FENSA
FENSA in Leicester - FENSA Registered Company
FENSA in Leicester, Double Glazing
Our FENSA registration number is 15659
FENSA stands for the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme. It has been set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), with Government approval, in response to the new Building Regulations for England and Wales.
Approved Document L - Conservation of Fuel and Power. From 1st April 2002, all replacement glazing in dwellings came within the scope of the Building Regulations. From then on, anyone who installs replacement windows or doors in dwellings will have to comply with improved thermal performance standards and reduce energy loss.
Any installation carried out 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.
Choosing a FENSA registered supplier gives you peace of mind. As a FENSA registered member, we identify ourselves as having made a commitment to compliance with the new regulations and as offering deposit protection insurance and insurance-backed guarantees.
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 any relevant charges.
Not all installations need to be registered by us, the exceptions are conservatories, porches, garages and doors with less than 50% glass area. This is because they are classed as not being apart of the dwelling and are not usually heated. Any new build or extensions are not registered by us as they normally are checked and passed by building control as apart of the planning process.
We expect that 1% of all installations will be inspected by a FENSA appointed surveyor either at the time of installation or shortly after.
FENSA in Leicester, Replacement Windows
Approved Document B - Fire Safety. FENSA also have guidance notes on providing means of escape and on safety glazing. Escape in case of a fire is a key criteria when replacing a window. Habitable rooms (not kitchens, bathrooms or toilets) should have a fire escape opener unless it has a external door of its own or there is a direct access to a hall with an external door. The clear opening of the replacement window should be at least as big as the opening of the old window and this is achieved either by fitting an egress hinge or moving the mullion over. The height of the opening sash on the replacement window should be the same or lower than that of the old window so that the situation is not made worse.
Approved Document N - Glazing.Toughened safety glass or laminated glass should all ways be used in doors and also within 300mm of either edge of a door. It should also be used in windows that have glass levels 800mm and lower and up to 1500mm when next to a door. Other critical locations are stairways or in bathroom areas where the window is situated adjacent to the bath/shower.
You can find more information regarding FENSA on their website : www.fensa.org.uk
