Building Regs? Anyone know what the regs are regarding french windows? in a new build?
Question:I've been offered (free) a set of hardwood french doors, with double glazed units in them. The glazing units have the 'kite' mark on and the gap between the two panes only looks about 1cm at most. They're georgian style with 18 panes of 30 x 30 cm each door. would these be up to modern day building regs?
cm at most.
Answers:
The French Doors will come under the part L legislation and therefore need to have a toughened, low E glass, (such as Pilkington K) plus an externally graded locking system. The doors will also either have to be fitted by a FENSA registered installer or if fitting them yourself you will need to contact your local council and inform them of what you are doing and pay them the relevant fee for inspection and certificate.
Call your local building inspector to find out the codes in your area. He will not tell you how to build a house, but it is part of his job to answer your specific questions.
You can do whatever you want to your house as long as you live in it and own it. selling it is a different story
Your state may require that the door contain safety glass, check with the local building department, they are usually very helpful with this type of question.
mike j is pretty much spot on ,however if they are to be fitted into a habitable room they now require some form of trickle ventilation .speak to building control to check compliance.if you are fitting them yourself expect to pay about £70 for certificate and inspection.the kite mark indicates that the glass is suitable for doors but it must now be low e if used as external doors(low e glass looks slightly tinted) hope this helps
what you don't say is anything about the opening .. is it already there ..or if you have to form it ..if you have to form it then you will need to put in a lintel over with a minimum bearing of 150mm each side ..the kite mark says they are toughened glass ..don't worry about the thickness of the double glazed units ..they are normally 4-6-4 overall14mm in a wooden door ...they might ask for trickle vents ..but if you have a window in the room and it has trickle vents then they wont ask you to fit them in the doors ..by all means give your local building control a ring ..they are there to help you and will give you friendly advice ..and it will save you a lot of trouble later when you go to sell the house and they ask you if you have done it properly and you tell them it was done with in the regs and building control will give you a certificate after you have finished it to state it was done properly ..when you ring them they will come to your house and give you advice how they want it done .and you can fill out a building notice form and start straight away ..but you will have to pay a small fee ..but its well worth it
EU Regulations state that French Windows must come from France, Welsh Dressers from Wales, German Sausage from Germany etc
More Related Questions & Answers...