New innovations in trickle vent technologies are required if window specifiers in the housing industry are to be properly supported following recent changes to the Future Homes Standard.
Under changes laid out by the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in the Standard surrounding Approved Document F, which looks at ventilation requirements for homes, measures must be taken to futureproof all new windows from June 15 2022. With the upheaval this could create for architects, surveyors and specifiers, technical experts at leading polymer systems window manufacturer REHAU are citing the importance of trickle vents as a solution.
“The changes to the building regulations under the Future Homes Standard have been long advertised, but this shouldn’t downplay the huge impact it will have on all aspects of a project, including frame and sash design,” explains Mark Gajda, Head of Technical Services and Certification at REHAU Windows. “Developers are under growing pressure to select products that adhere to increasing ventilation requirements set down by the Government, and window suppliers must be able step in to support them as best possible.
“In the immediate future, this means being aware of innovations around ventilation-minded window accessories such as trickle vents, and how they can combine with the most thermally efficient frames and sashes. These represent a readily available solution to meeting updated, mandatory Part F requirements on new and existing projects and installations. This is why suppliers like REHAU have developed accepted solutions in conjunction with plastic injection moulders such as Glazpart.”
Taking these evolving regulations into account, REHAU has recently launched its ‘In the Frame’ initiative to help housing specifiers navigate the complex legislative landscape, technical specifications and sustainability targets surrounding windows. As part of this programme, the polymer system provider has published a series of fact sheets guiding sector professionals through changes made to ventilation and energy efficiency requirements under the Future Home Standard.
“The legislative updates contained within the Future Homes Standard were supposed to lead to clarity for the sector, but the situation can still be quite confusing,” concludes Mark. “Instead, specifiers are now being bombarded with multiple sources of conflicting advice. We hope these documents can help cut through the noise surrounding the Future Homes Standard, and look at how solutions such as trickle vents can help projects meet stricter ventilation requirements.”
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