WER's

 October 2010 Newsletter

In light of the changes to Part L of Building Regulations of October 2010, we'd like to help you meet the new requirements for registering your windows for a BFRC or CERTASS Window Energy Rating (WER) or a whole window U value of 1.6W/m2K or below.

Over the past 12 months Northern Express Glass have been working closely with The Thermoseal Group and the providers of window energy rating schemes to ensure our customers get the possible advice to aid window installers through the early days of compliance.

Thermoseal Group are the market leading supplier of IG components in the UK and they have been our main supplier for over a decade. They have recently launched a new warm edge spacer tube "Thermobar" which has been specifically designed for the UK market and WER compliance.

Thermobar has the lowest Thermal Conductivity (0.13) of any spacer tube currently on sale. Due to its exceptional performance we can substitute it for any spacer tube already simulated inyour window energy ratings as per the recently published BFRC substitution rules.

If you already have a registered WER, you should note the change in the scheme which means that you can exchange some of the components of your current insulated glass unit recipe for 'same' or 'better' products without having to re-simulate your windows.

There are two ways of complying; Window Energy Rating or Whole Window U-Value, which depending on the size and type of window business can be easily adopted for very little cost and minimal paperwork.

If you wish to use WER's as your route to compliance we would strongly suggest you start off with a 'C' rating using our most competitive component combination, possibly still using aluminium spacer bar or an air filled warm edge unit. In most cases your window will achieve an "A" rating using our soft coat glasss, warm edge spacer and argon gas.

If you wish to use the no cost/no paperwork "simple route" option of whole window U-value you can, regardless of the type of PVC frame simply install our soft coat glass, thermobar, argon gas filled unit, and write your own declaration that all your windows are supplied with this configuration to show the Fensa/Certass inspector, in addition you will need our declaration to EN1279 part 5 Annex ZA to show them as well.