September/October2020

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Window Ratings & LabellingNOW LET'S TACKLE NOISE!Having brought energy ratings to windows and doors, Total Installer talks to the BritishFenestration Rating Council’s Lis Clarke about the organisation’s new noise reductionlabelling system and how she believes it can help installers win more work.Despite the impact coronavirus has wreakedon the world, one of the positives cited is howpeaceful everything had become. Now, withlife returning to some sort of normality – especiallyroads and railways – for many, having tasted nearsilence, noise pollution has been exacerbated.However, noise pollution has long been an issueand one that Lis Clarke and her team at the BritishFenenstration Rating Council (BFRC) have decided totackle: “Noise pollution increases stress levels whichcan have a serious impact on our health,” says Lis.“Most of us have anecdotes about incidences ofexcessive noise, perhaps on holiday for example. Butmany people have to live with it. That’s why it’sso important when making home improvementsthat acoustic performance requirements areconsidered for the whole building.“However, few homeowners have any real ideaabout where to start and we recognised the needfor a simplified rating system by which windowand door manufacturers and installers canmeasure and demonstrate the noise reductionperformance of their products, and by whichhomeowners may compare products for theirproperties,” added Lis. “After some considerationand research, we decided to develop the schemeand through the BFRC brand to incorporate noisein addition to energy.”Quality of life“Especially in the current climate, people arelooking for new ways in which they can improvethe quality of their life and especially as theyspend more time working at home. There is aclear need for a simple, understandable ratingsystem by which the effectiveness of windowsand doors at reducing noise may be understood.”Where windows and doors are specified withan emphasis on their noise reduction propertiesit is important to be able to understand theireffectiveness, says Lis: “Having a verified ratinggives consumers confidence and allows the“BFRC ratingsallow installers tosubstantiate claimsand win more work”Lis Clarke, BFRCinstaller to effectively promote high performingproducts. Verification is so important when thereare many unsubstantiated claims being madeto homeowners. BFRC ratings allow installersto substantiate claims and win more work. Thenoise reduction rainbow label indicates windowsand doors have been verified independently byBFRC and shows the consumer how the productwill perform.“BFRC determines the rating band by verifying thetechnical evidence provided by the manufacturer,”continues Lis. “BFRC accepts an approvedacoustic test report produced in accordance withBS EN 10140 or tabulated values from EN 14351-1. Installers do not need to provide BFRC with anytechnical information as this will have already beenobtained from the manufacturer. They can receivea rating from A++ to E. The only difference fordoors is an approved acoustic test report mustbe provided for us to verify the performance andprovide a rating. There are no tabulated values inEN 14351-1 for doors.”Lis says the scheme is aimed at residential andcommercial installations: “Window and doormanufacturers may provide proof and clarityaround the quality of their products, whilst bothhomeowners and specifiers can use the labels asproof of performance.”She does urge caution, however: “It is importantto recognise that replacing or upgrading thewindows and doors may not provide a singlesolution to noise entering the building. Noisereducing windows and doors are often requestedby consumers and specifiers who are lookingto combat external noise intrusion and we areencouraging our customers to advise whatother measures may be required to meet theirexpectations in addition to our scheme.”Useful sales toolFor retail installers the BFRC noise reductionrating scheme is a useful sales tool, designedto provide a simple method of assessing theacoustic performance of competing windowsand doors. It allows comparison and selection ofproducts based on independent assessment ofacoustic performance.“Installers receive their own BFRC noise reductionlabels that they can use in their marketingmaterials and provide to the consumer in theform of a certificate,” advises Lis. “Rainbowrating labels are easy to understand and arefamiliar to both consumer and industry. This givesinstallers and homeowners the evidence theyneed to make the right choice for each home’swindow and door performance requirements.Installers can also use the BFRC branding andlabels on their website to advertise they are aBFRC Approved Installer,” she concludes.Contact BFRC:020 7403 9200www.bfrc.org/noise-reduction@BFRC_Ltd18 T I SEPT/OCT 2020 PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST
Keepingwith traditionThe REHAU Heritage vertical slider is designedto incorporate all the desirable traditionalfeatures of a timber sash window, with theadditional benefits and conveniences of modernPVCu and offers an ‘A’ window energy rating.With a stepped frame, three sashes, a deepbottom rail and the choice of georgian barsand sash horns, the REHAU Heritage windowreally is the modern tradition.Windows. Reinvented for modern life.www.rehau.uk/windows
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September/October2020

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