How do I prove that my windows meet Building Regulations?

Let’s be honest, you probably aren’t all that worried about how up to code your house is, particularly while you’re living in it. And so you shouldn’t – you should be focussing on enjoying your life and your home. But when it comes time to see your home and move on, you will face a lot of questions about the fixtures in your home, including the windows and doors. And if, at any point during your time in the house, you have changed the windows and doors, then you will be asked to prove that the new fixtures meet building regulations.

What do you need to do?

It would be nice and simple if there was just one set of building regulations that you had to adhere to. But this is the government we’re talking about, so it’s not that simple, and instead the rules are all based on the situation. So a window that might pass building regulations for one location might not for another. It sounds like a headache, but don’t worry, it can be simple.

In general, there are 4 factors that the regulations focus on:

• Safety from Impact (Part K)
• Ventilation (Park F)
• Fire Escape (Part B)
• Insulation (Part L)

In other words, if your windows can meet the requirements above, then you’re fine. There are different situations that can add more regulations though, and these will depend on the type of property you have, and the area you’re in. For example, there might be extra requirement for you to have sound insulation in noisy areas (which is covered in Part E: Resistance to Sound)

Whose responsibility is it?

There is good news and bad news here, because while you do have some responsibilities here, it’s not all on you. Instead the responsibility for meeting building regulations actually lies equally with the person installing them, and the landowner. So if you’re installing windows and doors yourself, you will need to make sure your choice of style and material meet the rules above (at least the ones that apply to you). And if you’re paying a professional installer to install the windows, they should know their trade well enough to tell you if your chosen windows don’t comply, and help you find some that do.

Will FENSA help?

Happily, there’s a really easy way to make sure this is all covered at the time of installation, and that’s by using an installation company that’s part of an organisation called FENSA. FENSA is a self-regulating organisation, and members are trusted to be able to certify that the windows and doors they install match the correct building regulations for the situation. So while it might be tempting to buy the windows yourself and pay a handyman to install them for you, you’re missing out on the added security and safety of FENSA membership, and the knowledge that your windows and doors are in line with the regulations. You can also trust them to tell you if the windows you’re choosing aren’t right for your home in terms of building regs, which is a real plus.

At Truglaze, we are a fully qualified and FENSA registered company, meaning we can certify (and provide evidence) that your windows and doors are of good quality, and more importantly completely meet building regulations. This means one less thing for you to worry about, and you can buy in confidence every time. If you’d like more information on FENSA, or on building regulations, we would love to help. Feel free to visit our showroom to see your options in person, or get in touch with our team for some completely free advice and information.

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