What is Approved Document F?
Approved Document F of the Building Regulations covers Background Ventilation (trickle vents). It states that adequate ventilation needs to be provided to maintain quality of air, comfort and prevent excess condensation build up in homes which could damage the structure of a property.
What Do The Changes Mean?
The changes to Approved Document F require the majority of replacement windows and doors to be fitted with background ventilation such as trickle vents or a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery (MVHR).
What Is A Trickle Vent?
A trickle vent is a small controllable ventilation opening, usually fitted in the top of a window, that allows fresh air to enter a room and allow polluted air out. They’re designed to improve the quality of air in a room.
When Did These Changes Come Into Effect?
The changes to Approved Document F came into effect from the 15th June 2022. Any window and door installation taking place from that date onwards must comply with the new building regulations. It does not matter when the contract has been signed. If the installation takes place on or after the 15th June 2022 it must comply with the new regulations.
Disclaimers & Indemnity Policies
Indemnity policies are valid at the point of a house sale, however if the installation is not compliant no indemnity policy would be valid. See more information on indemnity policies here - Indemnity Policies
Disclaimers are not valid. Any company suggesting otherwise is advising you incorrectly and your installation will not comply with building regulations. It will not be taken into consideration by FENSA or LABC (Local Authority Building Control) and be treated as a contravention to building regulations.
Who Should I Speak To About My New Windows & Doors?
Please speak to a FENSA Approved Installer about the requirements and what they mean for your property. It is the responsibility of the homeowner and the window installation company to ensure all replacement windows and doors comply with the Building Regulations.
What If I Don’t Want Trickle Vents Fitted?
The building regulations state background ventilation will be required in the majority of situations. There are alternatives to trickle vents that can be explored, such as through wall ventilation or mechanical ventilation systems and these should be discussed with your FENSA Approved Installer.
Are there Potential Exemptions?
Any exemption should be established at point of survey prior to installation. In the presence of doubt FENSA will require evidence that exemptions have been considered at the survey stage.
Conservation areas and listed buildings can potentially be granted permission to exclude trickle vents, due to the design restrictions placed on protecting the historic characteristics of the building. It is very important to note that only a planning authority can grant this and it should be explicitly considered at the point of planning application.
Busy Urban Road – When the property is close to a busy urban road ventilators should not be positioned directly facing the road however vents should be still be installed on the less polluted side of the building. There should be no permanent obstruction between the façade and the road (trees/ hedgerows would not be deemed as permanent) and the façade should be within 50m of the road and satisfy the criteria below.
There is no official definition for “Busy Urban Roads” however as a starting point in FENSA’s opinion a busy urban road would include all of the below:
- Classified as an “A” road
- In an urban setting
- More than two lanes in any direction
- Carries sustained heavy traffic.