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Buyer beware Building regulations are changing and house builders need to make sure their windows and doors comply. Now is the time to ask: what exactly is changing for fenestration and is your supplier ready, with the right paperwork in order?
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s government directives come into force to help move the country to net zero, new homes and buildings in England will be required to produce nearly a third less carbon. The correlating and much discussed changes to building regs come into force in June, and will impact windows and doors supply for both new and existing homes, particularly Document F: Ventilation and Document L: Conservation of Fuel and Power. Home builders, including self-builders, will be required to provide proof of compliance with the updated regulations, so it is crucial to choose a reputable fabricator who understands the standards and can provide the right paperwork. “Quickslide takes on the responsibility of providing products that comply,” says Managing Director Ben Weber. “We’re ready and compliant but importantly, we also recognise that education is key. That’s why we’ve invested in a new digital tool that covers requirements for fire escapes, trickle vents, enhanced security (Document Q) and energy performance to help our customers get the specification right.”
Ventilation requirements The revised Approved Document F on ventilation, with a requirement for trickle vents, is the most contentious change to the new building regs.
26 April/May Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer
“This change is the toughest to address and to some suppliers the extent of the changes may have come as a surprise. At Quickslide we’ve teamed up with glazing accessories and injection mould specialists Glazpart to provide not only a vent solution but also consumer messages that will help homeowners understand the changes and overcome unfavourable perceptions of vents,” said Ben. “On casement windows, with the introduction of the Link Vent Mk2 we’re able to offer a compact vent with a canopy that only extends a mere 25mm and is available in a range of colours to blend in with our most popular window finishes. And we continue to lead the way for vertical sliders by introducing a keenly anticipated bespoke vent solution for sliding sash windows that is unique to Quickslide.”
Thermal efficiency The changes to Document L are all about conserving fuel and power, including increasing the thermal efficiency of homes through achieving lower U-values. All windows and doors for replacements will need to be at least 1.4 U-value (a change from 1.6 U-value for windows and 1.8 U-value for doors) while, for new builds windows and doors must be at least 1.6 U-value but the target is 1.2.
