Double Glazing On The Web

It is the responsibility of home owner when replacing window or doors on their property, to ensure that works are carried out in line with current government Building Regulations.

If the works are undertaken privately or by an installer who is not FENSA registered, then an application under Building Regulations will need to be made to the your local authority. A representative will then be sent to the property to inspect the installation and if standards are met, the local authority will issue the home owner with a certificate for their HIP (Home Improvement Pack).

There can often be charges associated with this process. Saving this money and inconvenience are the main reasons people prefer to use a FENSA registered company when replacing windows and doors.

Because of the strict regulations and regular inspections imposed by FENSA, home owners can be sure that the installer is regulated, reputable and completely compliant with national Building Regulations.

Being FENSA registered enables installers to self-certify the replacement of windows and doors without the involvement of local authorities. The registered company then issues the home owner with the relevant HIP certification on receipt of payment.

Apparently, rogue conservatory salesmen still exist, despite the industry’s attempts to clean up its act.

From next month (October 2008) as a consumer, if you sign up on your doorstep to purchase a conservatory (well, anything really, but this is a double glazing blog!) you will be allowed to cancel contracts, even if you requested a sales visit to your home or office.

Previously you only had the right to cancel door-to-door salesmen’s contracts in a seven day ‘cooling off’ period if the salesman visits were unsolicited.

The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regs 2008 came about because a number of reports and consultations uncovered the need for more protection.  Apparently, protection is particularly needed in the case of the sale of services to construct patios, driveways and conservatories.

The Regulations apply to sales of goods or services to a value of £35 or more, not to sales below that threshold.

Another sad indictment on our industry.  Here at Double Glazing on the Web we pride ourselves on being honest and ethical - and our conservatories aren’t too bad either!

Did you know that the Kitemark® is not just a mark of trust here in the UK? It is, in fact, ‘the world’s premier symbol of trust, integrity and quality,’ and it is proudly displayed at the foot of our home page! Because the double glazing market is so highly competitive, we like to think (in fact, we know) that the fact we have the authority to use this symbol differentiates us from many other double glazing firms.

We hold two Kitemarks, the first of which is BSI 5713. Originally, this standard related to the performance of double glazing units, together with the use of the correct equipment to test this performance. The equipment part of the standard is no longer in use - simply because there is no such equipment! However, at Double Glazing on the Web, we abide by the required performance requirements of BSI 5713.

The second Kitemark is BSI 6206, which specifies how glass used in buildings should perform under impact; that is, it is about the glass safety. These requirements are intended to reduce the risk of injuries caused by cutting and piercing in accidents where glass is involved.

Basically, the fact that we hold a license to display these two Kitemarks, tells you that we are committed to quality and safety.

If you’ve visited our site, you will already know that we are also committed to honesty. We give you real prices for double glazing. We do not use salesmen, so we don’t have to pay commission, and we do not set up fake money off offers. When we give you a price, it is the true price.

Have you ever researched all those logos that appear at the foot of many websites?  You know the ones - member of this, affiliate to that, honorary member of the other.

At the foot of our own home page, you will see five logos, three of which are British Standard Kitemarks - something we’ll discuss in a future blog entry.  The other two logos refer to FENSA, which is an acronym for the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme.

FENSA, together with the Local Authority Building Control, are responsible for ensuring that any new installations comply with current thermal peformance standards and, once a job has been completed, a certificate of compliance needs to be sought from FENSA or from Local Authority Building Control.  Membership of FENSA enables companies that install replacement windows and doors to self certify compliance under these Building Regulations.

To ensure compliance with standards, A FENSA appointed inspector will inspect a percentage of the work carried out by each FENSA registered business every year.  All new installations need to gain FENSA approval, which means that either you or the installer will need to make an application to Local Authority Building Control; it is likely that there will be associated charges with this.   Doesn’t it make good sense to use a FENSA registered company to eliminate the extra work, worry, and costs?

Next time, we’ll take a look at exactly what these ’standards’ are.