CENSolutions are the UK’s largest supplier of product certification, within The Fenestration Industry, our “CMS Quality Mark for IGU’s – EN 1279”  has been recognised by The NHBC since 2006. Soon followed by our “CMS Quality Mark for Windows & Doors – EN 14351/BS 6375/PAS 24:2016” in 2014. Our CMS Mark meets with the approval of other bodies such as The NIHE, LHC and other key specifiers and architects & in a working partnership with E.R. Certification & E.R.C. Testing we can help guide companies to achieve ‘Secured by Design’ accreditation. Our aim is to ensure our clients are not only fully compliant with the standards relevant to their products, but to also ensure that they have the systems and procedures in place to help their company grow.

CENSolutions are proud to announce we have now been looking after our customers needs for 20 Years

THE BUILDING REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2021

NEW APPROVED DOCUMENT O, (OVERHEATING)

NEW APPROVED DOCUMENT F, VOLUMES 1 AND 2

NEW APPROVED DOCUMENT L, VOLUMES 1 AND 2

The Amendment Regulations and new Approved Documents do not apply in relation to building work on a particular building, where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or full plans have been deposited with, a local authority, in respect of that building, before 15th June 2022, provided that the building work on that building is started before 15th June 2023. In some cases, applications will be in respect of a number of buildings on a site, for example a number of houses. In such cases, it is only those individual buildings for which work is commenced which can take advantage of the transitional provisions.

Approved Document F (Ventilation) – Effective 15/06/2022

Replacing windows

General

When building work is carried out on an existing dwelling that will affect ventilation for example replacing a window or door, the ventilation of the dwelling should either meet the standards detailed in Approved Document ADF 1 or be not less satisfactory than before the work was carried out.

Note.  Ventilation through infiltration (draughty windows/doors) should be considered to be part of the ventilation system of a dwelling. Reducing infiltration might reduce the indoor air quality of the dwelling.

Existing windows with background ventilators

If the existing windows have background ventilators, the replacement windows should include background ventilators. The new background ventilators should comply with both of the following conditions.

  1. Not be smaller than the background ventilators in the original window.
  2. Be controllable either automatically or by the occupant.

If the size of the background ventilators in the existing window is not known, the ventilator sizes in paragraph 3.15 may be applied. (See below paragraph)

Existing windows without background ventilators

Replacing the windows is likely to increase the airtightness of the dwelling. If ventilation is not provided via a mechanical ventilation heat with heat recovery system, then increasing the airtightness of the building may reduce beneficial ventilation in the building. In these circumstances, it is necessary to ensure that the ventilation provision in the dwelling is no worse than it was before the work was carried out. This may be demonstrated in any of the following ways.

  1. incorporating background ventilators on the replacement windows equivalent to the following.
  2. Habitable rooms – minimum 8000mm2 equivalent area.
  3. Kitchen – minimum 8000mm2 equivalent area.
  • Bathroom (with or without a toilet) – 4000mm2 equivalent area.
  1. If the dwelling will have continuous mechanical extract ventilation, installing background ventilators in any replacement windows which are not in wet rooms, with a minimum equivalent area of 4000mm2 in each habitable room.
    1. The risk of draughts.
    2. Security issues.
    3. The difficulty of measuring the equivalent area.  Other ventilation provisions, if it can be demonstrated to a building control body that they comply with 3.2.Note: A window with a night latch position is not adequate for background ventilation, due to the following.

    New Approved Document O (Overheating) – Effective 15/06/2022

    Approved Document O – New Dwellings only

    Title Purpose for which the building is intended to be used Residential (dwellings) Dwellings, which includes both dwellinghouses and flats. Residential (institutional) Home, school or other similar establishment, where people sleep on the premises. The building may be living accommodation for the care or maintenance of any of the following. a. Older and disabled people, due to illness or other physical or mental condition. b. People under the age of 5 years. Residential (other) Residential college, hall of residence and other student accommodation, and living accommodation for children aged 5 years and older.

    Requirement Limits on application O1 Overheating mitigation (1) Reasonable provision must be made in respect of a dwelling, institution or any other building containing one or more rooms for residential purposes, other than a room in a hotel (“residences”) to— (a) limit unwanted solar gains in summer; (b) provide an adequate means to remove heat from the indoor environment. (2) In meeting the obligations in paragraph (1)— (a) account must be taken of the safety of any occupant, and their reasonable enjoyment of the residence; and (b) mechanical cooling may only be used where insufficient heat is capable of being removed from the indoor environment without it.

    Dynamic thermal modelling A method of building modelling that predicts the internal conditions and energy demands of a building at short time intervals using weather data and building characteristics.

    Summary

    This paper is a brief summary of the approved documents, you should read them carefully.

    For replacements you should consult either LABC / Building Control or the Competent Persons Scheme you use (Fensa/Certass etc), to establish exactly what they will be looking for when they conduct inspections.

    For new build you should consult with the developer and ensure that they make you aware of what they require from the windows and doors which need to be installed.

Window & External Door
Weather Performance

BS 6375 Window & Door Weather Performance Testing

Performance of windows and doors.

Classification for weathertightness and guidance on selection and specification.

CENSolutions offer a full service for compliance, certification and testing for the weather performance of windows and doors.

We can certify & test PVC, Aluminium, and Timber Windows & External Doors

Windows & Doors
Approved Document Q Compliance

PAS 24:2016 Window & Door Enhanced Security Testing

Enhanced security performance requirements for doorsets & windows. Doorsets & windows intended to offer a level of security suitable for dwellings & other buildings exposed to comparable risk.

CENSolutions offer a full service for compliance, certification and testing for the enhance security performance of windows and doors.

Changes to BS EN 1279 Insulated Sealed Glass Units

The mandatory product standard for the manufacture of Double-Glazed Sealed Units has been amended it became mandatory on the 19/03/20

This hEN standard – EN 1279:2018 has several changes that will affect Sealed Unit Manufacturers and requires urgently addressing.

As the UK’s leading provider of insulated sealed unit certification & testing, CENSolutions can guide your business to compliance with the new version of the product standard.

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