Devon Conservatory: Building Regulations & FENSA

Do I need to follow building regulations when I build my conservatory?

Basically, the answer is no as long as you meet the following requirements:

• The conservatory has an area of less than 30 square metres.
• If you have a radiator in the conservatory then it must have a thermostatically control.
• The conservatory can be closed off from the main house by a door or other barrier.
• The conservatory walls should be more than 75% glazed.
• Any glazing in the conservatory must satisfy Approved Document N, that is break safely (either be toughened or laminated) or if it is ordinary glass it must be thick enough.
• The conservatory must have a transparent or translucent roof.
• The conservatory is situated at ground level.

Again if there are any doubts then please contact your local planning officer who will be glad to assist.

What is FENSA?

FENSA was set up by the Glass and Glazing Federation because from 1st April 2002 all replacement glazing in houses comes under building regulations. The main aim being to ensure that all replacement windows and doors comply to modern insulation standards to save energy and not to ensure good quality work!

As may guess from what FENSA means the building officers don't check every piece of work that a glazing company does. To obtain a FENSA registration a small sample of work by an installer is checked by the a FENSA appointed inspector.

Once a Devon Conservatory installer is FENSA registered they can certify that the work they have completed is up to Building Regulation standards.

Any installation done by a firm which is not registered to self-certify, or done as a DIY project by a householder, will need full local authority approval under the Building Regulations. Local Devon authorities will know of all the approved installers in their local Devon areas and will be able to identify unauthorized work very easily. You should note that you, as the house owner, are ultimately responsible for ensuring the work complies with the Building Regulations.

Before you sign a contract to buy replacement glazing, be sure to ask whether the installer is able to self-certify. If not, either they, or you, will need to make an application to your local authority for approval under the Building Regulations and pay the relevant charges.

To summarize a Devon FENSA registered Conservatory company is useful if your conservatory does need to comply with building regulations as it will mean that they will be able to certify that any work done on your home is up to the standard. But, it does not guarantee good quality or timely work.