Fire door manufacturers reported increased sales of timber fire doors between April and June, compared with the previous three months. The percentage of manufacturers reporting improved sales was 45% with 5% showing a decrease and 50% remaining the same. The difference between the companies reporting an increase over those reporting a decrease is the net balance expressed as a percentage. A positive net balance indicates growth, zero implies little change.

On this basis, a net 40% of manufacturers increased sales in the second quarter, compared with the previous quarter. More than half (56%) of manufacturers recorded growth greater than 10%. Growth was split evenly between medium and large companies, and manufacturers in the Midlands fared better.

The net percentage of manufacturers that reported higher sales for the second quarter, compared with the same time last year, was 30% with 38% showing an increase greater than 10%. Small companies were ahead with 50% reporting sales growth. Manufacturers in the south picked up, with 46% recording an increase followed by the Midlands with 25%. Among manufacturers selling more than an average of 1,000 fire doors a month, 27% increased sales.

Timber fire doors with a rating of FD30 accounted for 80% of sales in the last 12 months, with 60-minute rated doors capturing 17% and FD90 and FD120 the remaining 3%.

One quarter of manufacturers said they increased sales of FD30 fire doors in the past 12 months and 30% sold more FD60s during the same period.

&#8220Enabling the easy specification and procurement of performance doorsets will be the key to ensuring fire doorsets retain their market-leading position in the prevention of the spread of fire in a constantly changing market place
”

Marian Thomasson, group marketing manager LS Group Ltd, Nottingham

Strong sales forecasts

Sales forecasts are strong with 55% of manufacturers expecting to sell more between July and September, compared with the previous quarter. Medium size firms and companies in the Midlands are particularly positive with 75% expecting higher sales.

The pattern is the same for year on year forecasts with 55% expecting sales to go up in the next three months, compared with the same time last year. Manufacturers of all sizes expect widespread growth. While the south (64%) and Midlands (50%) expect increased sales, the north (25%) and Scotland (0%) lag behind. Order volumes increased for 45% of manufacturers from April to June, compared with the previous quarter.

Cost of materials rose sharply, compared with the previous quarter with 55% of manufacturers reporting higher costs. In contrast, only 5% of companies put up prices. The percentage of timber fire door manufacturers working to capacity was 40%, with little variation by region or size. The outlook across all manufacturers for the next three months is good with 45% more positive than last quarter.

Lack of skilled staff, price cutting in the market, slow payments and bad debts were among the problems highlighted this quarter. Lack of skilled staff is the single biggest problem affecting 42% of manufacturers. In total, 90% of timber fire doors sold in the last 12 months were internal and 10% were external, with 27% of all timber fire doors sold as fire doorsets.

Among merchants, 32% showed increased sales of timber fire doors in the last three months, compared with the previous quarter. Year on year sales were healthy, too, with 41% of merchants selling more than at this time last year. Doors with a 30-minute resistance rating accounted for 91% of doors sold by merchants in the past year, with 32% reporting increased sales of FD30s. Merchants’ outlook for the next three months is positive with 37% expecting to increase sales.

&#8220Our company policy is to provide our customers with information and instruction on fitting fire doors correctly with the right specification hardware by way of advising them and supplying operations and maintenance manuals
”

Darren Whiting, branch manager
Woodline Building Products Ltd, Kent

BWF comment

“Our campaign to raise the awareness of the importance of supplying and using compatible components with fire doors is making a real impact,” says British Woodworking Federation director Richard Lambert. “The level of enquiries for more information has barely dropped since the BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme launched the campaign last year. Now we’re seeing that interest translate into a perceptible change in attitudes and understanding in the market, not least in the growing market for doorsets.

“There are still too many merchants who don’t see it as their responsibility to recommend to the builder that they should be using the right components for the fire door, or who assume that the customer knows what they are buying. This ignores their liability as a supplier to provide a product fit for the purpose for which it’s intended. I wonder if these merchants know whether the components they stock actually are compatible with the fire doors they sell.

“Some merchants have been brought up sharp by what we’ve told them. Several BWF Approved Fire Door Centres had to change their stocking policies to meet their commitment to hold the right components for the doors. Nevertheless, they have benefited from having trained staff, who now understand fire doors, and can make the most of the cross-selling opportunities.”