CI/SfB

(32.59) Xt7
June 2009

best practice guide

Hardware for sliding doors and folding doors to

BS EN 1527

in association with

Permission to reproduce extracts from

BS EN 1527: 1998
is granted by BSI.
 DHF Best practice guide: Hardware for sliding doors and folding doors to BS EN 1527

• DHF BEST PRACTICE GUIDES

This publication is one of a series of guides addressing
the major issues that should be considered when
specifying, ordering or using the products it describes. It
aims to provide the reader with a concise document
summarising the relevant sections from the new
European product standard. The reader will then be in a
position to seek further specialist advice where
necessary and recognise GENUINE conformity to the
new standards.

• BS EN 1527: Hardware for sliding

doors and folding doors
This standard covers most of the main types of sliding Straight sliding door.
and sliding/folding applications, giving details of product
performance criteria, test apparatus, testing methods,
door mass, durability, fire and corrosion resistance.

The published standard details the test criteria and

includes illustrations clarifying the test methods and the
points made.

Extracts from BS EN 1906 are reproduced with the

permission of the British Standards Institution under
licence number 2003/SK0014. BSI publications can be
obtained from BSI Customer Services, 389 Chiswick
High Road, London W4 4AL Tel +44 (0)20 8996 9001
Email: [email protected].

• SCOPE
Sliding/folding door.
This standard specifies requirements for the principal
components for most sliding and sliding/folding doors
but excludes the doors and panels themselves.

Products included within the standard are:

Straight sliding systems

- top hung
- bottom rolling (panels over 100 kg)

Sliding/folding doors

Multi-panel folding doors

The standard does not cover bottom-rolling systems

where the door weight is less than 100 kg and certain
types of folding systems. Multi-panel folding door.
 DHF Best practice guide: Hardware for sliding doors and folding doors to BS EN 1527

Digit 4
• CLASSIFICATION
Fire resistance
BS EN 1527 classifies sliding door gear by using a 9
Two grades of fire resistance are identified:
digit coding system. A similar classification applies to all
building hardware product standards so that
- grade 0: not approved for use on fire door assemblies
complementary items of hardware can be specified to,
- grade 1: suitable for fire/smoke resistant door
for instance, a common level of corrosion resistance,
assemblies subject to satisfactory assessment of the
category of use, etc. Each digit refers to a particular
contribution of the hardware for sliding doors and folding
feature of the product measured against the standard's
doors to the fire resistance of the specified fire/smoke
performance requirements.
door assemblies. Such assessment is beyond the scope
of this European standard (see EN 1634-1).
The DHF recommends the use of graphic icons to
enhance clarity of information and has devised a system
Digit 5
to facilitate assimilation of the various product
Safety
classifications. Each feature within the product
No requirements
classification is represented by an icon comprising four
elements; Symbol, Grade/Type, Range/Options and
Digit 6
Box:-
Corrosion resistance
Box
Symbol
Five possible grades are identified, classified in
Grade/Type 2 accordance with BS EN 1670.
Range/Options (1-6)
- grade 0: no defined corrosion resistance
The icon above is for a product which meets Grade 2 in
- grade 1: low resistance
the Durability classification, where EN 1527 stipulates a
- grade 2: moderate resistance
range of four possible grades from 1 to 6.
- grade 3: high resistance
- grade 4: very high resistance
Full details on the DHF graphic icons system can be
Grade 0 also applies to products for which a defined
found at www.dhfonline.org.uk
corrosion resistance is not relevant and to those that
have not been tested.
Digit 1
Category of use
Digit 7
No grade identified for these products.
Security
No requirements
Digit 2
Durability
Digit 8
Durability is measured by the number of openings
Category of door
(cycles) performed by the gear under standard test
Three types of door are covered by the standard:
conditions. All parts must remain in serviceable
condition throughout the test and no adjustment is
- grade 1: straight sliding door
allowed. Fittings are required to pass the Initial Friction
- grade 2: sliding/folding door
Test (Digit 9) both before and after the durability test.
- grade 3: multi-panel folding door
The six grades are:

Digit 9
- grade 1: 2 500 cycles
Initial friction
- grade 2: 5 000 cycles
This is the measurement of the amount of force required
- grade 3: 10 000 cycles
to start the movement of the door. The grade allocated
- grade 4: 25 000 cycles
is variable depending upon the weight of the door.
- grade 5: 50 000 cycles
Weight 0-50 kg 51-100 kg 101-330 kg Over 330 kg
- grade 6: 100 000 cycles
Grade 1 50 N 80 N 100 N 5%*
Grade 2 40 N 60 N 5%* 4%*
Digit 3
Grade 3 30 N 40 N 4%* 3%*
Door weight
* % of door weight
Four grades are identified:

- grade 1: up to 50 kg
- grade 2: from 51 kg to 100 kg
- grade 3: from 101 kg to 330 kg
- grade 4: over 330 kg
 DHF Best practice guide: Hardware for sliding doors and folding doors to BS EN 1527

• EXAMPLE
The following marking denotes hardware suitable for
use on a straight sliding door with a weight between 51
kg and 100 kg with no category of use, durability tested
to 10 000 cycles, no fire resistance, no safety
requirements, no defined corrosion resistance, no
security requirement and having initial friction equal to
or less than 60 N.

- 3 2 0 - 0 - 1 2
(-) (1-6) (1-4) (0/1) (-) (0-4) (-) (1-3) (1-3)

• MARKING
Hangers manufactured to this standard should be
marked with the following:

a) The manufacturer’s name or trade mark

b) Product identification

The identification should, where possible, be shown on

the product. Alternatively, it should be on the packaging.
The classification illustrated above may also be
included.

• CE marking
BS EN 1527 has not been designated as a
British standards can be obtained from
harmonised product standard under the Construction
BSI Customer Services,
Products Directive, and therefore CE Marking of
389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL
hardware for sliding doors and folding doors is NOT
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9001
permitted.
E-mail: [email protected]
 Additional important considerations
In addition to ensuring that products satisfy the
requirements of this standard, other factors should be
• CONFORMITY
Conformity to the standard must be clearly and
taken into consideration when selecting sliding door
unequivocally stated. Such phrases as “tested to .....”,
gear. These not only include sourcing products from a “designed to conform to......”, “approved to”, are not
reputable manufacturer, but also quality assurance, sufficient. To avoid misleading or confusing claims it is
support services and unequivocal conformity to the recommended that one of the following phrases is used
standard as detailed below: when stating conformity:
a) This product has been successfully type-tested for
• QUALITY ASSURANCE conformity to all the requirements of BS EN 1527. Test
The internationally recognised standard for quality reports and/or certificates are available upon request.
assurance, BS EN ISO 9000 provides confidence that
b) This product has been successfully type-tested for
the products are being manufactured to a consistent
conformity to all the requirements of BS EN 1527
quality level. All ABHM members operate recognised including the additional requirements for fire door use.
BS EN ISO 9000 Quality Assurance Schemes. Test reports and/or certificates are available upon request.
Companies displaying this symbol are c) This product has been successfully type-tested for
registered under the BSI Registered Firm conformity to all the requirements of BS EN 1527
Scheme. including the additional requirements for fire door use.
Regular audit testing is undertaken. Test reports
and/or certificates are available upon request.
It is recommended that an ARGE Declaration of
Compliance is also completed, as this gives a clear
and unambiguous method of demonstrating test
evidence and compliance.
• SUPPORT SERVICE
The correct specification and installation of sliding door gear is essential to ensure that it is able to operate efficiently
within the performance level described in this standard. Specialist advice is available from the following ABHM
members in support of their products from specification stage, through supply to effective operation on site.
PC Henderson Limited Hillaldam Coburn Limited
Tel: 0191 377 0701 Fax: 0191 377 1309 Tel: 0181 336 1515 FreeFax: 0800 616623
http://www.pchenderson.com http://www.coburn.co.uk/
e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
DHF PROFILE
The Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) was created by a The DHF and its members have consistently risen to the
merger between the Association of Building Hardware challenges posed by an ever-changing market, creating
Manufacturers (ABHM) and the Door and Shutter products which meet the needs of a changing world and
Manufacturers Association (DSMA), both of which have developing performance standards alongside national and
established excellent reputations in their respective industries, international organisations, such as BSI and CEN, which enable
particularly in the area of technical expertise and the the industry to select and compare products with confidence.
development of performance standards in national and
international arenas. The federation now represents the interests of manufacturers
and installers of industrial, pedestrian and garage doors as well
The DHF aims to build on these reputations by exploiting the as manufacturers of locks and building hardware. It provides
synergies that exist between the two associations and professionals in all sectors of the building industry with a single
combining their technical and financial resources to provide a source for technical expertise and creates a more powerful and
unified, authoritative voice for the entire industry. representative lobbying force, with the ultimate aim of assuring
progress and maintaining standards throughout the industry.

British Hardware Federation Guild of Architectural Ironmongers

BHF represents some 3,500 ironmongery, hardware and DIY Founded in 1961, the Guild represents 95% of bona fide distributors
shops in the United Kingdom. In addition, it embraces the within the UK and the majority of manufacturers of architectural
Independent Builders Merchants Service, a specialist division of ironmongery. The Guild serves to further all aspects of architectural
the Federation. ironmongery by promoting the interchange of information to
encourage better product design and high professional standards of
Builders Merchants’ Federation
ironmongery scheduling and specification.
The Builders Merchants’ Federation represents the majority of
bona fide merchants in the UK. Its members have a combined Master Locksmiths Association
turnover of £6 billion a year. Members range from large nationals The MLA is recognised by the Home Office, Police and The British
to small independents. Standards Institution as being the authoritative body for
locksmithing. It was formed to promote the membership to Central
and Local Governments, Industry, Commerce and the Public.

42 Heath Street
Tamworth
Staffs B79 7JH
Tel: Tamworth (01827) 52337
Fax: Tamworth (01827) 310827
DHF e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.dhfonline.org.uk

Unless stated otherwise, references in this document to BS EN 1527 refer to BS EN 1527: 1998.
Information in this guide is correct at time of publication and intended for guidance only. Information may since have changed and readers should consult the appropriate standards
and authorities to confirm its veracity.