Trickle vents in conservation area

housebuyer7

Hi, I am trying to get new windows installed in a conservation area (house is not listed). I plan to get accoya at the front and see if planning will accept the heritage rose UPVC at the rear. However, the local company to me who do heritage rose say they recommend I don’t get trickle vents as drilling holes in the window causes problems and comprises the window and the energy efficiency. Obviously the new building regulations say they are mandatory but I’ll need planning permission and I wonder if I can get planning not to have them due to their appearance and if this will override building regulations?

Section62

housebuyer7 said:

Hi, I am trying to get new windows installed in a conservation area (house is not listed). I plan to get accoya at the front and see if planning will accept the heritage rose UPVC at the rear. However, the local company to me who do heritage rose say they recommend I don’t get trickle vents as drilling holes in the window causes problems and comprises the window and the energy efficiency. Obviously the new building regulations say they are mandatory but I’ll need planning permission and I wonder if I can get planning not to have them due to their appearance and if this will override building regulations?

Speak to your conservation/LB officer and ask for advice.  They can tell you how best to deal with the BC issue.

Make sure you have the answer in writing before having the windows installed.

diystarter7

housebuyer7 said:

Hi, I am trying to get new windows installed in a conservation area (house is not listed). I plan to get accoya at the front and see if planning will accept the heritage rose UPVC at the rear. However, the local company to me who do heritage rose say they recommend I don’t get trickle vents as drilling holes in the window causes problems and comprises the window and the energy efficiency. Obviously the new building regulations say they are mandatory but I’ll need planning permission and I wonder if I can get planning not to have them due to their appearance and if this will override building regulations?

Hi OP

Before you do anything like that, seek advice via the area conservation officer.
My family has found them very helpful. Best to get things done properly.
Possibly, bullet point the questions you want to raise and whatever is agreed, if you are wanting to vary from it, consult the officer again before doing that.  These officers can be very helpful and imo good at keeping the area looking as its supposed to be

Thanks

housebuyer7

Thanks I will do that! 

FreeBear

housebuyer7 said:

Hi, I am trying to get new windows installed in a conservation area (house is not listed). I plan to get accoya at the front and see if planning will accept the heritage rose UPVC at the rear. However, the local company to me who do heritage rose say they recommend I don’t get trickle vents as drilling holes in the window causes problems and comprises the window and the energy efficiency. Obviously the new building regulations say they are mandatory but I’ll need planning permission and I wonder if I can get planning not to have them due to their appearance and if this will override building regulations?

No. Trickle vents are not mandatory. Building regulations state that "background ventilation" should be provided - No where does it state trickle vents must be fitted - Note the difference in meaning between "should" and "must" and also have a read of the first few pages of the relevant documents where it says it is guidance only.

If you have alternative means of providing background ventilation (i.e. a PIV system or other air vents through the walls), then trickle vents are not required. There is also a couple of cop-out clauses where trickle vents can be omitted if the elevation of the building faces a source of excessive noise (i.e. fronts on to a busy main road) or you are replacing 30% or less of the windows.

The window industry likes to claim that trickle vents are mandatory as it saves them having to read and understand the finer points of the building regulations. Keep it simple, and dumb it down for the masses appears to be their mantra.

BUFF

You can get something like below which will let you lock the sash very slightly ajar - gives the ventilation of a trickle vent without the visual intrusion. I am sure that your fabricator/installer will be aware.
https://www.reddiseals.com/product/modern-locking-keep/

housebuyer7

I have air bricks towards the floor in most rooms, will that count?

housebuyer7

@FreeBear the window installer was saying essentially it's mandatory and that if I don't fit them then I won't get building regs sign off and he would recommend I decline any random visit by an inspector (should I receive one) and then get an indemnity insurance policy when I sell. I was very concerned to hear all this.

Mutton_Geoff

I was confused by the thread title - "Trickle vents in conversations area" and wondered if it was a place where voices could be overheard or a conservatory area, or by reading the thread, a conservation area ;-)

housebuyer7

hahahah Oh gosh sorry I have updated

FreeBear

housebuyer7 said:

I have air bricks towards the floor in most rooms, will that count?

If the air bricks provide a clear path for air to enter the room from outside, then I'd be of the opinion that they would comply - With one proviso. They are not there to provide air for a fire.

housebuyer7 said:

@FreeBear the window installer was saying essentially it's mandatory and that if I don't fit them then I won't get building regs sign off and he would recommend I decline any random visit by an inspector (should I receive one) and then get an indemnity insurance policy when I sell. I was very concerned to hear all this.

Refer them to Part F Section 3.15.c If your local Building Control office is willing to talk, you could try asking if the air bricks would count as background ventilation - If the air bricks meet the minimum area, there is no reason why they shouldn't count.

Might be worth talking to a couple of other independent installers (maybe a one man band).