There can be no compromise on a quality installation, insists Ade’s Quickslide.
Now and again we are asked by trade customers to change the basic specs of windows and doors, perhaps because they are trying to shave a bit off the cost, or because one of their punters has decided that they don’t like the look of something, such as trickle vents for example.
When this happens, we push back with advice that recommends why such things are in place and that actually, the difference between doing it right and doing it wrong usually doesn’t represent a great deal of money. However, often something is included because it’s a requirement of the Building Regulations, and if it is not done right, the full force of the Building Inspectors may be felt. When it comes to the Building Regs, we will never compromise and neither will our customers when they understand what’s at stake.
Energy Performance (Doc L) is one of the most well-known of the building regs. It’s expected that windows will comply with the latest requirements, but it’s important to understand what the requirements for your specific project are, as they do vary and sometimes the specification of the window, in particular the glazing may need to be altered to ensure compliance. Don’t be fooled by the belief that triple glazing is the solution, sometimes it’s actually less efficient than double.
Vents are hugely important because they remove stale air and reduce condensation and help to prevent mould. They also allow ventilation whilst the windows are locked, and security is a key requirement of most homeowners.
But many homeowners object because they spoil the clean lines of their windows and, actually, even the best of them let heat out and noise in. But here’s the rub: in the next round of Building Regs, inspectors are expected to be even keener when it comes to checking vents are used where they should be. Our advice? Get over it: windows without vents will fail the building inspection.
PAS 24: This reference confirms that the hardware performs to the minimum requirements of the Building Regs for that most essential requirement of windows and doors: keeping out the bad people. Use it to your advantage and regale your customers about the features of PAS 24 and how it enhances the security performance, the rigorous testing it’s passed and so forth. It’s worth having, not just because you have to have it.
Toughened Glass. It is a requirement in the UK to have toughened or tempered safety glass fitted in windows and doors in areas of a home that are clearly defined by the Building Regulations, as a minimum requirement. We believe that safety should never be compromised and no decent fabricator will supply products that do not comply.
Emergency egress. The provision of ‘Emergency Egress’ through windows in a home is clearly determined in the Building Regulations and has been since 1997. Despite this, it is the area that is often overlooked, not least because non-compliance will not prevent the sale of a house. The Regs say that every habitable room should have a fire escape window, the dimensions for which are clearly defined.
For further information on Quickslide visit https://www.quickslide.co.uk/
ADE’S TEA BREAK TEASER
A professional builder was walking around on site when it started to rain. The builder didn’t have an umbrella and wasn’t wearing a hat. His clothes got soaked, yet not a single hair on his head got wet. How could this happen?
