Tue Jan 11
If you’re in the process of installing new windows on your property, you’ll likely have come across FENSA Certification in your searches. All high-quality, professional tradespeople will have FENSA certification, and it’s a simple way of ascertaining whether the window-fitting company you’re looking at will provide you with effective services that comply with local building regulations and are registered with the local council. Crucially, they are a legal requirement when selling a property. Let’s take a close look at what FENSA certification pertains to.
What does it mean?
So, what is FENSA certification?
FENSA itself stands for ‘Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme’. It covers external windows, doors, roof windows and roof lights in a home. The certificates vary depending on when they were issued, but they should include the name and address of the installer, the type of work they carried out on your property and the dates it was carried out, as well as their FENSA registration number. A certification also acts as an insurance-backed guarantee, and they normally last for up to 10 years.
In technical terms, a FENSA certificate is also proof that the installed uPVC double-glazing windows are of a certain standard. Windows installed correctly will meet certain heat performance standards, ensuring that your property retains heat in the winter and remains cool in the summer. It’s essential for calculating the Environmental Performance Certificate (EPC) of your property. Of course, as we know, homes with properly installed windows are naturally going to be in better shape when it comes to their environmental performance.
The FENSA scheme was put in place in the UK in 2002. For this reason, homes with windows installed before 2002 most likely won’t have FENSA certification. The simplest way to check if your property is certified is via the official FENSA website, where you can search by postcode.
What happens if I don’t have one?
As mentioned before, FENSA certification is essential when selling a property. Selling a property in the UK without FENSA certification could lead to fines and in some cases, even prosecution. If you’ve lost your certification, it can be re-ordered via the official FENSA website for £25.
However, if your home has never been certified, or if the windows were installed by an installer who isn’t FENSA-approved it is not the end of the world. You can apply to the local council for a Retrospective Regulation Compliance Certificate, whereby an inspector arrives to check if the windows are fitted at the acceptable standard. This however, costs between £300 to £400, so it’s always getting one beforehand.
If you are not selling your property and you don’t have FENSA certification, you can also take out indemnity insurance if the work was completed more than a year ago.
Of course, the simplest solution is simply to hire a FENSA-approved contractor in the first place!
If we can help you with your heritage window restoration project or you would like custom-made replacement “like for like” slim profile double glazed sash windows, please call TRC Windows, “Experts in Bespoke Timber Sash & Casement Windows Replacement & Restoration” on 01858 469 225 or send an email to info@trccontracts.com.
