Comply with Building Regulations, Standards, and legislation in the fenestration industry
URN: GQAFEN17
Business Sectors (Suites): Fenestration Installation, Fenestration Installation and Surveying
Developed by: NSAFD
Approved:
2026
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 and Glazing Industry and are involved in surveying or installation sites and work.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- undertake all work following current Building Regulations, Standards and legislation which apply to the projects you are working in
- communicate with others about regulations, legislation and standards in line with organisational requirements
- seek and obtain information on updates and changes to regulations, legislation and standards from reliable sources
- update and maintain knowledge of regulations, legislation and standards in line with changes in legislation
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- why Building Regulations or Building Standards exist and when, and why, they apply to the type of works being undertaken
- how to ensure that Building Regulations, Standards and legislation 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
- work that does not require Building Regulations and Standards compliance
- who is authorised to carry out inspections of the work and approve products installed to ensure standards are met
- consequences of failed inspections on installers and installation companies and home owners or customers
- different methods available to support loadings above standard openings
- when a structural support should be present or installed
- why any defects that may affect the installation or structure should be remedied prior to installing a window or doorset
- how to determine when a bay window is, or is not, load-bearing
- when and how to support loadings above bay windows
- how to provide structural supports when required in new bay windows and how to ensure load is transferred onto new structural supports
- requirements of egress windows in terms of minimum area, minimum size and position of lower edge of openings relative to finished floor level
- where fire-resistant windows (glazing) must be installed
- where fire-resistant doorsets must be installed
- where self-closing fire-resistant doorsets must be installed
- advantages of installing thermally efficient windows and doorsets
- meaning of 'U-value' and the difference between whole window U-value (uw) and centre pane glazing U-value (ug)
- Range of U-value for windows and doorsets installed and compliance requirements
- terms "Window Energy Rating" or "Door Set Energy Rating", and how they differ from u-value
- organisations used to energy rate windows and doorsets
- maximum WER for windows and DSER for doorsets installed
- effects that the width of gaps between the panes of insulated glass unit(IGU) has on the thermal performance
- effects of gas filling, including argon, on the thermal performance of an IGU
- effects on thermal performance of installing secondary glazing and when it is needed
- the definition of safety glazing
- where safety glazing must be fitted
- types of glass classified as safety glass
- how to identify safety glass, the standards applicable and what the marking indicates
- whether un-marked glass can be classified as safety glazing
- the term 'finished floor level'
- how safety glazing relates to windows fitted in bathrooms
- how safety glazing is applied to stairways and how the drop is measured
- requirements for background (trickle) ventilation and how this can be provided
- requirements for purge ventilation and how this can be provided
- what the term 'the replacement windows should not make the existing capability worse' means in practice
- options available for use, to achieve ventilation requirements in line with Approved doc F
- why it is necessary to make special provision for access to, and use of buildings in line with Approved doc M
- access requirements relating to door size as indicated in Approved Doc M
- access requirements relating to window operation and positioning of operating hardware
- requirements for resistance to the ingress of moisture around window and door openings in line with Approved Doc C
- limitations when installing low-threshold sills to doorsets
- differences between open-flued and close-flued combustion appliances
- why open-flued combustion appliances may need ventilation through windows and how this is achieved
- requirements of ventilation for non-room sealed combustion appliances
- requirements of positioning window/door openings in relation to combustion appliance flue outlets
- when to provide protection from falling and how glazing can be used for containment
- types of glazing required to provide protection from falling and containment, and how to identify it
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Links To Other NOS
External Links
Version Number
2
Indicative Review Date
2029
Validity
Current
Status
Original
Originating Organisation
Proskills
Original URN
PROFEN17
Relevant Occupations
Glaziers Window Fabric and Fitters
SOC Code
Keywords
Fenestration Building Regulations, Building Standards