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13/01/2006 - Accreditation News - Part F Feb 06 |
Accreditations Newsletter #3 focuses on Part F (Ventilation) of the recently revised building regulations and a recent New Build survey analysing the use of accredited products by UK House Builders.
Building Regulations Part F - Ventilation:
As of April 2006, Document F of the building regulations has been revised with regards to the ventilation of buildings. Refurbishments, New Build and Commercial projects are all affected by the document changes. The document outlines New Build ventilation requirements for the Whole House Performance based on the entire floor area of the structure rather than the previous document which took into account each individual room requirement. Therefore it is important that the ventilation of the building is determined at the design stage by the architect / house builder.
With regards to the Refurbishment aspect of the regulation changes, these will not apply until October 2006. The current regulation stipulates replacing like for like, therefore replacement windows need only have trickle ventilation or equivalent form of ventilation where the original had them.
The document F has also altered the way in which the flow of air is calculated through the trickle vent. The method of measuring the slot size to give a free air figure is now obsolete. The new method measured as Equivalent area or air flow rate which takes into account loss / deflection of air through the profile chambers, glazing chambers and ventilators slots etc, therefore giving a more accurate figure. The slot vent supplier will be able to give you accurate airflow rates for their slotvent products.
More in depth information regarding the Building Regulations is available on website www.odpm.gov.uk
Accreditation Product in New Build:
A recent report for the 2005 New Build
market by Robert Palmer has highlighted
some interesting results regarding accredited products in New Houses and the UK House Builders perception towards the importance of working with accredited suppliers. Below are Palmers results.
Windows BS 7950:
BS 7950 deals with enhanced security for domestic windows. It specifies test methods and acceptance criteria. Products that pass are awarded a BSI Kitemark.
House builders claimed that 75% of New Build windows were to BS 7950 standard.
Entrance Doors PAS 23/24:
PAS 23 covers General Performance Requirements and PAS 24 which covers Enhanced Security Requirements.
In 2005 house builders claimed that 91% of entrance doors in the New Build market passed PAS 23 & 79% passed PAS 24.
Secured by Design:
Secured by Design is a Police initiative supporting the Designing out of crime.
55% of house builders said it was either very or quite important that they used window and door products licensed from a Secured by Design Licensee.
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