Approved Document M, often shortened to Doc M, is a section under the UK Building Regulations that provides guidance to ensure that all buildings are usable and accessible to everyone. Designed to be in line with the Equality Act 2010, Doc M outlines that all areas of a building (including the fixtures and fittings) must not restrict access to people with disabilities. 

This Buyers Guide takes an in depth look at both volumes of the Approved Doc M regulations and shows you products from our range that are compliant with regulations and perfect for all accessibility needs, from top brands in the industry including Arrone, Exitex and Hoppe. 

Click here to view the full Approved Doc M: Accessibility Buyers Guide. 

Expand your knowledge on all things accessibility with our Approved Document M Accessibility Buyers Guide.

Approved Document M: Accessibility Buyers Guide 

On the 25th May, we are hosting the UK’s first ever inter-trade football tournament to raise money for Mind the mental health charity.

The event aims to increase awareness of the benefits of exercise on your mental health, with ‘movement’ being the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

The event will take place at Stamford Bridge stadium, home of Premier League giants Chelsea, between 9am and 12pm, and there will be teams representing each of the most common trades:

There are 48 places available and you can register your interest using the form below.

The tournament will comprise of 7-a-side matches, with two groups of three, before a final between the two group winners.

Players are required to fundraise a minimum of £50 (including £30 upfront) and donate via our Just Giving page here.

There will also be a selection of fundraising games on the day, such as a penalty shootout, where we will donate an additional £10 for each successful penalty.

Squad announcements will be made the week commencing 13th May and players will be contacted via email in advance.

Terms and conditions are at the bottom of this page.

The registration form can be found here: https://forms.gle/athZ3Ka7ATsGyLC98

The event is taking place as part of our annual campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues within the UK trade industry. 

Whether you're involved in the tournament or not, if you would like to support the campaign and donate to Mind and its brilliant services, please donate what you can through the link here.

Our Mental Health in the Trades report revealed that more than four in five tradespeople experience some form of mental health problem, such as stress or anxiety, due to work.

By applying to partake in the event you agree:

That you are fit and well to participate in the event

Participation in the event and activities is at your own risk.

You will behave in a manner which is safe for yourself and all others.

You acknowledge and agree that neither the promoter (IronmongeryDirect), the football club (Chelsea FC, event sponsors (Mind, Galliford Try) will have any liability in respect of any injury, loss or damage suffered by you in or by reason of the event, however caused

That you consent to pictures and or video of your participation in the event to be taken and used by the promoter, the football club, or the event sponsor for such purposes, as it shall consider reasonable to do so

Enter now for your chance to play football at a Premier League stadium

A life in the trades sometimes comes with setbacks, and these can affect how quickly you can attend requests for new work. Our recent research found that the average wait list for a UK tradesperson is five weeks, with roofers having the largest demand (nine weeks). 

Staff shortages (28%), finding staff with the right skillset (16%) and delays with parts (17%) are just some of the main reasons for these long waiting lists. 

With this in mind, here’s six tips to help you manage your waiting lists and keep your customers happy.

Prioritising your waitlist is crucial for ensuring your business runs smoothly. Review your list of jobs and identify those which are most urgent so you can complete these first. You may have an emergency call out, or some customers who have been waiting a number of weeks. Whoever you choose to prioritise, it’s important to keep all staff and customers updated and be transparent about why you have to push work back. 

No matter how long your wait list is, it’s crucial to keep a constant line of communication with your customers to let them know when planned work is due to commence. Be honest about waiting times from the beginning, and open about potential delays, such as materials shortages, or larger jobs taking longer than expected. Being clear with people will help to avoid any confusion and keep them happy. 

Suggest alternative businesses where possible 

You may find that customers were hoping to have the work conducted earlier and can’t wait for your available slots. If this is the case, you may want to suggest other businesses that may be able to take on the work sooner. Building relationships with other tradespeople can be a really positive thing to do, as if you recommend them to customers when you’re unable to take on the work, they might be able to return the favour at a later date to help you out. 

There might be cases where you’re unable to attend a job to complete it fully, but you’re able to provide a temporary solution or workaround for the customer while they wait. This shows commitment to the customer, while buying you some time. 

The most effective way to keep customers happy is to ensure that when you do get to their job, you do it to the highest quality possible, justifying their long wait for your time. Nothing is more important than doing the job well, so providing a brilliant service is key to a satisfied client base. 

Keeping organised can often feel like a mammoth task for a lot of people, but understanding what work you have coming in and when will help your business run more smoothly. 

Planning your calendar - having a work calendar will help you to view your upcoming jobs and when new work can be planned in 

Factor in time off – no matter the size of your business or how busy you are, it's important to plan in holidays and time off so you don’t experience burnout. Plan your leave in advance so you can move work around it 

Use your time wisely - seeing both planned and potential work in one handy document will help you to plan your time effectively. You may have jobs in close proximity that you can schedule together, which will help you cut down on travel time. 

For more advice on how to run a trade business, from social media marketing to inheriting a family firm, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog

How to manage your waiting lists effectively

A recent, tragic case of a toddler’s death once again raises important questions about the safety of opening windows in high rise properties across the country.  Our teams believe that further education regarding opening window risks, at the housing provision level, is urgently required. There is a requirement from the Department of Health, Health Building Note 00-10 Part D, to have window restrictors fitted in healthcare buildings so why not have similar guidance for other public risk environments such as high-rise buildings?

Following one inquest, after the death of a 6-year-old from a tower block window, the coroner stated in a letter to the landlord: “I recommend that you consider the feasibility of having fixed and permanent window restrictors fitted so that the window can only be opened to such a width as to prevent a child accidentally falling through. I consider the safety of a child or vulnerable occupant is of paramount importance.” 

The coroner also recommended regular inspections of the properties to ensure safety features are in place and working.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), more than 4,000 children under the age of 15 are injured due to falling from windows annually in the UK and approximately 10 children lose their life.

Similarly, the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) says that one child under the age of five is admitted to hospital every day after falling from a building.

Our experts believe that these tragic stories and statistics clearly demonstrate that there is a real need to seriously address this issue.  Both RoSPA and CAPT recommend fitting devices to prevent windows opening too wide.

All Jackloc window restrictor products are manufactured in the UK and have been independently tested to exceed every element of BS EN 13126 and BS EN 14351. 

Unfortunately, though, not all window restrictors are fit for purpose and meet these rigorous standards. IronmongeryDirect were Jackloc’s first Approved Retailer and we recognise that the quality of the Jackloc products is second to none.  As a company, we have been in business for over 50 years and are committed to offering the safest solutions to our valued customers.

The full Jackloc range is stocked by IronmongeryDirect and we have a fully trained team who understand the Jackloc products.  Together Jackloc and IronmongeryDirect are trusted as reputable suppliers to many social housing providers, whether in the private or public sector.

However, our teams have major concerns over those social housing providers that aren’t reviewing the need for window restrictors in their properties, or where they are specifying sub-standard products.  In extreme cases, where the issue has already been highlighted, organisations could potentially be subject to negligence and senior individuals may, in some circumstances, be personally liable.

Opening window safety can no longer be ignored and must be considered a key priority in the social housing sector, and their tenants demands listened to. We strongly believe that this recent reported incident, along with previous inquest outcomes, highlights the urgent need for window safety, particularly in tower blocks, and for immediate action to be taken to stop repeated preventable deaths.

You can view our full range of Jackloc here or visit the Jackloc website here.

IronmongeryDirect and The Jackloc Company are combining forces to highlight the concerns and dangers surrounding potential negligence through lack of awareness, by some social housing providers, relating to the risks of accidental falls from opening windows, particularly in high rise properties.

IronmongeryDirect and Jackloc appeal to social housing providers to urgently review opening window safety.

A life in the trades often involves spending long periods around loud equipment or in noisy work environments. Our recent research found that this is taking its toll, with one in five (21%) tradespeople experiencing hearing problems.

Sadly, symptoms appear to begin early on in trade careers, with almost half (49%) of 18-34-year-old workers already having trouble hearing.

With this in mind, we’ve partnered with Nic Wray, Communications Manager at Tinnitus UK, to discuss the importance of protecting your ears while working, and the potential consequences of not doing so.

Nic says: “Protecting your hearing is very important. Exposure to loud noise can damage your ears, leading to hearing loss and tinnitus. Once the damage has been done, it cannot be repaired, only managed. 

“Tinnitus affects one in seven adults in the UK (7.6 million people), with severe impact on one in six of those living with the condition. No known cure exists, and dissatisfaction with current treatments is widespread.”

Nic says: “Noise starts to become a risk to hearing at 80 decibels (dBA) and in a working environment, hearing protection should be provided at 85 dBA or above. Sounds over 85dBA can damage your hearing – the safe listening time is cut in half for every 3dBA rise in noise levels over 85 dBA. 

“But most people don’t carry a sound level meter with them (although there are some pretty good apps out there if you want to have one with you!) so how can you know if noises are too loud and could lead to tinnitus?”

You can’t hear or understand someone one metre (three feet) away from you

Speech around you sounds dull or muffled if you move away from the noisy area

You have pain in your ear, or perhaps a headache, after you hear the noise

You have sounds in one or both ears, or your head, that have no external source. These could be ringing, buzzing or whistling. This is tinnitus. It may only last a short time, but it could persist.

How to protect your hearing while at work

Nic says: “Being aware of the problems that loud noise can cause, and the steps you can take to protect yourself, is vital. 

“Your employer has a duty to protect you and should be taking steps to reduce the risks caused by a noisy environment or noisy equipment. If you are self-employed, you must ensure that your work does not put you or others at risk.”

Co-operate with your employer to do what is needed to protect your hearing

Wear any hearing protection given (or obtain and use hearing protection if you’re self-employed). Training should be given on how to do this properly.

Get the right type of protection and with the right levels of sound reduction

Keep your hearing protection safe, clean and in good condition

Take regular breaks in a quiet(er) location

Drink lots of water – staying hydrated is essential for ear health

Have your hearing checked regularly – many High Street providers offer free hearing tests, or your GP can arrange one for you.

It’s crucial that tradespeople keep themselves safe while working. Visit our Safety range for everything you need to protect yourself, including a wide variety of PPE.

17th December 2021

Approved Document M: Accessibility Buyers Guide

Expand your knowledge on all things accessibility with our Approved Document M Accessibility Buyers Guide.

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