The FENSA Scheme
for installers in England & Wales
Thinking
of replacing your windows? From April 2002, all replacement glazing will come
within the scopeof the Building Regulations . From then on, anyone
who installs replacement windows
or doors will have to comply with strict thermal performance standards.
One of the main reasons for this change is the need to reduce energy loss. The
Building Regulations have controlled glazing in new buildings for many years
but this represents only a very small percentage of our total building stock.
It is also essential to improve the performance of the much larger number 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 solicitors,
while undertaking the necessary search, will ask for evidence that any
replacement
glazing installed after April 2002 complies with new Building Regulations.
There will be two ways to provide compliance
1.
A certificate showing that the
work has been done by an installer who is registered under FENSA
Scheme
2.
A certificate from the Local Authority saying
that the installation has approval under the Building Regulations.
It is estimated that around 1-1.2
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 The Fenestration Self-Assessment
Scheme, and meets
with central Government approval.
A sample of the work of every installer will be inspected
by FENSA appointed
inspectors to ensure standards are maintained. FENSA will
also inform local authorities of all completed FENSA installations
and issue certificates to householders confirming compliance. Fensa members
are also obliged to offer consumers an insurance backed
guarantee.
Any installation done by a firm which is not registered
to self-certify, or done as a DIY project by a householder,
will need full local authority approval under the Building
Regulations. Local authorities will know of all the approved
installers in their areas and will be able to 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 your local authority for approval under the Building
Regulations and pay the relevant charges.
