FENSA Registered Double Glazing Company

The following information has been paraphrased from the FENSA website, for your information & convenience:

What is FENSA?

FENSA stands for the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme. It has been set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) and other industry bodies with Government encouragement in response to the current Building Regulations for England and Wales.

When having windows and doors replaced, homeowners must comply with current thermal peformance standards and ensure that they get a certificate of compliance from FENSA or from Local Authority Building Control. FENSA also enables companies that install replacement windows and doors to self certify compliance under these Building Regulations.

Thinking of replacing your windows this year?

All replacement double glazing comes within the scope of the Building Regulations. Anyone who installs replacement windows or doors must comply with current thermal performance standards. This is to reduce energy loss in line with Government policy.

Building Regulations have controlled doubleglazing in new buildings for many years however this represents only a small percentage of our total building stock. It is important to improve the energy performance of the much larger number of existing buildings if we are to meet increasingly stringent energy saving targets. Doubleglazing can play an important role in this.

When you wish to sell your property, your purchaser's solicitors will ask for evidence that any double glazing installed since April 2002 complies with the Building Regulations. There are currently two ways to prove compliance:-

* a certificate showing that the work has been done by an installer who is registered with FENSA or a similar body
* a certificate from the Local Authority Building Control stating that the installation has been approved under the Building Regulations.

The FENSA Scheme

It is estimated that there are a large number of installations of replacement windows and doors happening every year. It would place an enormous burden on local authorities if all of these were to go through the Local Authority Building Control application process. 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 both installers and homeowners.

FENSA was set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) at the request of the CLG to allow registered companies to self-certify that their double glazing installations comply with current Building Regulations.

A FENSA appointed inspector will inspect a percentage of the work carried out by every FENSA registered business to ensure standards are met and maintained. FENSA will also inform local authorities of all completed registered double glazing installations and will issue a certificate to the homeowner confirming compliance.

Any installation undertaken by a company which is not registered with FENSA or a similar body, or has been done as a DIY project by a homeowner, will need full Local Authority Building Control approval.

All Local Authorities will know of the registered businesses in their areas and can identify unauthorised work very easily. It should be noted that the homeowner is ultimately responsible for ensuring the installation complies with these requirements.

Before you sign a contract to buy any doubleglazing, be sure to ask whether the installer is able to self-certify. If not, either you or the installer will need to make an application to Local Authority Building Control for approval under the Building Regulations. It is likely that there will be associated charges with this.