BS 644 to be Amended to Cover Both Windows and External Doorsets

We have been working on the contents of a Standard that will cover the manufacture of external timber doorsets in the same way that BS 644 covers the manufacture of timber windows. This Standard is required to act as the UK application document complementing BS EN 14351-1, the European Product Standard for windows and external doorsets, and it is required to allow PAS 23 to be withdrawn. Many Members have already seen drafts of this Standard during its evolution from an extension of BS 4787-1, providing up-to-date information on dimensionally co-ordinated construction, through a standard covering both internal and external doorsets, to the most recent draft, which was reviewed in the combined windows and doors technical committee meeting held in May. During a recent meeting of the combined BSI Standards Committees B/538/1 and 2, it was agreed that rather than continue as a separate Standard, the information relating to external doorsets should be included in the Standard for timber windows, BS 644. This would bring BS 644 in line with BS 7412 and BS 4873, which cover windows and external doorsets manufactured in PVC-U and aluminium alloy respectively. We have also been asked to review DD 171 and, if possible, its incorporation into the amendment of BS 644. This standard is a guide to specifying door assemblies and includes some test methods and performance requirements that have been incorporated into PAS 23. Some test houses currently provide manufacturers performance information for their doorsets based on testing in accordance with DD 171. In parallel to the doorsets amendment, we have been working to better define the requirements for paint finishes more clearly and these will also be included in this amendment to BS 644. The amendments to the requirements for the preservation of the components of windows and doorsets, covering superficial preservative systems, such as those which can be applied, by flow-coating, are to be considered for an amendment to BS 8417, which gives recommendations for the preservation of timber and is currently being reviewed by BSI Standards Committee B/515