Replacement Windows:
FENSA
From April 2002, all replacement glazing now comes within the
scope of the Building Regulations. Anyone who installs replacement
windows or doors must comply with strict thermal performance
standards. One of the main reasons for the change is the need to
reduce energy loss. The Building Regulations have controlled
glazing in new buildings for many years, but they represent only a
very small percentage of our total building stock. It is also
essential to improve the performance of the much larger numbers of
existing buildings if we are to meet increasingly stringent
national and global energy saving targets.
When the time comes to sell your property, your purchaser's
surveyors will ask for evidence that any replacement glazing
installed after April 2002 complies with the new Building
Regulations. There will be two ways to prove
compliance:
- A certificate showing that the work has been done by an
installer who is registered under the
FENSA
Scheme.
- A certificate from the local authority saying that the
installation has approval under the Building Regulations.
The
FENSA
Scheme
It is estimated that around 2 million installations of
replacement glazing happen every year. If all of them went through
the normal Building Regulations application process it would place
an enormous burden on local authorities. It is essential to have a
way to ensure that the work is done properly without an
unreasonable increase in the administrative and financial burden on
installers and property owners. The answer is a scheme which allows
installation companies that meet certain criteria to self-certify
that their work complies with the Building Regulations.
The scheme is known as
FENSA
, which stands for
Fenestration Self-Assessment. It was set up by the Glass and
Glazing Federation, in association with all key stakeholders, and
meets with central Government approval. A sample of work of every
installer is inspected by
FENSA
appointed inspectors to
ensure standards are maintained.
FENSA
also inform local
authorities of all completed
FENSA
installations and issue
certificates to householders confirming compliance.
Any installation done by a firm which is not registered to
self-certify, or done as a DIY project by a householder, needs full
local authority approval under the Building Regulations. The
council knows all the approved installers in the area and can
identify unauthorised work very easily. You should note that you,
as the house owner, are ultimately responsible for ensuring the
work complies with the Building Regulations. Before you sign a
contract to buy replacement glazing, be sure to ask whether the
installer is able to self-certify. If not, either they, or you,
will need to make an application to the council for approval under
the Building Regulations and pay any relevant charges.
Download a Guidance Sheet on Replacement Windows (PDF
48KB)
