Soundcraft supply doorsets for Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames’ Better Homes programme.
The Better Homes programme for Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames started in 2012 and will be completed in 2017. The target for Kingston is to exceed the government’s minimum standard for housing, to provide dwellings that are warmer, better insulated and in a reasonable state of repair with increased security.
The Royal Borough selected Soundcraft for the first and the second phases of its front entrance doors (FED) replacement programme. The selection was based upon meeting health and safety criteria, sustainable sourcing (FSC timber), financial strength, expertise and Secured by Design (SBD) compliance.
Soundcraft’s contract consisted of the manufacture and installation of over 1400 SBD FED doorsets , for both tenants and lease holders.
The FED doorsets installed were high performance, aesthetically pleasing products offering FD30S fire resistance and Secured By Design compliance. Many doorsets included overpanels and sidelights.
The timber was supplied under the FSC® chain of custody scheme run by BM TRADA.
In addition, the specification required that the doors were manufactured under the BM TRADA 3rd Party Certification Schemes for the Manufacture and Installation of Fire Doors
The residents were offered a choice of five colours, and special provisions were made for the most vulnerable and elderly. For example, in some instances, at Soundcraft’s suggestion, the “Winkhaus” AV2 multi point lock was used, as this particular lock has a pull down action to open the door which is easier for the elderly and frail to use.
The installations were boroughwide rather than focused on specific areas, which provided a number of logistical challenges. They took place in a variety of buildings ranging from individual houses to blocks of flats; low rise maisonettes to tower blocks.
Soundcraft Managing Director Rob Thomson said: “We have had nothing but positive feedback both in terms of the quality of product and also the installation.”