To doorset or not to doorset?

Tom Planck, managing director, John Planck

The concept of the ‘doorset’ is nothing new. I recall my father saying years ago that suppliers in the USA shifted from separate door and hardware packages to doorsets, only to revert back again. Despite the increased demand for doorsets in the UK over the past 20 years, the continued prominence of architectural ironmongers speaks volumes.

The sheer variety of projects and sectors across our industry means both approaches can be successful. Equally, the breadth of product choice and design options available today is vast. The rise in popularity of specialist finishes and bespoke designs is not thanks to doorsets, but to the expertise of architectural ironmongers and manufacturers pushing boundaries. The level of choice now available allows design teams to add genuine finesse to their buildings.

Design, however, must never compromise conformity. Certification is paramount and relates to the performance of both the door and its essential hardware – hinges, door closers, lock cases and panic hardware – all of which are independently tested for durability, suitability and fire resistance.

It is a myth that ironmongery must be supplied as part of a single-source doorset to meet certification. This remains untrue, even with the transition from BS476 to EN1634 testing by 2029. Reputable door manufacturers can confirm which performance products are compatible with their doors. Claims that only “their hinge” or “their closer” can be used should be challenged – you do have a choice.

This is where a Registered Architectural Ironmonger (RegAI) adds value. RegAIs maintain up-to-date knowledge of standards and legislation, enabling them to guide design teams through compliance while delivering the aesthetic they want. They are not restricted to a limited in-house range, but can source from a wide spectrum of manufacturers, ensuring correct specification for door weight, frame detail, width and overall design intent.

Ultimately, collaboration between door manufacturers and architectural ironmongers offers the strongest solution. When design teams want control, flexibility and compliance, a RegAI ensures they can truly design their building their way.

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Stewart Lauder, managing director, Allgood

Ironmongery is one of the most important tactile interfaces between a building and its users. Architects have long understood this, using carefully considered hardware to elevate how people experience a space.

Doorsets, however, remain a nuanced subject – and this is exactly where experienced, qualified architectural ironmongers add real value. Their expertise ensures that each project is not only compliant but genuinely tailored to the design intent and the practical needs of architects and contractors.

When specifying hardware, the complexities and nuances cannot be overstated. Each project comes with its distinct set of challenges, and a one-size-fits-all solution often falls short of meeting the unique demands. Qualified architectural ironmongers, with their in-depth understanding of hardware components, provide a bespoke approach that can be adapted to suit the specific needs of a project.

 Architects and designers should therefore feel confident that they are not restricted to off‑the‑shelf doorsets.
They can continue to design and specify exactly what they want, provided compliance is achieved:

1. Fully tested doorsets (door and hardware tested together, both sides, as primary evidence).

2. Alternative hardware chosen under EXAP rules (where additional EN 1634-1 assessed evidence can be incorporated).

3. Alternative hardware assessed to EN 1634 outside EXAP but aligned with emerging PFPF guidance (currently progressing towards a BS standard)..

But it’s important to recognise that the adoption of EN 1634 will make little practical difference to fire safety on site. Most failures arise from poor installation or maintenance, incorrect specification, or products simply not fit for purpose and not because of minor technical differences between BS 476‑22 and EN 1634.

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Phillip Goldberg,  joint managing director Em-B Solutions 

Doorsets assembled in the factory or delivered in kit form to site are increasingly prevalent. And they do certainly offer an efficient, pre-certified and simple procurement route: all attractive in a market that is always under pressure to deliver speed and compliance to a tight budget.

But the door itself is rarely the whole story when it is part of a larger, complex project. Every doorset is a collection of components, and each component carries implications around fire safety, acoustic performance, access control integration, usability and aesthetics. And none of these factors sits in isolation. A change to a single hardware element can affect usability, long-term performance, and, critically, compliance.

This is where the role of the qualified and accredited architectural ironmonger remains pivotal. While a doorset may arrive as a complete unit, the decisions behind its hardware specification should never be generic. How will the door be used? By whom, and how frequently? Does the closer strength truly reflect traffic levels? Is the access control aligned with the fire strategy? Are finishes suitable for the cleaning regime? What is the maintenance plan five years from now?

For example, at Em-B Solutions, we often find that early ironmongery input on complex schemes has exposed issues not immediately apparent from drawings or a schedule alone: hardware combinations that compromise escape requirements, incompatible access control arrangements, and specifications that would struggle under real-world use. Addressing these details at scheduling stage avoided later disruption.

This is not a question of a doorset versus ironmonger bun fight. Doorsets will always form part of a robust compliance strategy. The issue is, in fact, competence. In an environment increasingly shaped by heightened regulatory scrutiny and an emphasis on demonstrable expertise, hardware cannot be treated as a passive or plug-and-play choice. A compliant door is more than a certified assembly. It is the result of informed, accountable specification, and that still demands specialist knowledge.