Meet the Supplier: Gerda Security Products

On our latest edition of meet the supplier, we interviewed Gerda Security Products.

Part of the GSP Group, Gerda is a supplier of our Building and Fire Safety framework, developed with Contracting Authority the Hyde Group, and has delivered a number of successful projects through the framework.

 

What is your company’s mission statement/aims/objectives?

At Gerda Security Products, our mission is to keep the built environment safe and sustainable through the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and future-proofed solutions. We are committed to safety, innovation, and social responsibility, ensuring our products protect people and properties while supporting long-term sustainability.

 

Can you give us a brief history of your company?

Gerda Security Products, part of the GSP Group, is a leading UK manufacturer of multi performance fire doorsets and specialist in fire safety systems. Founded nearly 30 years ago, the business remains independent and founder-led, with extensive experience in design, development, and manufacturing.

With a national footprint, Gerda operates four manufacturing sites in Suffolk and the South East, and maintains a Head Office in Mildenhall with a regional office in Manchester.

We are widely recognised as the pioneer of the Premises Information Box (PIB)® system, first introduced in 2005, which has since become a legal requirement for all high-rise residential buildings over 18m (and all new builds over 11m). Our PIBs, firefighter access switches, EACIE enclosures, and other access control systems support frontline responders in emergency situations.

Continuous investment into research & development; rigorous primary testing of fire doorset range designs, as well as latest manufacturing facilities and techniques means that we are well-placed to deliver contracts to suit a range of building structures, ages and resident need. Importantly our technical, production, contract delivery and customer liaison teams are committed to providing high-quality products and service.

With a track record of 25% year-on-year growth over the past five years, the organisation is recognised as one of the fastest-growing in the East Anglia region in recent years.

Our products have been deployed in major housing projects across the UK, including for the City of London, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, and Enfield.

 

What are the benefits of being a supplier on this framework?

Being a supplier on Pretium’s Building and Fire Safety framework offers several key advantages, including:

• Streamlined access to projects with pre-approved rates, reducing bidding complexity for clients and contractors.
• Compliance with rigorous standards, ensuring its solutions meet the highest safety and performance expectations.
• Enhanced credibility and reputation within the industry, reinforcing trust and long-term relationships with clients.
• Increased visibility as a trusted partner for fire safety and housing needs.

 

Can you share some key achievements or successful projects completed through the framework?

• Delivered 1,905 fire doorsets across 75 projects for the City of London
• Supplied 6,530 fire doorsets to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, selected post-Grenfell on 80% quality criteria
• Installed 4,700 fire doorsets over six years in Lambeth
• Supplied approximately 2,835 fire doorsets in Enfield across a three-year period

 

What sets your business apart from its competitors?

Gerda Security Products offers a comprehensive end-to-end service: from digital surveys using our proprietary app, to tailored manufacture, installation, and long-term maintenance. Each doorset is precision-engineered and supplied with lifetime traceability through our G-Smart digital management system, included as standard.

We maintain complete ownership of our primary test evidence, unlike many competitors who rely on third-party test data. This provides faster, more reliable solutions and ensures projects stay on track.

Gerda Security fire doorsets are designed to meet a broad range of performance criteria including fire safety, thermal insulation, security, acoustics, ease of use, and durability. With an extensive test library, we are well-placed to support varied structural and resident needs from project inception—reducing risks of costly delays later on.

 

How does your company contribute positively to the communities it operates in?

Gerda Security is deeply invested in the communities where it operates:

• Safety & Quality of Life: Our doorsets exceed compliance standards and are designed for quiet closure, thermal performance, and ease of use—contributing to Warm & Safe Homes.
• Employment & Skills: We run apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and provide opportunities for NEETs and disadvantaged individuals.
• Sustainability: As an ISO 14001 certified business, we use FSC-certified timber, recyclable packaging, and renewable energy including solar power.
• Community Engagement: We repurpose materials for local initiatives, support food banks, and host skill building projects such as Men’s Sheds.
• Training the Industry: Our upcoming Centre of Training & Innovation will provide specialist instruction in fire safety, compliance, and installation best practices.

 

What will be the key areas of focus for your business over the next 12 months?

Gerda Security will be focusing on three main areas over the next year: innovation, training and development and long-term maintenance.

The business will be advancing its door technology for enhanced traceability, security and compliance, launching its Centre of Training & Innovation to upskill installers and industry professionals, and expanding its services to help its clients maintain compliance.

 

What are the biggest challenges currently facing the housing sector?

• Affordability & Disrepair – Rising costs are limiting the ability to build and maintain housing stock.
• Building Safety Compliance – New regulations have increased scrutiny, but compliance approvals can create project delays, with the concern that projects are cost engineered further down the line – something that Dame Judith Hackitt warned against in ‘Building a Safer Future’.
• Sustainability Pressures – Housing providers must balance safety, compliance, and net-zero targets within tight budgets. Multiperformance fire doorsets are a smart way to address this.

 

What are the biggest challenges currently facing your company and suppliers?

• Across the industry we see rising costs as one of the biggest issues – inflation, energy prices, and rising national insurance contributions are straining budgets. Gerda Security is continually investing in employee development, with training on automated and sustainable production to keep lead times optimal. The business’s strong supplier partnerships and high-volume production help mitigate these pressures.
• Uncertainty about the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and delays on processing applications has affected the roll out of projects. However, with the latest move to MHCLG and the announced investment into 100 new members of staff, this should assist with the backlog of applications.

 

Are there any recent innovations or developments in your business that excite you?

• The GSP Group is in the final stages of launching its Centre of Training & Innovation, which will serve as an industry hub for learning about fire safety, installation best practices, and innovation. We are looking forward to welcoming clients and partners to gain deeper insights into the company and strengthen industry relationships.
• AlertAssure™: Our newly patented software, soft-launched at Housing 2025, helps providers meet legal responsibilities for ongoing door compliance checks.
• With the marketplace shifting towards fire doorsets with European classifications—due to the phase-out of National classifications by 2029—Gerda Security is ahead of the curve. We already offer ADB 2029 compliant, third-party certified fire doorsets, helping housing providers future-proof their housing stock with confidence.
• All Gerda Security’s flat entrance doorset ranges additionally meet the Warm & Safe Homes criteria with U values surpassing those in Approved Document L.

 

Can you tell us an interesting fact about your organisation?

• Gerda invests hundreds of thousands of pounds annually into primary fire performance testing.
• Our Safer Homes FD60S flat entrance doorsets have proven crucial in mitigating the effects of severe fires involving e-bikes and scooters, caused by lithium-ion battery explosions.
• We were the original developers of the Premises Information Box (PIB®) – now a legal fire safety requirement across the UK.

 

What impact has the Building and Fire Safety Act had on the delivery of projects within the sector?

The Building Safety Act has significantly improved the focus on safety and accountability across the sector. However, it has also led to project delays owing to the new approval processes and evolving regulations.

The Building Safety Act highlights the importance of construction products crucially aligning to building regulations and a given works project. Providing important product information including test evidence results and full traceability from the outset— across a wide range of buildings and structures—will assist in obtaining compliance throughout the execution and completion of works. Gerda Security Products continues to lead in these areas.