If the time has come to finally turn your building concept into a reality, this can be a very exciting period in your life. It also means there are lots of different parts of the project that you might have to manage and juggle at one time.
During the build, it’s likely that you’ll be dealing with architects, interior designers, contractors and more. As such, it’s important to ensure that you’ve got everything organised and that you’re ticking every box in terms of getting the design right and complying with all the relevant laws.
A part of this is going to be your ironmongery schedule.
If you’ve not heard this phrase before or you’re not really sure why you need this, we’re here to help.
Below, we’re going to address what an ironmongery schedule actually is and why this is so important for your project.
What is an ironmongery schedule?
An ironmongery schedule is a document or list that lays out what ironmongery is needed for each door or window during the build of your property. It also lays out at what stage each of these will be needed on the building timeline.
But more than this, on the schedule, each door or window product is listed and includes images of the products and technical information about them - for example, about the dimensions, reference numbers and information on other materials that may be required.
A list of product codes, quantities and prices might also be attached to this.
These tend to be broken down by each door or window, outlining the specific handles, hinges, locks and closers that need to go with them.
Who creates the ironmongery schedule?
If you’ve never heard of an ironmongery schedule before, you might be thinking, hang on a minute, am I supposed to put this together?
Well, if you were in the know-how, then this would be an option, but in most cases, you will require an architectural ironmongery company to help you with this.
To do this, an architectural ironmonger will work closely with you, your builders, contractors and all others involved in your project. This will allow them to turn the design brief into a schedule, looking at floor plans and setting out the specific requirements.
This is because every project is different and the ironmonger and construction teams involved will need to consider what the building will be used for when it’s finished and how this affects the layout and placement of doors. They can then use this information to get a schedule and final list of requirements in place.
So why is an ironmongery schedule important?
There are several reasons why an ironmongery schedule is so important to the building of your property. To help you get a better idea of why this is something you absolutely should invest your time and money in, we’ve pulled together a list of the key reasons below. An ironmongery schedule is required for:
- Ensuring that all requirements are met in terms of security, fire safety, disabled access and functionality
- This is particularly important when it comes to ensuring you are meeting all the relevant laws and legislations. Otherwise, you could find yourself in trouble at a later date, possibly having to re-design the building and re-do a lot of the work
- What’s more, a good ironmongery schedule can actually contribute towards the design of the building, improving the environment and functionality for all those who will use the building. This is particularly important if you’re building a communal building like a school or office
- A schedule gives special consideration to the security of the doors (and even windows) that will be fitted - a full locking plan can be designed and included in the schedule
- A detailed schedule means nothing is left to chance
- Finally, this also helps all the individuals and teams that will be working on the project to ensure that everyone is on the same page at all times
So as you can see, an ironmonger schedule is important not just for the design and functionality of your build but also for health and safety.
Finally, it helps the workers involved to get the project done efficiently and correctly, reducing the risk of error either on your end or theirs.
So though it is another thing to consider during your build, it is well worth investing in an ironmongery scheduling service.