DIY double glazing window replacement

[CIS121]

I thought this was against building regs to do this yourself and that it needs either a FENSA fitter or the BCO to sign off your work. Anything else and you'll have problems selling on the house in future.

Is this correct?

[Mr GrimNasty]

Yes technically. It's easier to comply and pay the BCO fee, although as some people point out you can buy an indemnity when you sell against the highly unlikely enforcement action. Although I'd be more worried about damp ingress, lack of lintels, lack of ventilation for gas appliances, lack of ventilation for condensation, lack of safety glass, and lack of fire escape provision, etc. than a bit of paper from the BCO.

[rich_vw]

If you use a Fensa approved person (although they are doing the work for 'weekend / mates rates') is this acceptable??

[Mr GrimNasty]

Only if they complete the necessary paper work I would think - being a FENSA member merely allows them to self-certify. It doesn't mean you don't need a certificate at all. So if he's doing a job off the books, it will probably need to be signed off by the BCO.

[Brother D]

Did not know this. So if a unit needs replacing like-for-like it needs to be signed off? Or is this just when replacing single glazed etc?

[jas xjr]

make yourself familiar to bc regs re windows and then simply buy those.fit them yourself and buy an indemnity.
have done this several times with no problems at time of sale.try u-fit.co.uk for a quote. they will haggle.think he is a ph'er too

[jagracer]

After the balls up the FENSA registered monkeys made of a bedroom window and French windows they slapped in my house I would fit them my self and not worry about a bit of paper.

[Chrisgr31]

When you come to sell werent the windows done ages ago before the need for a certificate?

[Mr GrimNasty]

Brother D said:

Did not know this. So if a unit needs replacing like-for-like it needs to be signed off? Or is this just when replacing single glazed etc?

If a door or window including the main frame is replaced, yes. In other repairs, no.

Most PVCU profiles and glazing units are date stamped, so there's no escaping it, without lying if you are asked.

I can't see the council putting a great deal of resources in to tracking offenders down!

The only way it could seriously come back to bite you is in the highly unlikely event someone dies/injured in a fire or collapse where your replacement windows are implicated as a factor, and questions subsequently asked.

[Simpo Two]

I can see the need for certification etc when gas or electricity are involved, but for drilling a few holes in a wall and bodging some plastic strip round afterwards? No.

[jas xjr]

Four properties that I replaced the double glazing on have been sold without a problem. The metal profiles are date stamped but no come back as yet

[Slagathore]

Simpo Two said:

I can see the need for certification etc when gas or electricity are involved, but for drilling a few holes in a wall and bodging some plastic strip round afterwards? No.

I think it's also about U-values and fire regs.

Habitable rooms need windows that open at 90 degrees? Or something similar. You do the job yourself and don't fit the correct ones and theres a fire in the house, you get stuck and can't get out. Probably worth paying that little bit extra to have someone in who knows all the latest regulations.

I know, chances of that ever happening are slim, but unfortunately, that's the world we now live in.

[rich_vw]

I did not know there was a need to get them signed off, would this be the case if you were replacing like for like (just out of interest)?

I can understand that you need to ensure you have your escape window in one room upstairs but other than that I'm supprised that BC would be interested.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Simpo Two said:

I can see the need for certification etc when gas or electricity are involved, but for drilling a few holes in a wall and bodging some plastic strip round afterwards? No.

Gas is involved. You're supposed to have all appliances re-tested after new windows are fitted. You could render an existing gas appliance fatal with new windows. Your old windows may be all that is holding up your walls, even though they don't collapse immediately. You could trap someone in the event of fire with poorly designed windows. Or cut someone's jugular vein. etc. etc. In extremis. The trouble is many FENSA installers don't worry about these things either, and building control won't bother to check anything except the glass if they even bother to turn up.

If it was up to building control, they wouldn't be interested. As said, it is about the government enforcing the use of heat reflecting glass (EU/global warming paranoia related rules) but mainly just another stealth tax.

[jas xjr]

when you specify the windows with the supplier just tell them you want them to comply with the regs you require. you can obtain this information from building control. uv values etc are fairy standard and ask for them to comply with fire regs.

[Mr GrimNasty]

The only way they can ensure they are compliant is to survey your property!