Architectural Hardware Consultant (AHC)
Timothy Perry
Timothy Perry is a Registered Architectural Ironmonger and an AHC at FSB. He is an Affiliated Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and a Member of the Executive and Education Committees of the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers. Working with a fully qualified AHC/RegAI like Timothy, means highquality, reliable project advice and service for architects, clients and eventually, the project.
Timothy’s career to date has been an adventure. Now based in the UK, he works on project specifications for the Middle and Far East. He spent 13 years at Lloyd Worrall in the UK and later joined FSB in Germany for four years. From there, he expanded his horizons across the globe, including starting an International Project Office in Singapore, then working with architects and interior designers in Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong for projects throughout the Middle East and Asia. He spent a year in Malaysia and over four and half years in Singapore. He rejoined FSB in 2019.
Timothy's certifications and memberships
- Completed the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) Diploma of London, England, 2004
- Registered Architectural Ironmonger and Member of GAI
- Member of GAI Executive Committee as of 2020
- Member of the GAI Education Committee as of 2020
- Completed the Architectural Hardware Consultant (AHC) education programme of Door & Hardware Institute, Chantilly, United States of America, 2017
- Member of Construction Specification Institute (CSI), Alexandria, United States of America. Membership no. 1806742
- Affiliated Member of Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Questions to Timothy J. Perry (AHC, CSI, DipGAI, MGAI, Reg. AI)
‘It is important to ensure products from different manufacturers work together when I am required by an architect to specify products not supplied by FSB. To handle this, I pay close attention to product templates and work closely with the other manufacturers.’
As you specify into projects abroad you typically work with ANSI or British standard. You say many factors will determine the standards to use for a project and the types of quality of materials. Can you expand?
‘I write “door-by-door” specifications in ANSI or British Standard depending on the origin of the architect or the location of the project, for example many projects in Saudi Arabia are ANSI and some projects demand the higher testing cycles of ANSI for products.’
What are the most challenging aspects of your job? And which are the most rewarding?
‘O n a day-to-day basis, challenges have decreased for me over the years as I gained more experience. Gathering all required information for some projects can be at times a challenge, but then seeing a picture of the finished project is most rewarding and I can say I did that!’
Having worked globally, what observations do you make about the way architects in different countries approach projects?
‘I have noticed that the architects in some countries have more power to hold a spec on the project than others. In other countries, the contractor has the power to change the spec and supply to whatever he/she likes.’
Can you explain more about AHC, how does it differ, for instance, from RegAI?
‘The AHC is similar to the RegAI. The AHC credential allows the holder to write specs and consult on ANSI standard projects. ANSI stands for American National Standard Institute. ANSI is supplied to projects in the USA, the Middle East, Macao, Guam, and the Philippines.’
What changes would you like to see in the AI industry?
‘More money spent on quality door hardware, as it’s the part of the building that gets touched the most. More power to the architect to hold on to the spec.’