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REVISED CPS SCHEME – DCLG requirements All you need to know page 7

www.fensa.org.ukwww.fensa.org.uk F E N S A N E W S | S T A N D A R D S | G U I D E S | T R A D E N E W S

December 2012

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EDITOR’S MESSAGE

Welcome to the new issue of FENSA TIMES In this issue there is information on the biggest development in self-certifying through Competent Persons Schemes – the revised CPS requirements as set out by the DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government). These will raise standards in our industry still further and should be welcomed by everyone.

We are also covering the Green Deal and the ability of FENSA registered businesses to sign up for the installation of multiple measures through FENSA. You will be hearing a lot more about this in the coming months.

FENSA is the original and most established Competent Persons Scheme, founded in 2002 92% of all notified window and door installations are covered by FENSA*. After 10 years of working with our registered businesses to raise standards in the glazing industry we are keen to build on FENSA’s reputation. FENSA will become the first port of call on all information on installing replacement windows and doors for homeowners and installers.

The Editor*Source DCLG, glazing CPS notifications to March 2012

KEY CONTACT INFORMATION: FENSA Ltd 54 Ayres Street, London SE1 1EU www.fensa.org.uk

General Enquiries T: 020 7645 3700 E: enquiries@fensa.org.uk F: 020 7407 8307

Technical Helpline T: 0870 850 9957 E: techhelp@fensa.org.uk

Operations Director Chris Mayne E: cmayne@fensa.org.uk

Operations Manager Mary Hewitt E: mhewitt@fensa.org.uk

Marketing Communications Manager Sheit Lan Man E: sman@fensa.org.uk

CONTENTSNewsCE MarkingLocal Newspaper CampaignTrustmarkBFRC

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Message from the Team 6

Revised Scheme Guide Certified Installer Status is Coming – Are You Ready?

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Revised Scheme FAQs 9

Will the Green Deal Be a Big Deal 11

Glevum Conservatories – The 1st Company to Register for Green Deal

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Technical Issues from the BBA 14

You can download a PDF version of the magazine on www.fensaonline.com

December 2012

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NEWSINCREASE BUSINESS – Register with TrustMark through FENSA

At FENSA we are well aware of how increasingly frustrated installers are about Rogue Traders. We are working hard to stamp out cowboys by promoting best practice amongst reputable tradesmen.

So we have joined up with TrustMark as a way of promoting local and trustworthy trades people who work to government standards.

TrustMark is the government-endorsed scheme to help homeowners find reputable tradespeople. It is a not-for-profit organisation and supported by consumer protection groups.

Over 350,000 consumers visit the TrustMark website every month looking for listed firms. This is because the organization is trusted implicitly by consumers.

By being FENSA registered and providing you have traded for a minimum of twelve months you automatically satisfy the TrustMark criteria for quality and reliability which could do wonders for your business. Joining TrustMark is a great way for you to gain new customers.

Further information: www.FENSA.org.uk/ TrustMark.aspx

FENSA LAUNCHES LOCAL NEWSPAPER CAMPAIGNFENSA is launching a local newspaper campaign to create awareness within the consumer market.

We will be publishing articles in local newspapers in selected towns across England and Wales telling readers why using a FENSA registered installer is so important.

Installers may be contacted by SMB Consultancy (who are acting on our behalf for this project) and the local newspaper offering the opportunity to advertise alongside this feature.

This marketing will be assessed by FENSA and if it is deemed a success it will be rolled out round the country in 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a pilot and will only be happening in a limited number of regions for the moment.

CE MARKING IS COMINGCE marking and the introduction of the CPR (Construction Products Regulation) will become law from 1st July 2013; there is no option to opt-out.

CE marking is a declaration by the manufacturer that the product complies with the essential requirements of the

relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation, the so-called Product Directives. However if you are a window installer and you purchase unglazed frames and IGU’s separately then you are responsible for the CE marking.

Remember, you are responsible for CE marking. If you manufacture or fabricate IGUs, glass, process glass (e.g. toughen) – you will need to test/check that your products meet these European Standards, make a declaration of performance for the products and then CE mark. If you install a product without any modification you do not have to demonstrate compliance to a standard, make a declaration or CE mark the product.

Competent Person Schemes such as FENSA will not police CE marking; Building Regulations cover the installation of products while CE marking is for the manufacturer/fabricator placing the product on the market. FENSA have raised this issue with the DCLG who have confirmed the responsibility for ensuring compliance is the responsibility of Trading Standards Departments.

Installers who are GGF Members will be able to access the GGF’s technical department for advice and guidance on CE marking by telephoning 08445-674014 or emailing technical@ggf.org.uk.

FENSA is in discussions with BFRC to provide a simple and cost effective solution for installers to CE mark their products through BFRC’s authorized retailer scheme.

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EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR FENSA INSTALLERS!Now has never been a better time for you to become a BFRC Authorised Retailer. You can save money and time by joining the BFRC Authorised Retailer Scheme for windows. The Authorised Retailer Scheme will enable you to have your own label on windows that you install.

Energy efficiency is booming and homeowners are more aware now than ever about the benefits of investing in green products.

Benefits of the BFRC Authorised Retailer Scheme include access to a wide range of tailored licences, compliance with Building Regs (Doc LIB) and your company will be listed on the BFRC website.

The BFRC Authorised Retailer Scheme is a way of you demonstrating to your customers that you are one step ahead. To find out more visit ww.bfrc.org or call 020 7403 9200.

Changes by the Department for Communities and Local Government have affected the application criteria in deciding the competency of companies applying to join FENSA. For a window installer to be approved as competent they need to meet the minimum technical competence (MTC) for the sector.

The MTC involves Producing a record list of installers and surveyors. FENSA inspectors will check that installers/surveyors meet MTC via a range of methods which will form part of a fenestration carded system:1. ‘Grandfather Rights’ –

a minimum of two years industry experience

2. NVQs l Installers: NVQ Fenestration

Installation – Level 2 l Surveyors: NVQ Certificate

in Fenestration Surveying – Level 3

3. GGF Guidelines: The Good Practice for the Installation of Replacement Windows & Doors Part 6 (2011). FREE for GGF members, £50 for non-GGF members.

4. Knowledge of the installation or surveying of replacement windows and doors as outlined in the British Standard Institute’s BS 8213-4: 2007

5. Online tests and on-site assessments

MTC IS ON THE CARDSThe DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) have issued their plans for the implementation of MTC (Minimum Technical Competence).

All glazing CPSs such as FENSA, are required to assess/inspect the competence of installation companies’ installers and surveyors for complying

with minimum technical competence levels.

Installation companies will need to ensure that their installers and surveyors can demonstrate MTC through a range of methods which include online tests, NVQs, on-site assessments which will form part of a fenestration carded system.‘

Experienced worker route is the ‘Grandfather Rights’ route (i.e. having at least two years industry experience of installing/surveying replacement glazing in domestic properties) which is recognised by the DCLG and FENSA as an acceptable way to satisfy the MTC requirements for a maximum of two years only, after which they will be required to demonstrate MTC via one of the other methods which FENSA will be guiding you through.

After the initial two years of demonstrating that MTC has been met, installers and surveyors will need to undertake further tests and regular on-the-job assessments to keep their Fenestration Card valid.

FENSA is working with other key industry bodies such as the GGF and GQA to establish a simple structure for installers and surveyors to demonstrate MTC.

Full guidance details on MTC will be issued by FENSA during 2013 – so watch this space.

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E arlier this year FENSA achieved accreditation by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) as a ‘Certification Body’ to BS EN 45011: 1998.

This allows FENSA to provide impartial assessments of its registered businesses for compliance with the revised Competent Person Scheme requirements. It also means that under the revised scheme all registered companies will be classified as ‘Certified Installers’ (On page 7 there is detailed information on the Revised Scheme and how installers can make the transition. There is also a FENSA Guide for Transition to ‘Certified Installer’ on our website – www.fensaonline.com).

As a recognised Certification Body FENSA has stringent procedures that it has to follow. However, we want to stress that there is nothing for professional, competent installers operating within the rules to worry about and that we are here to help businesses operate under the new scheme and sort out any queries.

But for those installers operating outside the rules it is a different story.

FENSA will be clamping down on these businesses.

During 2013 FENSA will be publicising the negatives for homeowners who employ ‘black market’ installers in a series of articles being published in regional and national newspapers and magazines. It is all part of our message that the employing of a FENSA registered window or door installer is the only route to go.

We also want to take this opportunity to introduce two newer members of the team – Chris Mayne who heads up FENSA as Operations Director and Mike Sansom our new Chairperson who is also head of Building Control at Brighton and Hove City Council, on the LABC National Technical Working Group and ex-President of Local Authority Building Control.

The team is here to help you – whether it is through publicity, sorting out queries or by helping you to register as a Certified Installer or for Green Deal. ■

Please do not hesitate to get in contact: T: 020 7645 3700 E: enquiries@fensa.org.uk

A MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM

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A ll replacement window and door installers in domestic premises that self-certify through one of the glazing Competent Persons Schemes (CPS) will need to transition

to new scheme requirements and become ‘Certified Installers’.

CERTIFIED INSTALLER STATUS IS COMING –ARE YOU READY?

These revised requirements were set out by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). All glazing CPSs are required to introduce the same changes.

FENSA has published its ‘Guide for Transition to Certified Installer’ that is designed to help registered businesses make a relatively painless switch to self-certifying under the revised scheme as a Certified Installer. This Guide can be found in the Revised Scheme Transition section of the website www.fensaonline.com

When Will This Happen?Since October 2012 FENSA has been rolling out these revised CPS requirements and inspections.

Registered businesses could be contacted at any time from now until June 2014 by the British Board of Agrement (FENSA’s appointed independent inspection body) to undergo a ‘Transition Inspection’ at a job in progress. Installers will be given sufficient notice of this inspection to get the paperwork in order.

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What’s Involved?Under the revised requirements all registered businesses will need to have the following documents and information available for inspection:

A Customer Contract with Terms and Conditions; a Customer Specification Survey Sheet; a Health and Safety policy document; Public Liability Insurance and Employment Liability Insurance Certificates.

“At first glance these revised requirements could look pretty onerous and introduce a level of red tape that registered businesses will not welcome,” commented FENSA Operations Director Chris Mayne. “But we have set out how companies can source template documentation – in instances where they do not already have them – either directly from us or from organisations we would recommend.”

Experience is KeyDCLG also requires that staff working for window and door installation companies have the necessary qualifications or experience. All company installers and surveyors (whether employees or contracted) need to show they have at least one of the following:

NVQs (for installers the NVQ Fenestration Installation – Level 2;

for surveyors the NVQ Certificate in Fenestration Surveying – Level 3); Knowledge of the installation or surveying of replacement windows and doors as outlined in the British Standard Institute’s BS 8213-4: 2007 or by GGF Guidelines: The Good Practice for the Installation of Replacement Windows & Doors.

So called ‘Grandfather Rights’ – described as a minimum of two years industry experience of window installing or surveying – will also allow a staff member to comply.

FENSA will not need to see copies of the qualifications, merely a statement that these qualifications are held or experience achieved. Staff Competency Forms that allow registered installers to list employee information are also available on www.fensaonline.com and will need to be seen at a Transition Inspection.

Certified InstallerWhen an installation company passes the Transition Inspection, having provided all the documentation and information requested, the company will be issued with a new FENSA registration certificate as a Certified Installer.

Easier Than It Looks“DCLG has set out these revised requirements for all glazing CPSs, which require an increased level of documentary proof that companies are adhering to best practice. Most companies will have all this information – if not always in exactly the format requested – so FENSA believes that the requirements may look more complicated than they really are,” added Mayne. “It is all part of a process of raising still further the standards of our industry and should be broadly welcomed.” ■

It is all part of a process of raising still further the standards of our industry and should be broadly welcomed

For further information please go to www.fensa.org.uk telephone 020 7645 3700 or email enquiries@fensa.org.uk

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H ere are the first ten questions about the Revised Scheme – everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.

1. What is this revised certification scheme for glazing competent persons?These revised requirements are set out by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). This means that all glazing Competent Person Schemes (CPS) are required to introduce the same changes.

FENSA achieved accreditation by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) as a ‘Certification Body’ to BS EN 45011: 1998 to enable it to provide impartial assessments of its registered businesses for compliance with the revised CPS requirements.

As a result all installers registered on the revised scheme will be known as ‘Certified Installers’.

2. What is a ‘Certified Installer’?A ‘Certified Installer’ is the installation company that has been assessed against the revised glazing CPS requirements as set out by DCLG.

3. Why are these revisions to the existing scheme being introduced?These measures are being introduced to further increase standards within the replacement windows and doors industries in domestic properties as they relate to Buildings Regulations and energy efficiency.

4. How does a company transition to the new scheme?On the ‘Revised Scheme – Transition’ part of www.fensaonline.com (under main menu) registered installers will find everything they need to know including a full Guide for Transition to ‘Certified Installer’.

Basically the Revised Scheme includes two elements. The first is producing for inspection a number of company documents – Complaints Procedure, Health & Safety Policy etc. The second requirement is a list of the registered businesses surveyors and installers (whether employees or contractors) and their qualifications and/or experience of window and door installation.

FENSA and its inspectors do not need to see actual qualification certificates –

FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS

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a list of employees and their qualifications and/or experience provided on the FENSA Staff Competency Form signed by and vouched for by a company director or senior member of staff will suffice.

This is all presented at a Transition Inspection that is undertaken at a job in progress.

5. Can we stay on the ‘old scheme’ if we want to?No – though companies are given till June 2014 to transition. However, because of the number of companies involved (nearly 9,000 in FENSA’s case alone) transition to Certified Installer status has already started.

6. Who instigated this?DCLG.

7. Is it just FENSA introducing this revised scheme?No. All glazing CPSs are introducing the same measures. In fact, these revisions apply to CPSs in many different sectors.

8. When does the new scheme come into force?It already has done – but installers do not have to be on the Revised Scheme to continue to self-certify until June 2014.

9. By when do we have to complete this process?June 2014 – though installers are being urged to start the process now. None of the CPSs will be able to cope with a last minute rush – and if you have not transitioned by June 2014 you will no longer be able to self-certify.

10. What happens if a company does not have all the documents required – where can they be found?FENSA has provided either template documents or recommendations where template documents can be sourced. Details on all this can be found on the ‘Revised Scheme – Transition’ section on the FENSA website. ■

The full FAQS about the Revised Scheme can be found on the ‘Revised Scheme – Transition’ section of www.fensaonline.com. If you have any further questions not covered here you can contact the FENSA Team direct - T: 020 7645 3700 E: enquiries@fensa.org.uk

All installers registered on the revised scheme will be known as ‘Certified Installers’.

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The Government’s Green Deal will be here very soon! It could have a significant impact on the market for replacement windows and doors.

FENSA is offering its registered businesses the opportunity to benefit from any work generated by providing them with a quick and easy route to Green Deal certification.

Green Deal is the coalition government’s leading environmental initiative allowing homeowners to finance the installation of energy efficient windows and doors through the future savings on their energy bills. But only Green Deal certified window installation companies can to do this work operating through an official Green Deal ‘Provider’.

This is where FENSA comes in – having achieved accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service as a ‘Certification Body’ to BS EN 45011: 1998 for Green Deal Certification, FENSA can help registered installation companies to sign up as a Green Deal Certified Installer.

Window companies will need to be certified to PAS 2030. This is a new BSI standard covering “Improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings and specification for installation process, process management and service provision.” Copies can be obtained from www.bsigroup.co.uk

FENSA’s partnership with the British Board of Agrément allows companies to offer multiple energy efficiency measures such as window/doors and external/internal/cavity wall insulation through

Green Deal. One key benefit of registering for Green Deal with FENSA is that only one office audit inspection is undertaken regardless of the number of Green Deal measures registered – saving time, costs and complexity.

FENSA will be publishing its ‘Guide to The Green Deal’ shortly (available on the www.fensaonline.com). Installers can already register their interest for Green Deal with FENSA. A pilot has been completed with the first company signed up (see page 12 on Glevum Conservatories.) ■

WILL THE GREEN DEAL BE A BIG DEAL?

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G ary Jones of Gloucestershire based Glevum explains why his business was so keen to be the first company to register for Green Deal with FENSA through a pilot of

the registration process.

FENSA has been accredited with running a Green Deal pilot. This means FENSA are now able to offer registered businesses the opportunity to benefit from any work generated by providing them with a quick and easy route to Green Deal certification.

Green Deal is the Government’s leading environment initiative allowing homeowners to finance range of energy saving home improvements including the installation of

energy efficient windows and doors through future savings on their energy bills.

FENSA started implementing the Green Deal in August and Glevum Conservatories was the first company to successfully sign up through the pilot registration process.

The company was established in 1984 in Gloucester by Gary Jones who is now the Managing Director and they concentrate on installing high quality UPVC windows,

doors and conservatories for homeowners. Over the years they have diversified into installing windows, doors and conservatories for new house builders. They now work with Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon, David Wilson and Croudace. Glevum also have a growing reputation for refurbishing and building car showrooms through their design and construction arm Glevum Design and Build and has active subsidiaries working on Solar PV and gates/access control systems for both homes and businesses.

Today Glevum comprise of over 50 staff which include four surveyors and 27 fitters and now do work all over the country.

GLEVUM ARE READY TO ROAR WITH THE GREEN DEAL

We signed up to the Green Deal because we believe that once established it will be here to stay and become an integral part of our industry.

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As well as having a great customer base of over 20,000 customers Glevum have also won several accolades. They have been voted the Conservatory Installer of the Year in October 2000 at the Glassex Awards and Winner of the New Build Conservatory category in the Ultraframe Conservatory Awards in April 2000. Glevum were also the first new build window, door and conservatory business to be accredited with a New Build Standard by the BBA.

Gary Jones said: “We signed up to the Green Deal because we believe that once established it will be here to stay and become an integral part of our

industry. We plan to make the Green Deal available to our customers and we will be looking to partner with one or more Green Deal providers as an “approved” installer. With our complementary range of skills and services we see a great deal of potential for Glevum in the Green Deal”.

Gary Jones admits that he found the whole process relatively painless. He described the pilot as well structured, thorough, very fair and conducted by people who were clearly experts in the field.

“Bizarre as it may sound we enjoyed the workshop,”

He said. “The pilot forced us to re-look again at everything we do, to make sure it is up to scratch – which is no bad thing to do as a business from time to time. We also learnt from the process and the people who conducted the pilot.”

Glevum are now looking forward to the Green Deal, its possibilities and the positive outcomes for consumers.

On a lighter, historic note, Glevum were responsible for launching the career of glamour girl and TV presenter, Melinda Messenger using her in a marketing campaign in 1997. I think it would be safe to say that both parties have come a long way since then. ■

Glevum comprise of over 50 staff which include four surveyors and 27 fitters

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D ave Mecham, Inspection Manager at British Board of Agrément, outlines two technical issues that his inspectors are looking for at the moment.

Cavity ClosersThe junction point between a window frame and the building opening is vital for limiting fire spread. If flames and smoke penetrate the cavity it can spread much quicker. All new houses are built with these junction points in mind but with replacements we have to ensure that the situation is made no worse.

Different materials give different levels

of fire protection. For example 38mm of timber will give 30minutes protection but UPVC gives practically none. So when this timber window is removed, 30 minutes of fire protection has been lost.

When replacing any window the same amount of fire protection must be ensured by installing a frame with similar characteristics or using a secondary means of protection such as:

1. Sufficiently compressed Blown in or Slab Mineral Wool (over compression will allow water to track across the cavity).

2. Steel of minimum thickness 0.5mm.

3. Cement or Gypsum based boards at least 12mm thick (not always suitable because of damp).

4. Polythene Sleeved Mineral Wool (Fire Socks).

5. Intumescent Foam. Inspectors are looking for open

cavities where the level of fire protection has decreased – so a secondary means of compliance to Approved Document B must be used.

YOUR TECHNICAL UPDATE

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SealingInspectors are looking closely at how a frame is sealed to the building, particularly a “full perimeter seal” between not just the frame and substrate but also ancillary products like cills.

Cavity walls are being retrospectively filled with cavity wall insulation to improve thermal efficiency. It allows a small amount of water that breaches the cavity to flow through the material to the ground below Damp Proof Course. Unfortunately, if the flow of water

increases it can track across the cavity into the inner wall manifesting as damp patches inside.

When a window frame with concealed drainage and sub cill are joined, but not sealed across the back and ends, it leaves an opening to the cavity. If draining combines with unfortunate wind direction water can be forced into the cavity. In a filled cavity water tracks across producing damp patches usually below the window boards.

Even when the cavity is empty an unsealed gap between cill and frame can

cause problems. Any water entering the cavity has the potential to track across the cavity via poorly installed brick ties or cavity debris. Sealing the new frame and cill removes the potential for water to get into the cavity in the first place.

Other areas of note for sealing are between bay adaptors and frames, add on profiles, around the hole created for bay poles or jacking poles to pass. These should be fully sealed with the most appropriate sealant for the installation and location. ■

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