What is FENSA and what does it mean for you?
Getting a window or door replaced? It's worth using a FENSA-approved installer. Learn why in our guide.
The marketplace for windows and doors has never been more saturated. This has benefits for consumers. However, it can always make it hard to answer that crucial question: "Is this installer going to do a good job?"
There are telltale signs, of course. You can look for positive online reviews. You can look to see if the firm is well-established. You can ask your friends, your colleagues, your hairdresser.
But even if you've found these things out to your satisfaction, you still might want reassurance. What you want is an external standard – a third-party stamp of approval to show that this installer is trustworthy.
This is where FENSA comes in. FENSA is a government-authorised scheme that aims to improve window and door replacements in the UK.
It does this by giving installers a professional stamp. If your installer is FENSA-approved, you can be sure it's compliant with building regulations and registered with the council. It also shows that its installations are energy-efficient.
What's more, if the certificate was issued after 6 June 2016, it demonstrates that the installer's warranty is insured.
Without these reassurances, you may find yourself spending a lot of time and money on a subpar job.
At Calder Windows, we're FENSA-approved. Once we've completed an installation, we can issue a certificate of quality: proof of a job well done and one less hoop to jump through should you come to sell the property.
Are FENSA certificates a legal requirement?
Replacement windows and doors are legally required to be compliant with building regulations. Any installations made since 1 April 2002 need either a valid FENSA certificate or a building regulations certificate. In the case of doors, FENSA approval depends on the amount of glazing in the door.
How long does a FENSA certificate last?
Typically, a FENSA certificate lasts for the lifetime of replacement doors and windows. It also gives you an insurance-backed guarantee, typically lasting 10 years.
Do you need a FENSA certificate to sell a house?
Before you sell a house, you either need a FENSA certificate or a building regulations certificate to demonstrate that your doors and windows are compliant with building regulations. There's also the possibility of the buyer taking out FENSA insurance.
Can you fit new windows and doors without a FENSA certificate?
Yes. You don't need a FENSA certificate to fit new windows or doors. If you're working with an installer, however, it's desirable as it shows the job will be done in line with building regulations. It will also mean you don't need to get your doors and windows checked by a surveyor should you come to sell the property.
Are FENSA certificates required for doors?
Yes, doors as well as windows need to be FENSA-approved. However, if a door has less than 50% glazing, it's exempt.
Do you need FENSA approval for DIY jobs?
If you've got the skills, you can fit your own windows and doors. However, they will need to be checked by a conveyancer should the property go up for sale.
Can a FENSA certificate be issued retrospectively?
If you had replacement windows and doors installed but weren't issued a FENSA certificate, you can get FENSA approval retrospectively. In this situation, you need a Retrospective Building Regulation Compliance Certificate from your Local Authority.
Are there exemptions to the FENSA scheme?
New builds, extensions, commercial premises and listed buildings all fall under the purview of the Local Authority rather than FENSA. You also don't need FENSA approval for doors with less than 50% glazing or for non-habitable areas such as garages.
Why do industry accreditations matter?
Whether you're a homeowner, a business owner, or both, you're sure to notice one thing when shopping for windows and doors: you're spoiled for choice.
We live at a time when the consumer market is saturated with choice. Navigating the endless aisles of eCommerce can be disorientating and leave you feeling less clued up than before you opened your browser.
How do you know that an installer is going to do a good job? You can look for online reviews – but we all know that one-star reviews are often the product of a bad mood rather than a fair representation of a company's services. Or you can go for word of mouth – but your requirements could differ from those of the recommender.
What you need is an objective measurement of quality, not the competing opinions of friends, coworkers and online reviewers.
Industry accreditations strive towards objectivity – and FENSA is an example of this. FENSA approval isn't just a rubber stamp. It tells you that you're in safe hands.
No FENSA approval, however, and you might as well work with a company whose motto is "Buyer Beware".
What other accreditations should you look for?
When shopping for doors or windows, you should look to see if the company's products are created under a quality-assured framework. If it's not obvious from the website or brochure, there's no harm in asking.
And if you're getting something installed, you need to be reassured that the installers know their onions. Again, there's no harm in asking nicely for accreditations – after all, this is your home and your money that are at stake. At the very least, an installer should have an NVQ in glass installation or surveying.
Conclusion
Choosing a door or window installer for your home isn't a decision that can be made lightly. You need to be as sure as you possibly can that the company you choose will do a good job.
So when you come to contact an installer, check to see if they're FENSA-approved. It's evidence that they're council-registered, that they follow all relevant building regulations and that their installations are energy-efficient.
Are you looking for a FENSA-approved
window and door specialist in West Yorkshire?
Get in touch with Calder Windows today for a fast, fair quote.
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