Replacement windows

[Starlitegaize]

I live in a conservation area in a house which is a local heritage building. I recently had to have my French doors replaced as they had rotted - the frame remained in situ.
Building control came round and said that the u-value of the glazing didn’t meet current regs, as it is 2.1 against a requirement of 1.4w/m2k.
As the house is currently in the process of being sold, anyone got any ideas as to what can I do to sort out this problem?
Thanks

 

[Wayners]

Glazing company will swap glass

I'd also contact installers as they made the mistake

 

[Notch7]

the frame remained in situ

My guess is the news doors were made to suit the existing frame rebate and the thickness of the doors, probably 45mm only allowed for a 4-6-4 DG unit. Ie 15mm door moulding, 14mm glass, 14mm beading and 2mm setback.

You might struggle to get the unit up value low enough….unless Krypton gas fill is used but it’s chuffing expensive..

 

[^woody^]

You could ask for a relaxation of the requirements based on the heritage building, but that may not be accepted if there are options which meet the requirement.

Get someone to certify the door.

Replace the glass, with an insulated timber or plastic panel, get it signed off, then reglaze.

 

[mrrusty]

Surely if you did a repair by replacing the openers and keeping the frames it is a "repair" and not replacement and BR don't apply...

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

He replaced them.

 

[mrrusty]

the frame remained in situ.

 

[wessex101]

There is not enough information to give a definitive answer. Why did Building Control "come round"? Did OP make an application to replace the doors, was there other work going on in the house or were they just passing and noticed the new doors being installed?
Who installed the doors and what is their responsibility is also important?

To answer the question the target U value is only a guide and not a mandatory requirement. There are a few ways you can have a lower value. As Woody suggested historic properties can claim a lower value due to cost and complications of achieving low U values whilst maintaining the historic fabric of the building. You could try an "area weighted calculation" where improved insulation elsewhere mitigated the high U value of the doors. Finally try a SAP calculation showing the overall thermal performance of the property is still better than the original even with the higher U value of the new doors.

I think mr rusty probably has the best answer. Here is the extract from the approved document .....
10.6 The term controlled fitting refers to the entire unit of a window, roof window, rooflight or door, including the frame. Replacing glazing, or a window or door in its existing frame is not providing a controlled fitting. Such work does not need to meet the energy efficiency requirements

 

[Starlitegaize]

There is not enough information to give a definitive answer. Why did Building Control "come round"? Did OP make an application to replace the doors, was there other work going on in the house or were they just passing and noticed the new doors being installed?
Who installed the doors and what is their responsibility is also important?

To answer the question the target U value is only a guide and not a mandatory requirement. There are a few ways you can have a lower value. As Woody suggested historic properties can claim a lower value due to cost and complications of achieving low U values whilst maintaining the historic fabric of the building. You could try an "area weighted calculation" where improved insulation elsewhere mitigated the high U value of the doors. Finally try a SAP calculation showing the overall thermal performance of the property is still better than the original even with the higher U value of the new doors.

I think mr rusty probably has the best answer. Here is the extract from the approved document .....
10.6 The term controlled fitting refers to the entire unit of a window, roof window, rooflight or door, including the frame. Replacing glazing, or a window or door in its existing frame is not providing a controlled fitting. Such work does not need to meet the energy efficiency requirements

Thanks for this, Wessex101.
As the house is under offer, and the original windows had been signed off back in 2007, I thought I’d better do the right thing and get sign off. My fitter isn’t FENSA registered so Building control was my only option. This is the first time the fitter’s ever experienced this problem too.
In order to get sign off, I might just attach polyglazing which is up to the new owner to decide if they want to keep it or not. Do you think that would work?

PS the 10.6 The term controlled fitting refers to the entire unit of a window, roof window, rooflight or door, including the frame. Replacing glazing, or a window or door in its existing frame is not providing a controlled fitting. Such work does not need to meet the energy efficiency requirements - which document is this please?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

https://assets.publishing.service.g...021_edition_incorporating_2023_amendments.pdf page 72 of the pdf

 

[mrrusty]

page 72 of the pdf

page 62 when I opened it......

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

62 of the document, 72 of the pdf.