New door not compliant with building regs

jkpd

Who calcs say the doors are 1.9? 1.8 or 1.9 doesnt really make any difference what has it got to do with BC?

walford58

In reality 1.9 or 1.8 will make very little difference to thermal losses. The issue is that there is nothing to say that it complies it BR, and I don't want to store trouble for when the house is sold. If FENSA had included it on their certificate, the problem would have gone away as no-one would check (unless they're a PITA like me).

The Fairtrades association say I should pay for an independent assessment. Nice to seethey're firmly on the consumer's side.

thebaldwindowfitter

Doors with less than 50% glass do not need to be included on fensa submissions although we include them to avoid this issue .the point you raise about side panels to these doors is another issue how much glass is in the side panels because they may well have to be registered.

walford58

This is where there is some confusion. FENSA have confirmed they don't register doors with less than 50% glazing, but the building regs now impose a U-value on them.
If I fitted the door myself, I would have had to get building control involved, and they would need confirmation that the door met building regs, and the installation they would check for themselves.
Using a FENSA-registered company who does not include them in their submission leaves those doors unchecked or certified and open to a challenge, although obviously not in your case.
The side panels have been registered with FENSA, although I had to ask the installer to get them on the certificate the second time round.

jkpd

I can see your problem know,have you contacted the manufactuer of the door?

System

when is this going to be an issue??
as far as i can see you have done everything reasonable to get replacement doors and windows, i.e. you have had them installed by an approved fitter.
as the doors do not require to be checked by that fitters scheme - they meet their requirements
you can't really be expected to have done any more and the difference between 1.8 and 1.9 will make no practical difference in your situation - who is going to "challenge" your door?

walford58

Depends on your point of view. It could become an issue when the house is sold and the buyer's search throws up a discrepancy. I know it sounds like a long-shot, but I do know some decent conveyancing solicitors who actually put the effort in. I'd rather make sure that the paperwork is in place now.
Although FENSA don't actually record the doors, it is written into the installers obligations with FENSA that they will install to current building regs, so they haven't fully met their requirements.
With the quality of the installation of the rest of the windows, which is still throwing up some problems, I'm reluctant to let another one go.

System

If you are seriously that worried about it, why not apply for a building warrant? that would give you all the paperwork you seem to want

walford58

Are the building warrant and the English building control application the equivalents? If so, I have spoken to the local building control officer, who will want the proof that the components comply. In any case it's partly arguing a point of principle that the installer appears to be assuming that it's OK to supply what he wants, not what was agreed.

walford58

Just had another read of the FENSA emails, which make it clear it all has nothing to do with them, in their opinion:

They're right.
Extract from their website:

The FENSA scheme does not cover the following and work should be notified to the local authority:

• New build dwellings
• New domestic extensions
• Any glazing work in commercial and industrial buildings
• Listed buildings or those in conservation areas
• Doors with less than 50% glazing
• Room conversions e.g. bathroom converted into bedroom, new loft conversions
• Communal areas for flats

Doors notified separately to the local authority? That's something the installers haven't said as I was told: "with our FENSA registration, there's no need to notify the local authority..."

Planning Portal seems to state that all of the work by a FENSA-registered company should be covered and a certificate issued to me to say as much.

Maybe a hole in the system?