GQAFEN17 Comply with Building Regulations, Standards, and legislation in the fenestration industry

Overview

This standard covers the broad requirements of the Building Regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Building Standards in Scotland that are applicable to fenestration installation activities You should ensure that installations do not endanger life and comply with the statutory requirements, keep your knowledge current and communicate with others when required.

This standard is for you if you work in the Fenestration Industry and are involved in surveying or installation sites and work.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

1. undertake all work following current Building Regulations, Standards and Legislation which apply to the projects you are working in
2. communicate with others about regulations, legislation and standards in line with organisational requirements
3. seek and obtain information on updates and changes to regulations, legislation and standards from reliable sources
4. update and maintain knowledge of regulations, legislation and standards in line with changes in legislation

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

1. why Building Regulations or Building Standards exist and when, and why, they apply to the type of works being undertaken
2. how to ensure that Building Regulations, legislation and Standards are complied with, in full, and which must be considered to ensure reasonable standards of health and safety for persons in and about buildings, are maintained
3. work that does not require Building Regulation and Standard compliance
4. who is authorised to carry out inspections of the work and approve products installed to ensure standards are met
5. consequences of failed inspections on Installers and Installation companies and home owners
6. different methods available to support loadings above standard openings
7. when a structural support should be present or installed
8. why any defects that may affect the installation or structure should be remedied prior to installing a window or doorset
9. how to determine when a bay window is, or is not, load-bearing
10. when and how to support loadings above bay windows
11. how to provide structural supports when required in new bay windows and how to ensure load is transferred onto new structural supports
12. requirements of egress windows in terms of minimum area, minimum size and position of lower edge of openings relative to finished floor level
13. where fire-resistant windows (glazing) must be installed
14. where fire-resistant doorsets must be installed
15. where self-closing fire-resistant doorsets must be installed
16. advantages of installing thermally efficient windows and doorsets
17. meaning of 'U-value' and the difference between whole window U-value (uw) and centre pane glazing U-value (ug)
18. Range of U-value for windows and doorsets installed and compliance requirements
19. terms "Window Energy Rating" or "Door Set Energy Rating", and how they differ from u- value
20. organisations used to energy rate windows and doorsets
21. maximum WER for windows and DSER for doorsets installed
22. effects that the width of gaps between the panes of insulated glass unit(IGU) has on the thermal performance
23. effects of gas filling, including argon, on the thermal performance of an IGU
24. effects on thermal performance of installing secondary glazing and when it is needed
25. the definition of safety glazing
26. where safety glazing must be fitted
27. types of glass classified as safety glass
28. how to identify safety glass, the standards applicable and what the marking indicates
29. whether un-marked glass can be classified as safety glazing
30. the term 'finished floor level'
31. how safety glazing relates to windows fitted in bathrooms
32. how safety glazing is applied to stairways and how the drop is measured
33. requirements for background (trickle) ventilation and how this can be provided
34. requirements for purge ventilation and how this can be provided
35. what the term 'the replacement windows should not make the existing capability worse' means in practice
36. options available for use, to achieve ventilation requirements in line with Approved doc F
37. why it is necessary to make special provision for access to, and use of buildings in line with Approved doc M
38. access requirements relating to door size as indicated in Approved Doc M
39. access requirements relating to window operation and positioning of operating hardware
40. requirements for resistance to the ingress of moisture around window and door openings in line with Approved Doc C
41. limitations when installing low-threshold sills to doorsets
42. differences between open-flued and close-flued combustion appliances
43. why open-flued combustion appliances may need ventilation through windows and how this is achieved
44. requirements of ventilation for non-room sealed combustion appliances
45. requirements of positioning window/door openings in relation to combustion appliance flue outlets
46. when to provide protection from falling and how glazing can be used for containment
47. types of glazing required to provide protection from falling and containment, and how to identify it

Relevant Occupations    

Glaziers Window Fabric and Fitters

Keywords           

Fenestration Building Regulations, Building Standards