Certass & Thermal Rating Register Press Release
As you may be aware October brings new challenges to our industry. This bulletin provides information regarding changes required by the building regulations and how this affects you as a Certass member.
Introduction to the regulation changes:
2010 brings more change to the Building Regulations. The Government policy is to move towards zero carbon homes; as such the 2010 regulations require an improvement factor to the thermal performance of buildings over the existing 2006 values. This will obviously have an impact on the thermal performance of glazing being one of the major areas of heat loss from a building.
Window Energy Ratings (WER) form an integral part of the Approved Documents to prove compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations a band ‘C’ WER or a whole window U-Value (this is the thermal performance of both the glass and frame) of 1.6 w/m2.k is required.
There is one further way to comply with building regulations this is reference to a SAP 2009 Table 6e, this table provides window characteristics that will meet building regulation approval, however they involve triple glazing with a gas filled cavity and specific low-e coating. Details can be provided on request.
Centre pane U-Value will still be allowed only in special interest buildings where the external character of the building must remain unchanged, however, secondary glazing is to be fitted with draft proofing to the secondary glazing.
Certass Launches TRR:
CERTASS has launched the Thermal Rating Register (www.thermalratingregister.org ). Thermal Rating Register will provide a WER scheme in accordance with the Building Regulations.
The Thermal Rating Register (TRR) provides a robust product certification scheme in a straightforward simple manner. The TRR system will provide both WER’s and validated whole window & door U-Values. But with WER’s higher prominence as a compliance tool and greater profile with the general public, we believe that a large portion of the market will move to WER’s and as always Certass gives the customer the choice.
What you need to consider:
The most important thing you need to decide is whether you wish to tell your clients that you offer a window with a Window Energy Rating, this will determine the correct level of membership for you.
Should you wish to offer a Window Energy Rating you need to discuss it with us now. We will also need to contact your Fabricator/Supplier for further information.
You will need to ensure that you are able to provide the Certass surveyor with all the necessary required paperwork to verify compliance and retain this information with your installation records.
Final Thoughts:
We are endeavouring to streamline the inspection procedures to a minimum thus keeping the costs as low as possible. You can help us by providing us the details of your fabricator/Supplier to enable us to contact them and help them through the changes.
We will be providing further updates and details of new membership levels in coming months via Certass member mail shots so please keep a look out for them and ensure you follow any required steps on the road to October.
For more details call the Thermal Rating Register now on 0845 838 8580.