Keeping pace with Building Regulations for window and door installations can be challenging. Phil Parry, Accreditations Manager at Eurocell, presents our brief guide to trouble-free compliance

For anyone choosing windows and doors for replacement projects or new-build homes or commercial properties, the raft of applicable Building Regulations and Standards can seem daunting.

It’s true that windows and doors, depending on their location and function, may have to meet strict thermal efficiency, ventilation, fire resistance, disabled access and other regulatory requirements. However, in this article, we hope to demonstrate that the regulations are nothing to fear. Simply by selecting the right products and the best-qualified fabricators and installers, customers need have no concerns about complying with current legislation.

Here’s our rough guide to Building Regulations and how to meet them…

Part L – conservation of fuel and power
This regulation relates directly to all windows and doors. It sets minimum levels for thermal transmittance – that’s the amount of heat allowed to pass through the glass and framework of a window or door – expressed as a U value. Low U values indicate the lowest levels of heat transmittance and therefore the most thermally efficient windows and doors. There are different rules for replacement and new build projects and for commercial and residential properties.

The current levels were set in April 2006. For residential properties they are:

New builds:
Window U-value – 1.8W/m²K
Window energy rating – D

Replacement windows:
Window U-value – 2.0W/m²K
Window energy rating – E

These levels are due to be reviewed in April 2010 and are expected to be tightened.

The PVC-u industry has been working hard to improve the thermal efficiency of its products – and Eurocell is leading the way. PVC-u is less conductive than steel or aluminium, making it – along with timber – the best choice framing material for thermal performance.

To enhance the inherent properties of PVC-u, Eurocell has employed sophisticated thermal modelling software to develop a profile system that balances thermal efficiency with cost effectiveness. The result is the advanced six-chambered Thermalogik profile, which offers outstanding thermal efficiency for the same price as a standard Eurocell 70mm profile. What’s more it has achieved an ‘A’ rating in the British Fenestration Rating Council’s (BFRC) certification scheme – the highest energy-efficiency rating possible.

By specifying such a thermally efficient profile for windows or doors, you are well on the way to meeting the requirements of Part L. In fact, Thermalogik is so energy efficient that, by using it in conjunction with PVC-u Thermal Inserts in other parts of the frame, fabricators can create ‘A’ rated windows using just standard float glass. That’s a window that far exceeds all the requirements of Part L.

Part F – ventilation
Permitting an adequate air supply into buildings is essential to limit condensation and improve indoor air quality. Part F sets out background ventilation requirements for existing dwellings and new builds. The requirements depend on the type of room concerned, with different ventilation performance dictated for habitable rooms, kitchens and utility rooms and bathrooms. In practice, the regulations mean that trickle ventilators need to be fitted to all window and door profiles. Ventilator performance is measured in terms of Equivalent Area (EA), which is denoted in mm². The EA performance of any ventilator will be marked on it by the manufacturer.

The regulations do not favour one ventilator type over another, and slot, over-glass and over-frame ventilators may all comply. For replacement projects, the regulations state that ventilation in the new window must be at least as good as in the old window. Where there was no ventilation in the original window, the new ventilator should offer a minimum of 5,000mm² Equivalent Area for habitable rooms and 2,500mm² for kitchens, bathroom and utilities.

Eurocell is happy to provide more detailed advice and guidance, as well as technical information on the requirements of Part F.

Part B – means of escape in fire
This regulation states that all windows to habitable rooms above ground level must allow occupants to escape in the event of a fire. A suitable escape window is defined as one with an openable area of at least 0.33m², at least 450mm high and 450mm wide (a 450mm wide opening will need to be 735mm high). The bottom of the window opening must be no more than 1100mm above the floor. This regulation is most relevant to designers and architects, but is also important when choosing suitable replacement windows.

In certain areas of a building, fire doors may be required. These help to contain any fire and prevent it spreading into, for example, corridors which may be the means of escape for building occupants.

Part M – access for people with disabilities
Part M of the Building Regulations requires housebuilders to construct new housing to standards that enable disabled people, particularly wheelchair users, to visit a house and have access to a ground floor living space and toilet. That means having doorways with a clear opening width of at least 775mm. Exterior doors also need to have low thresholds or incorporate low ramps to enable easy wheelchair entry. Through its EBP depots, Eurocell offers a Part M compliant aluminium ramp to help you meet regulatory requirements when fitting exterior doors.

FENSA fitters keep it simple
For householders, all of this regulation may still seem bewildering. However, the message for them is simple. Choose a FENSA-certified installer and you have nothing to worry about. FENSA (Fenestration Self Assessment scheme) certified members are approved to carry out work in accordance with all relevant regulations, without the need for inspection by the council. They inform FENSA of every installation and random inspections are carried out to ensure high standards are maintained.

Householders who do not use FENSA registered installers or who carry out the work themselves must ensure they meet all relevant regulations and must have the work inspected for Building Regulations approval.

Box out:
Code for Sustainable Homes

Originally introduced as a voluntary guide for architects and designers wanting to develop sustainable buildings, the standards set out in Code for Sustainable Homes are due to become mandatory for all new homes built in the coming years.

Introduced by the Government in 2006, the Code is a rating scheme for new-build housing in England. Homes are star rated, from one to six, according to the impact they have on the environment. Six-star homes have the lowest impact, with zero net carbon emissions.

Each star rating represents a percentage improvement on the current CO² emission rates set out in Part L1A of the Building Regulations, as follows:

Star rating: Energy efficiency improvement over Part L1A:
* 10%
** 18%
*** 25%
**** 44%
***** 100%
****** ‘zero-carbon’ home

By 2016 all new homes built in England must achieve a six-star rating. Since May 2008 all new homes have been measured and given a star rating. Minimum mandatory star ratings will be introduced over the coming years:

2010 – all new homes to achieve a three-star rating (minimum)
2013 – all new homes to achieve a four-star rating (minimum)
2016 – all new homes to achieve a six-star rating (zero-carbon)

This entry was posted on Monday, June 8th, 2009 at 1:01 am and is filed under Environmental Stories, Eurocell Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.