Building Regulations are important because they’re designed to protect our safety, our health and ensure our buildings are safe and fit for purpose. For doors and windows there are Building Regulations ensuring windows meet the required energy-efficiency, ventilation, better habitable rooms and ensuring that people with disabilities can use modern doors with ease. Importantly, Building Regulations and Building Control protect you from rogue builders.
This section in our Advice Hub area, covers popular technical questions relating to doors and windows and provides information on what Building Regulations current glazing systems should meet and take the confusion out of what some installers or buildings might wrongly tell you.
After years of consultation and delay, the government published the 2026 edition of Approved Document L alongside the Future Homes Standard on 24 March 2026. The new rules come into force in England on 24 March 2027 for standard building work, and on 24 September 2027 for work connected with …
In recent years, steel-look and Crittall® style doors have become a hallmark of trendy cafés, bars, and restaurants. With their sleek, industrial aesthetic, these doors add a modern touch to spaces, making them appear contemporary and stylish. However, while these doors may shine in terms of design, they may not comply with Approved …
If you’re replacing windows, renovating, or building a new home, you’ve likely been told trickle vents are mandatory. They’re not. It is sufficient background ventilation and Part F of Building Regulations that you need to comply with. In other words what you need is adequate ventilation — not a specific …
When starting a property renovation or building project, one of the questions you may have is where to get planning advice. This is also called pre-planning advice and should be one of the first steps in determining whether your project needs planning permission. The advice is always to speak to …
A well-designed porch is an excellent addition to the front of your home, or the side if that’s where your main door is. Porches add practical space, improve insulation and help with security. But before you start planning or building, it’s important to understand whether you need planning permission for …
While many conservatories don’t require planning permission, building regulations may still apply depending on the size, design, and how the new space connects to the main property. Here’s what you need to know about planning permission for a conservatory, before starting your project. When don’t you need planning permission for …
Are you upgrading your windows to replace old, dated or rotting ones, or do you want to improve the appearance, security and energy efficiency of your home? Whether you’re replacing old windows or planning to create new openings, it’s important to understand when planning permission for windows may be required …
When purchasing doors and windows for a new build or as replacements, it’s crucial to understand the significance of door and window double glazing guarantees and warranties. Double glazing guarantees can protect customers from defects in materials and poor installations. During your research, you’ll encounter numerous door and window professional bodies and trade …
Building regulations apply to windows and doors for the consumer’s safety and comfort. There are specific building regulations regarding security in new homes or dwellings for England and Wales called ‘Approved Document Q’ and Scotland ‘4.13 Security’, both recognise the PAS 24 security standard; however, Northern Ireland currently has no …
Your home should be where you feel the safest from intruders, so security should be a top priority when choosing new external doors and windows which provide easy access to your home. PAS 24 and RC3 | RC4 burglary-resistant security standards help you achieve that security. Locks are always taken for …
In October 2018, the UK Government published a Code of Practice for Consumer IoT (Internet of Things) Security. This paper provides guidance for the consumer regarding Internet-connected or smart devices, such as smart door locks and windows, in the home. On 29 April 2024, the Government’s Product Security and Telecommunications …
Introduced in 2022, Part O Building Regulations are designed to help homeowners of newly built homes manage and prevent overheating. As modern homes increasingly feature large sliding doors, expansive windows, and floor-to-ceiling glazing, addressing the impacts of excessive heat becomes crucial. While Part O primarily aims to safeguard the health …
When replacing windows and doors in your home, you must comply with building regulations, which can be achieved by choosing a certified installer through the Competent Persons Scheme. However, what is the difference between FENSA and Certass and Assure? Homeowners are not always aware of the building regulations for replacement …
When it comes to choosing windows and doors for your home or project, window U-Values must be considered in your choice of windows or doors, alongside how they look. Of course, styling, security, weather protection and choosing the right provider are important. However, the performance of your windows, particularly in …
It’s important to understand you will come across U-values and Window Energy Ratings (WER) when purchasing new doors and windows, and they must comply with the building regulations under Approved Document L. You must ask your installer how efficient your doors and windows will be. This article explains the differences …
The most important Building Regulations for windows and doors cover fire safety, ventilation, energy efficiency, general protection, accessibility, security and, more recently, overheating. With so many Building Regulations which vary from country to country, we have extracted and summarised those relating to windows, doors and associated glazing. Whether simply replacing …
For property renovation projects, homeowners look to save money, and the supply only vs supply and fit route for the windows and doors is one consideration. The supply only route is great for saving money but does not always offer full guarantees and product support, nor does it always provide …
We are often asked how to determine whether a double glazing installer is qualified or competent to do the work. So, while we’ve written many buying guides to help customers find their perfect doors and windows you also need to be sure that your installer has the skills to install …
In June 2022, Part L 2021 of the Building Regulations came into force, with an update in February 2023. These Part L 2021 Building Regulations brought window and door U-values and Window Energy Ratings lower for both new build properties and existing dwellings. What this means to the homeowner and …
When it comes to air quality in dwellings and other buildings, Part F 2021 Ventilation is part of the wider range of Building Regulations. In simple terms, Part F 2021 2021 Ventilation requests adequate means of ventilation provided in buildings whether by mechanical or natural means. Also known as Approved …
What are the best windows for coastal locations? It depends on how the windows are coated, the hardware provided to them and, importantly, the installer you’re working with and what experience they have. Any windows and doors in aluminium will work in coastal locations, but you will need to upgrade …
Drive through any town or city and it is often the case that you will see domestic doors fitted in shops and other public buildings. However according to current Building Regulations, the fitting of PVCu panelled or glazed doors is not acceptable because they cannot be specified with the hardware …
It is accepted by the construction industry, architects and reputable installers that when it comes to doors for public buildings, commercial doors are the most suitable and fit for purpose product. Commercial doors are governed by Building Regulations, British Standards and other legislation. One area where guidance and provisions are …
Consumers looking to purchase double glazing will encounter many “double glazing industry bodies” whilst researching door and window suppliers and installers. Who are these double glazing industry bodies, what do they do, and do they provide value to the window companies they represent and the consumers they seek to protect? …
Aluminium Commercial Doors are the correct product to install in any retail or high traffic environment. This is because the doors themselves and the hardware used on commercial doors has been tested and designed to ensure that it continues to perform despite the many people that can pass through a …
In choosing hardware for doors, whether internal or external, there is a huge choice of products available. With door sets requiring closing devices, locks, panic hardware, door handles, hinges, fire protection and automation, it can often be difficult to see a wide choice of products in one place. Product literature …
The Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) is an established trade association that does excellent work in helping the architectural aluminium sector and encouraging the use of aluminium in construction. Like this very website, the Council for Aluminium in Building has done sterling work in informing, promoting and educating about …
If your business premises are used by disabled people or even people with moderately impaired ability it is likely that even with manual doors they may find it difficult to operate them. Our article on the advantages of having automatic doors in your premises explains more about the features of …
It is not just the door closer, the glass or the weight of the door that can affect its ability to make it easy to use and comply with Part M and BS8300. The other important hardware fitted to the door such as handles, locks and hinges can also play …
Do you give thought to compliance with the regulations concerning commercial doors, are you breaking the law? Approved Document M and BS8300 are part of the current Building Regulations therefore doors must meet the design considerations laid down in these documents. In this article we explain how different regulations apply to …
Any service provider must ensure they make reasonable adjustments so that their doors can comply with their legal obligations under the Equalities Act. If you are a door and window company that is involved in either the specification of products or helping your customer choose doors for commercial premises are …
Many businesses might consider automatic doors as a luxury or unnecessary expense when designing or refurbishing their building. But installing automatic doors to even a small shop can bring advantages you may not have considered before. You may think that automatic doors are only installed in large hotels, shopping centres …
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