Is a FENSA certificate required for bi-folding doors?

tallac

Hoping for a super quick answer on this if someone can:
I've had a company come round to take measurements for bi-folding doors. In the moment, I suddenly remembered about the hassle of not having a FENSA certificates for windows so I asked the guy if it came with FENSA certificate. The guy said you didn't need FENSA certificate for doors. This put me at ease in the moment but I'm now having doubts as I can't think why it would be any different to windows.

Can anyone please clarify, is a FENSA certificate for bi-folding doors as required/important as it is for windows? Many thanks

tallac

This info on the FENSA website also doesn't help with my situation:
https://forms.fensa.org.uk/fensa-certificate



Reason is, while other parts of the house are having an extension done, the wall that is having the bi-folding door isn't being extended by the current project. Obviously, they're breaking the wall to make space for the bi-fold doors but it's not an extension. However, the wall for the bi-folding doors isn't the original rear wall of the property. There was a rear extension done a number of decades prior. So it really depends on you read the above information as to which way it falls.

To add more confusion to the mix, the same bi-folding company are going to be replacing a different rear door (separate to the bi-folding and not attached at all). The existing old door will be replaced and switched for the new style door. Therefore, a lack of FENSA certificate for this door is even less likely to fall within the "extension" exemption because it's not even changing the shape of the door.

Thoughts?

Doozergirl

Yes, it's a requirement, of course, it falls under building control.  

Fensa is a self-certification of replacement windows/doors to say that they conform to regs.

If you're having an extension you can get the doors signed off under the same application if you out them on the form.  Then the sign off will be effectively free.  

tallac

Doozergirl said:

Yes, it's a requirement, of course, it falls under building control.  

Fensa is a self-certification of replacement windows/doors to say that they conform to regs.

If you're having an extension you can get the doors signed off under the same application if you out them on the form.  Then the sign off will be effectively free.  

The building control application has already been filed and building control have already conducted a number of the stages of checks (there are still some outstanding). It sounds like I've missed the trick to get them done for free so I would need to ensure I get FENSA certificates for all the doors, windows and the bi-fold, right?

Doozergirl

Fensa, Certass or Building Control Approval.  

tallac

Doozergirl said:

Fensa, Certass or Building Control Approval.  

Thanks again Doozergirl. Given building control have yet to finish some of their stages of checks, I'm wondering what the cheapest/easiest way forward would be. Is it to ask Build Control (I've gone with Assent Building Control) to do the extra checks for the doors and pay an extra fee for them to cover it. Or, go for a slightly more expensive bi-fold door installer who will provide FENSA?

Doozergirl

Probably building control, but you can ask and see.  Ours charge £80 for extra visits, but I've never had one. 

I suspect they'll be more flexible than the LA would be.  

bpj

I was under the impression that self-certification (e.g. FENSA) is only possible for replacements. It sounds like this is brand new, so wouldn't it need building control sign off anyway?

Le_Kirk

tallac said:

This info on the FENSA website also doesn't help with my situation:
https://forms.fensa.org.uk/fensa-certificate

Shame they cannot spell on an official document!  It should be sited not cited.