole career to enabling us to be the largest door set manufacturer in Scotland. With Billy’s leadership and understanding, we know that the future is bright for DDS and we’re looking forward to seeing the direction that takes us in.”

Billy added: “I am excited to take on my new role as Director for Donaldson Door Systems. I am grateful for the last 26 years of my career and for all the opportunities that have come my way, and I take huge pride in our full range of highly customised joinery services.

“During my time in the business, the workforce has grown from under 20 staff to now over 80, and in this time, there’s also been investment, improvement in the factory, and financial growth. I’m lucky to be on this journey now with the Donaldson Group as one of Scotland’s leading joinery manufacturers of door sets and staircases. I am committed to developing the people within DDS to ensure we continue to meet the high-quality service that our customers have come to know and trust from us, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with my brilliant team to develop the site in North Lanarkshire.”

The news comes following Donaldson Door Systems’ rebrand in 2022 from Rowan Manufacturing Ltd after its acquisition by the Donaldson Group in 2020. The company was established in 1979.

Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the 163-year-old Donaldson Group comprises a total of 17 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK from 46 locations employing over 1,700 people. The businesses that make up the Group trade and operate independently, sharing best practice, innovation, purchasing synergies, and market analysis.

Do you know where your fire doors came from? Could you access the paperwork that would track their journey from manufacture or modification, right through to the present day if you had to? Can you quickly and easily find the details of any replacement parts you need for maintenance on a particular door while you’re on site? A simple little label on the top edge of your fire door can make all this possible – it’s just one of the many advantages of opting for third-party certified fire doors in your build.

We’re members of the BWF Fires Door Alliance and Certifire Scheme, so as well as the peace of mind that comes with knowing that our doors meet industry standards, they also carry the reassurance of full traceability. This means that the full history of the door, including full certification details, is always available to you. It even means that you can quickly source the spec of any components that may need to be replaced, safe in the knowledge that the parts will not only be compatible with the door, but that they will meet the necessary standards to ensure that the door remains compliant.

The BWF-CERTIFIRE label or Q-Mark plug is a simple and effective way of being able to trace and track your door back to its manufacturer and – where appropriate – access its certification (and other key details) quickly and easily. A label with details such as the manufacturer’s name, the door’s fire rating, and a unique reference number for that specific door is placed on the top edge of the door, meaning that every aspect of the door’s journey through the supply chain is trackable.

As these details are tied to each door for the duration of its use, the label should remain in place throughout the door’s operating life, but in the event of accidental damage or wear and tear making the details illegible, a replacement label can be supplied; you’ll need to submit paperwork such as receipts and an inspection may be required to confirm the door’s origin.

If you want the assurance that comes with being able to access all the details of each door you install in your next build – plus the other benefits of fitting third party certified fire doors – talk to our team, who’ll be happy to provide more details or help you source the right doors for the job.

In the event of a fire, every second counts. And when it comes to people having time to get to safety (or be able to safely await rescue) the right certified fire door can make all the difference by delaying the spread of fire throughout a building. Depending on which door you install, that could be up to an hour’s fire resistance and smoke control.

Third party certified fire doors offer tried and tested protection – the ultimate peace of mind. As members of the BWF Fire Door Alliance, Certifire and Q-Mark scheme (which provide third party certification for fire doors), all our doors meet the highest safety standards and carry the certification to prove it.

We’re one of only a small number of verified fire door suppliers in Scotland – and every fire door we supply is certified – so when you buy from us you do so safe in the knowledge that your fire doors and door sets will perform as they should in the event of a fire.

In order to maintain our certified status, we undergo regular audits. As members of the BWF Certifire & Q-Mark Scheme a unique identification system also means that each doors journey through the supply chain, to the manufacture of the door leaf and the modification and production of the door set, all the way through to its end use is fully traceable.

Choosing a certified fire door is just the start – for it to provide effective, lifesaving protection, it needs to be properly installed. When fitting a fire door make sure that the gaps around the perimeter are no more than 4mm, and that the door frame is undamaged and securely attached to the wall. You should also ensure that the gap between the floor and the bottom of the door is no more than 10mm and check that the correct intumescent or combined intumescent smoke seals have been fitted to the door.

It goes without saying that fire doors should never be wedged or propped open, even briefly – they need to be closed to work – so, if you’re able to do so, make sure that the people who will be using or managing the building know this.

If you’d like to know more about our range of fire doors, give our expert team a call or explore our range online.