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Thunkadelic
Gerda Doors’ managing director Danny Williams muses on the features that homeowners look for, compared to what we think is important to them. He...
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Are Cheats Prospering?
The Installer catches up with Asa McGillian, CEO of Apeer, to better understand why the company has invested significant amounts of money testing a range of competitive door products for energy efficiency ratings.
We asked: “You’ve issued a challenge to the door manufacturing sector to be more open with the documentation certifying energy efficiency claims. What is driving factor behind the challenge?”
McGillian said: “There are companies out there that are greenwashing their energy efficiency claims, stating that door products are compliant with strict U-value regulations when they are very clearly not. They are doing this by applying blanket test results for one specific product across a range of doors, giving the impression that all the doors in a range are compliant. This is misleading both for the installer and ultimately the homeowner.
“We couldn’t let this issue lie. It not only erodes the integrity of brands such as our own – it also affects the integrity of the sector as a whole. We all know how misinformation can sow distrust. We see it as crucial to get out the clearer message that every single door product must come with its own certificate of compliancy.”
Testing times
Apeer sent a number of rival door slabs to the TUV Institute Rheinland for independent testing. There, an impartial team undertook full testing to ISO standard ISO8302:1991/EN12667:2001 ‘Determination of Thermal Resistance’. In brief, this gave Apeer the thermal resistance numbers for 44m foam filled, 48mm timber core, 70mm high density foam filled, 70mm hollow monocoque and 100mm high density foam filled slabs.
“It is no surprise to you that the results showed a direct correlation between the thickness, the type and the density of the material,” said McGillian. “We then undertook further testing with IFT Rosenheim who did a side-by-side thermal hot box test with our 70mm high density foam filled door and a hollow monocoque door. The results proved what we had long suspected – whilst our door met the declared U Value of 0.85 W/m²K (we actually declare 0.9 W/m²K), the competitor’s door did not even meet the required minimum U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or anywhere near.
When asked, could this be construed as quite explosive information for a lot of people?
McGillian said: “Absolutely. If anyone is interested in examining the results, we would be happy to show them. Our legal team have advised us not to name names or openly publish the results – which is frustrating, yet equally we don’t want to get into a public spat. But we are very happy to have private conversations with anyone who is concerned about the compliance of the doors they are buying.”
Transparency
McGillian added: “It is essential for the door sector to work more transparently as a whole and to collectively uphold stringent criteria around energy efficiency certifications. The potential repercussions will be both extensive and expensive not just for us as suppliers but right through the supply chain to the homeowners. We have a duty of care to ensure that the products they are buying have more than some vague notion of compliance – rather an independently assessed definite accreditation that is apportioned to that particular door product.
Meeting the standards
All 62 designs of Apeer 70mm door products meet and exceed the Irish and British building regulations of a minimum 1.4 W/m²K for replacement doors and 1.0 W/m²K for new-build doors and all have been third party tested and audited and can be found on the BFRC website. “And if you are in any doubt at all, we have the official paperwork to back up this claim,” added McGillian.
“We have invested thousands in making sure that each and every one of our products are the best they can possibly be. It sticks in my throat that companies can get away with what are downright lies and as a consequence the perception of our own products is diluted by association. An independent foundation exists through this testing – it needs to be better regulated with punitive measures for those who manipulate the truth.”
Pictures: Apeer doors all meet or exceed current regulations and the company has the paperwork to prove it. Can the same be said or your supplier? asks Asa McGillian.
www.apeer.co.uk
Article written by Cathryn Ellis
09th February 2025