Building Regulations Changes 2010, England
and Wales. Additional requirements under
Scottish Building Regulations.
Doors-More are pleased to be able of give you the latest Building Regulation Changes 2010 as detailed below
There are important changes to the Building Regulations (England &
Wales) affecting windows and doors in 2010. These are, in particular,
new editions of Approved Documents L & F, (“Part L” and “Part F”)
published in April 2010, effective from new applications for Building
Work or replacement window contracts after 1st October 2010.
The principle changes affecting window and doorset specification
and selection are:
Part L Conservation of Fuel & Power requires further reduction
of CO2 emissions over the 2006 guidance, current at the time of
publication of this catalogue.
• New Build Windows & Doorsets performance will continue to be
determined by Building Designer but the U value (the thermal
performance) of windows and doorsets will in future typically
be in region of 1.4 to 1.6 (currently 1.8). Absolute maximum
permitted will be reduced from 2.2 to 2.0 Higher levels of building
airtightness can also be designed in to improve whole building
performance.
• Replacement windows will require a max U value of 1.6 or a
Window Energy Rating (WER) of “C” or better. Replacements must
continue to be notified to Building Control either directly or using
FENSA or other approved Certification Scheme.
• Replacement doorsets with greater than 50% glass area must have
max U value of 1.8. These are also notifiable to Building Control
as above.
• Replacement doorsets with less than 50% glazed area are “not
notifiable” (to Building Control) but also require a max U value
of 1.8.
• Replacement doors ie doors fitted into original installed frames are
outside the scope of the changes but good practice requires that
generally these should meet the same standards.
• Centre Pane (glass only) U value will no longer accepted as
demonstrating compliance, (except in certain historic buildings
renovation)
Part F Ventilation (“System 1” background ventilation, usually in
windows).
• Total New Build requirements are increased by typically 30% but
the minimum per habitable room of 5000mm2 Equivalent Area (EA)
remains unchanged (typically 8000mm2 actual area).
Areas stated are nominal. Actual areas vary slightly between
window ranges.
• Other ventilation systems ie System 2 Passive Stack Ventilation,
System 3 Continuous Mechanical Extract (MEV) and System 4
Continuous Mechanical Supply & Extract with Heat Recovery
(MVHR) will be determined by the Building Designer.
Requirements for window ventilation will differ from System 1
• JELD-WEN® Windows are supplied standard with 2500mm2
EA (4000mm2 geometrical area) ventilation for windows below
900mm wide and 5000mm2 EA (8000mm2 geometrical area)
900mm wide and above. Addition ventilators on windows over
1700mm wide and “No ventilator” options are available to order.
• Replacement windows require ventilation only if the originals were
vented. However good practice recommends ventilation in all
cases.
Scottish Building Regulations. These also change on 1st October
as detailed in the Technical Handbooks published by the Scottish
Government. These differ from England & Wales requirements in
certain aspects summarised below:
• Thermal performance:
– New Build specify that the maximum “area weighted average”
U value must not exceed 1.8, with no individual element
exceeding 3.3
– For replacements the requirements allow an “area weighted
average” U value of 1.6 with no individual element exceeding
3.3 “C” rated WER windows are allowed (as England & Wales)
• Ventilation: The Scottish requirements refer to actual (geometrical)
area only with 8000mm2 being the requirement for rooms
in apartments, 4000mm2 in other rooms. Increased areas of
ventilation are required for buildings designed with greater levels
of airtightness.
• Security: This is an additional requirement applicable in Scotland
from 1st October 2010. There are several alternative methods
of demonstrating compliance, one being the use of “Secured By
Design” approved products ie windows tested to BS7950 and
doorsets to PAS23 & PAS24, all available from JELD-WEN® UK Ltd.
General
The above is a brief summary of the major points influencing
windows and doorsets and is intended to assist specification of the
correct products for dwellings. There are other, different regulations
for conservatories and porches.
.
The responsibility for correct specification remains with the Building
Designer (for New Build) or the Installer (for replacement products).
If in any doubt customers should always seek the advice of their
Local Authority Building Control Department. There may be other
regional differences in requirements not included in the above
(Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, etc).
For more information please contact the Doors-More sales office on telephone 01205 363999.
