1st October this year is the date for implementation of changes to Approved Document L of the Building Regulations. At this point in time, information leads us to believe that there will be a requirement for all replacement windows to achieve a minimum Energy Rating of ‘C’.
Current legislation in the Building Regulations allows compliance to be demonstrated with either a whole window U value, a BFRC rating or a ‘centre pane’ U value, so the change is quite significant both in terms of what you have to achieve and how you demonstrate compliance.
There is concern within the industry that relying on only a BFRC Energy rating will not be a healthy situation and that an alternative means of demonstrating compliance via a whole window U value may be introduced, but nothing has been confirmed on this yet.
Of the 14,000 plus fabricator/installers within the UK only approximately 200 have registered, if the changes require all fabricators to be registered through BFRC and even that is not clear, they would not cope with the influx of applications, hence the need for alternatives.
Being associated with Seven Day, you can be sure that we keep abreast of what is happening and will be ready. We already have a variety of approved simulations indicating how a ‘C’ rating can be achieved and what specifications provide certain U values so we are ready to support you, our customer, to meet the challenges ahead.
With recent government U turns on replacement trickle vent requirements and compliance with EN14351 nothing can be taken as certain. We will do our best at keeping informed of the situation and keeping you up to date.