Feb/March 2020

Building Regs: Compliance
IT PAYS TO PARTNER WITH EXPERTS
Wayne Rogerson, Joint MD of CENSolutions, discusses why in the face of imminent
Building Regulation and product standard changes, your business needs to partner with
an expert who not only ensures compliance, but also the systems and procedures to help
your business grow.
At the time of writing, the second phase
of the Grenfell Inquiry is in progress with
the actions of both clients and suppliers
which led to the tragedy being put under the
microscope. While we hope the inquiry will lead to
clearer interpretations of regulations in the future
and the removal of any grey areas in specification
and design, what we can definitely say, is that
even more emphasis will now be placed on
correct compliance and certification along the
entire supply chain. What makes this especially
worrying for the door and window industry is
the lack of awareness and action relating to
mandatory changes due to EN1279 and to overall
Building Regulations in just a couple of months
and again in 2025 (The Future Homes Standard).
Mandatory changes to EN 1279
from March 19th, 2020
The standard for the manufacture of Double-Glazed
Sealed Units (IGU’s) has been amended and
becomes mandatory on the 19th March 2020.
This hEN standard - EN 1279:2018 product
standard – is needed to comply with the
Construction Products Regulation and has
undergone several changes that will affect
Sealed Unit Manufacturers. The changes need
to be addressed urgently. We can’t cover the
complexities of the changes in this article
but here’s a summary of how sealed unit
manufacturers will need to comply:
• Primary and Secondary Sealant – compliance
with EN 1279:4-2018
• Molecular Sieves – change in test method and
compliance with EN 1279:4-2018
• Foamed Spacer Systems – test methods and
compliance with EN 1279:4-2018
• Testing to EN 1279-6:2018 – new parameters
and tolerances.
• Change of documentation to reference the new
standard.
It’s important to note that if you’re an installer, who
buys units from one supplier and windows from
another, you have to comply with EN 134351. We
can assist with a FOC solution or at minimal charge.
The changes are relatively straight-forward but
there is a process that needs to be adhered to
before the deadline to ensure ongoing compliance,
so companies do need to act sooner rather than
later. As is always the case with changing legislation
we’ve found there is a general lack of awareness
across the industry and no sense of urgency to meet
the deadline, which inevitably leads to a last-minute
rush when the deadline is upon us.
The Future Homes Standard
Intended to be introduced in 2025, this is the
Government standard to ensure that new build
homes are future-proofed with low carbon heating
and high levels of energy efficiency. Part L 2020
is expected to provide an interim step towards
fully delivering this standard five years later.
While the full implications on the refurbishment
and commercial markets are yet to be seen, we
can be sure that zero energy (nZEB) buildings are
the end game with ultra-energy efficient glass
and windows expected to play a crucial role.
CENSolutions: your partners in product
certification & compliance
If any of these changes come as a surprise
to you, you’re probably not alone. Every day
our team of Independent Consultants meet
companies who haven’t been made aware of how
they need to change their businesses to remain
compliant. They also tell us that anything to do
with compliance can be a laborious process that
they dread, bringing no real business benefits
apart from a ‘badge.’
CENSolutions was established in 2004 to fill this
gap by offering companies in the window, door
and glass industries a new, easier, and more cost
effective way to comply with the product standards
and obtain certification. We are now the UK’s
largest supplier of quality certification, working in
the Insulated Glass & Window Industry, and are
one of only three certification bodies recognised by
The NHBC.
This exponential growth has been based on true
partnering with our customers for the long term
and our aim has always been to ensure clients
are not only fully compliant with the standards
relevant to their offering, but to also ensure they
have the systems and procedures in place to
help their company grow. Customers tell us we’re
straightforward, friendly and offer good value for
money, and the industry backgrounds and expertise
of all our Independent Consultants mean the door
and window industry is second nature to us.
Contact CENSolutions
01785 716625
www.censolutions.com
62 T F FEB/MAR 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN