Building Regs for Doors & Windows

RichA · 14 Dec 2018

Grateful for some help on BRs for doors & windows as I want to be assured that my build will comply.

MOE Windows
- Is this all 1st & 2nd floor windows? Is it all rooms or just bedrooms?
- Do these need to be > 0.33m2
Trickle Vents
- Is this all new windows?
- Do new doors need trickle vents?

Thanks,
Rich

Notch7 · 14 Dec 2018

MOE: habitable rooms, so not bathrooms, wc, kitchens, dressing rooms.

On ground floor, habitable rooms not connected firectly to a hallway with external door need MOE.

Windows above a conservatory wont count as MOE, nor windows that only lead out to an enclosed courtyard.

Min clear opening of 450mm and min of.33m sq which is ewual to 450mm x 735mm.

Trickle vents: requirement is per room not per window / door IME building inspectors dont check you have the correct sq mms per room, but where they are needed, they will glance at the window and make sure one is there. Anyway, they are stupid things, they let through noise and heat.

RichA · 16 Dec 2018

Thanks. Are MOEs just required for new openings? Or do replacement windows also need to be upgraded to MOE (on 1st floor)?

Also what is minimum height for window. 800mm to bottom of sill, to top of sill, or top of lower frame?

Thanks.

Notch7 · 16 Dec 2018

RichA said:
Thanks. Are MOEs just required for new openings? Or do replacement windows also need to be upgraded to MOE (on 1st floor)?

Also what is minimum height for window. 800mm to bottom of sill, to top of sill, or top of lower frame?

Thanks.

MOE not required to comply on replacements, but you mustnt make situation worse.

If you mean height for toughened glass, I go to windowboard.

RichA · 16 Dec 2018

Thanks, that may help on the MOE. I am replacing crittall with timber. In theory that makes them worse? Or am I overthinking things?!?

That is helpful on toughened glass. i actually was thinking the height where you have to put protection from falling? I will keep cill height at 800mm minimum from FFL.

Leofric · 17 Dec 2018

Think you might be getting confused between means of escape in case of fire , guarding of glazing in critical locations, and protection against falling.
AP/DOC B - Dwellings -2.8a -openable area of emergency egress windows not to be more than 1100mm above floor level.
AP/DOC K2 - Protection against falling-Diagram 3.1 - guarding in dwellings i.e. windows in external walls -900mm min above floor level.
(AP/DOC K4 refers to guarding of glazing in critical locations -800mm above floor level )
Above not precise wording in documents but you get the idea.
So, height to bottom of opening should be at least 900mm above floor level. In new houses first floor windows often are 1200mm high with a window head 2100mm above floor level giving a cill height of 900mm. 800mm would not be high enough unless you have a 100mm thick window frame.
Regards
ps you can view Building Regulations Approved Documents on The Planning Portal or LABC websites.

RichA · 20 Dec 2018

Ok, I may have a problem, grateful for any further advice/clarification.

I have paid for windows to be at 800mm (860mm incl Frame) from FFL. I was basing it on K2 - below - but read it as 800mm for windows?

Have I read this wrong?

Leofric · 20 Dec 2018

You are ok, sorry.

RichA · 20 Dec 2018

Phew, thanks. Had me worried that I had scored an own goal and requested too low a sill which was about to get expensive (or I'd have had to have a rail across the opening ?!?).

^woody^ · 21 Dec 2018

I am confusion.

You don't tend to see lots of bars and rails in houses, except bail hostels - probably.

Glass in a window or door is protection from falling.

RichA · 21 Dec 2018

But not if it is open.

A rail was a last resort of I had specified heights that were below the regs height.

^woody^ · 21 Dec 2018

Too much thinking, I think.

lt8480 · 22 Dec 2018

In summary - a MOE window should have the bottom of the opening part of the window between 800-1100mm above FFL. If lower Then you guarding up to 800mm. If higher then its not a MOE window.

Whoever is installing them will either need to be FENSA registered to self-certify the install, and they should be telling you requirements - unless you are doing this under a building regs notice, in which case the approved inspector will tell you and sign the windows off. If you are doing neither/self install then it could be a problem when you come to sell if queried.

If they are replacement windows though usually the rules are more relaxed as long as you are not making things worse.

You mention you are replacing critall with timber, this strictly would require Planning Permission as when replacing /repairing windows the materials of the proposed windows must be 'of a similar appearance' to the materials of the existing windows. This is obviously not enforced throughout the country, but could be an issue if the street is consistent in style and you come to sell and it gets queried.

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Building Regs for Doors & Windows

Leofric

Leofric

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