Since its humble beginnings at Glassex in 2006, Certass has grown into a complex company with fingers in a number of pies.
When we started, we launched in the face of an existing Competent Person Scheme that had become almost establishment. We were small and I know some people doubted our ability to establish ourselves – indeed there were questions over whether there was room in the window industry for more than one such scheme.
I am pleased to say time has shown that we were right. Our policy, from the outset, of being approachable, listening to our members’ concerns and acting on them and, perhaps most importantly, of being affordable, soon struck a chord with window installers.
Competent Person Schemes are about complying with standards; ensuring that contractors stick to the rules and follow the procedures laid down by statute. As a statement that can lead to jibes about chocolate teapots: as long as you follow the rules it doesn’t matter what the product is supposed to do.
At Certass, we like to think we look beyond that concept and are about promoting better standards and higher quality rather than simple compliance with the status quo. Which is why, six years after we launched, we decided to support the National Home Improvement Council’s (NHIC) award scheme by sponsoring the Excellence in Glazing Award.
This year, the NHIC is 40 years old and 2011 was the 37th annual award ceremony. The objective of the council is to offer impartial advice on the improvement of dwellings. Currently of course, the emphasis is on energy conservation and it is worth noting that the government’s Green Deal consultative document was published on the eve of the 2011 awards.
As I said, since its inception Certass has moved into other areas. 2011 saw us enter the window energy-rating field with the Thermal Rating Register. It was another legislative area, this time requiring replacement windows to be a minimum of a ‘C’ rating. The Building regulations as amended in 2010 require replacement windows to be a minimum of a ‘C’ rating, where we were able to offer the industry a less expensive, and eventually much simplified, route to achieving a C-A rating for their windows.
So it seemed appropriate that, when we sponsored the Excellence in Glazing category at the 2011 NHIC awards, we were supported by two complimentary intiatives - SolarCare and Bondpay.
SolarCare offers insurance backing and finance products to solar panel installers whilst Bondpay is a safe way to pay and be paid for all types of home improvement works.
Since we first sponsored these awards, we have had some worthy winners. Nationwide Windows has now been the overall Excellence in Glazing winner for two years in a row. This year the project it submitted included some huge benefits for a community in Wales including a new factory and a number of new jobs. It represents an investment by Nationwide of £475,000.
It was a tough choice. Enviro, the runner up, had produced and installed windows into a Victorian house, reducing the heat loss shown by a thermal camera from 12.60C to 3.100C. Another installation in an-ex council house showed an even bigger saving from 16.50C down to 3.90C. Enviro says it plans to be back next year with a zero U-value window.
And we had another interest at the awards: Certass in now administering CompetentRoofer, the Competent Person Scheme run by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors for the roofing industry, so we were watching with interest the Excellence in Roofing category as well. This arrangement was set up in 2011 and is a big step forward for us.
Later this year we anticipate the start of Green Deal and we plan to be in the forefront. UKAS has already selected Certass to be part of phase 1 of the pilot scheme. This means that we will be accredited to certify installers to install windows under the scheme. Only installers certified by us – or another accredited organisation – will be eligible to take part in the Green Deal.
All of this means that Certass will continue, as always, to work hard to promote excellence in glazing in the years to come.
