Issue 1: March 2011

Build Check Ltd | Montrose House | Lancaster Road | Cressex Business Park | High Wycombe | Bucks | HP12 3PY

The exclusive newsletter from Build Check Ltd

Do you have all the necessary certifications? Hello and welcome to ‘Check Point’, the new regular newsletter from Build Check. We are a leading independent testing, consultancy and product certification organisation and we guide companies through the European standards relevant to the fenestration and wider building industry.

With amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations now in place and companies increasingly using accreditations to gain an edge over their competitors, achieving the relevant standards has never been more important.

This is why you need to talk to Build Check. We specialise in WER, SBD and glass and glazing certification; U-value analysis and weather testing. We can ensure your business has all the necessary certifications you need to succeed in the competitive marketplace.

Check Point provides further details on our fenestration services, tells you our latest news and there is even an opportunity to win an iPad courtesy of our free-to-enter competition. If anything catches your eye or you would like any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

Yours sincerely,

David McKenna Managing Director

Richard Bate Technical Director (BSc (Hons)

Richard is well known amongst systems companies, fabricators and installers for his work on WERs, including creating the technical background to The Oracle.

In this issue:

WER Ready with Solaglas

Page 2

Workshop success for Build Check

Page 3

Win a FREE iPad

Page 4

Fax back to Build check today on: 0870 210 1013

T: 01494 452 713 | F: 0870 210 1013 | E: info@buildcheck.co.uk | W: buildcheck.co.uk

Your Name: Company: Position/Title: Telephone: Mobile phone: Fax: Email: Postal Address: Postcode:

Business type:

Systems Co. Installer

I am interested in:Window Energy Ratings (WERs)Secured by Design (SBD)Glass & Glazing SchemesCE Marking SchemeThe OracleThe Oracle workshopsBFRC TestingWeather TestingCertass TTR

CheckPoint

4

Additional Certification schemesSecured by Design

Build Check is pleased to announce we are recognised by Secured by Design (SBD), the well established UK

police initiative. Our SBD Window and Door Schemes support the testing requirements for window assemblies and doorsets that fabricators need to achieve SBD approval.

Glass and Glazing SchemesIf you manufacture sealed units, Build Check can

provide accreditation for insulating glass units in accordance with EN 1279 and thermally toughened safety glass in accordance with EN 12150.

Windows and Doors CE Marking Scheme

The scheme covers windows and pedestrian doors for CE Marking to BS EN 14351-1.

Certass Thermal Rating Register

Build Check is now approved by Certass for their Thermal Rating Register (TTR) scheme, meaning our clients can now also register with Certass for WERs.

See reverse for more details

Win a FREE iPad

David McKenna Managing Director (CEng MCIBSE)

David’s experience extends into the wider building and construction industry, guiding companies through changes in Building Regulations and product certification.

Secured by Design

Official Police Security Initiative

ThermalRating

Register

To celebrate the successful launch of The Oracle, Build Check is offering every Check Point reader the opportunity to join the technological revolution by winning an iPad. Entry is absolutely free.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply visit:

www.buildcheck-competition.co.uk, fill in your contact details and answer this question:

The winner will be revealed in the next issue of ‘Check Point.’ Good luck to everyone who enters!

www.buildcheck-competition.co.uk

Win a FREE

iPad

?Question:Name three services Build Check provide to the fenestration

industry*

Directors in focus

*1 entry per person - Closing date: 30th April 2011Competition is for a 32GB iPad with Wi-Fi (First Generation)

IGU Manufacturer Fabricator Other

WER Ready with SolaglasSolaglas teams up with Build Check to help customers achieve WERs

As part of a major initiative, leading sealed unit manufacturer Solaglas enlisted the help of Build Check to launch WER Ready, a unique support package to help fabricators and installers achieve Window Energy Ratings (WERs).

Matthew Kirby, Glass Marketing Manager for Solaglas commented: “The response to WER Ready has been phenomenal and Build Check has been integral to the success. Selling energy rated windows gives businesses a marketing edge and a number of companies have signed up since the launch.”

To benefit from WER Ready, fabricators and installers simply have to use SGG EcoClear® sealed unit from Solaglas

and in return Build Check will take care of the whole accreditation process from start to finish.

For more information contact Build Check on 01494 452713 or visit www.wer-ready.co.uk

Introducing The Oraclethe fast track to Part L complianceCalculating U-values has never been easier

Workshop success for Build Check

To book a place on a future workshop,

call Frances on 01494 452 713

2 3

Build Check only launched their Schulten weather testing rig for windows and doors last year, but according to David McKenna, the new facilities have gone down a storm with fabricators and installers.

“Our UKAS accredited testing service is capable of testing to BS EN 1026 (Air permeability), BS EN 1027 (Watertightness) and BS EN 12211 (Resistance to wind load) and has certainly been kept busy by window companies since it was installed last year. The test methods are applicable for CE Marking and are referenced in the product standards such as EN 14351-1 while the results of the testing will allow classification to BS6375 Part 1 in the UK.”

Weather Test Facilities go down a storm

Major suppliers launch bespoke versions of The OracleLiniar and Distinction Doors offer The Oracle to their customers

A growing number of major suppliers and manufacturers are offering their customers a bespoke version of The Oracle as a tool for declaring compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations.

Both Liniar and Distinction Doors have incorporated their product ranges within The Oracle so their customers can accurately calculate the U-value of their windows and doors.

Liniar’s design director Adrian Redshaw comments: “Teaming up with Build Check is a major benefit for

our customers. Subscribing to The Oracle is a fast and cost effective route to compliance and means our fabricators have the option of avoiding the more expensive WER option when getting their windows accredited. I have been

very impressed with the easy to use nature of The Oracle and the feedback from our customers has been extremely positive.”

Chris Champion, marketing manager of Distinction Doors confirms: “The Oracle is quick and easy to use and in all cases our customers can print off a Declaration of Compliance document in a matter of minutes.”

Build Check’s Richard Bate concludes: “I am delighted some of the UK’s best known suppliers have chosen to offer The Oracle to their customers as a fast track method to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations.”

For more information visit www.buildcheckpublications.co.uk

To ensure their windows comply with Part L of the Building Regulations, fabricators and installers need to have either a Window Energy Rating (WER) of Band C or above, or a U-value of 1.6 W/m2K or below.

So what compliance method would work best for you? Richard Bate takes a look at the pros and cons of each method.

“When you compare and contrast the methods, the pros of U-values appear to outweigh those of WERs. For instance, U-values are low cost, there is no need for an audit each year, you need to achieve a U-value for doors anyway and some windows cannot be covered by WERs (opaque panels for example).

However with superior marketing potential, WERs should not be underestimated. Meanwhile they are the best option for aluminium fabricators who may struggle to achieve a low U-value and are also a stepping stone towards the CE Marking Scheme (a certification which will become mandatory in the future) so you can future proof your business.

In conclusion, if you want a cost effective compliance solution choose U-values, but if you want to plan ahead for the CE Marking Scheme or benefit from the marketing potential choose WERs. But whatever route you take, remember that Build Check can guide you every step of the way.”

U-Values or WERs?

To help window and door companies comply with Part L of the Building Regulations, Build Check Publications Ltd has launched The Fenestration Oracle, a revolutionary on-line resource centre that enables subscribers to calculate U-values for their windows and doors in most frame materials.

A 12 month subscription costs just £199 plus VAT and gives unlimited access, useful downloads and regular industry updates.

For more information visit www.buildcheckpublications.co.uk

Matthew Kirby, Glass Marketing Manager for Solaglas (left) with Richard Bate, Technical Director

at Build Check

Impressive turnout at Build Check’s Oracle and U-value training workshop

To help manufacturers improve the U-values of their windows and doors and gain maximum value from The Oracle, Build Check recently hosted a number of workshops from their High Wycombe headquarters.

Bryan Williams, director of Glass Services Ltd: “The workshop gave Glass Services Ltd a greater insight into the requirements of Document L 2010, enabling us to respond positively to the many enquiries from our customers and consequently ensuring greater compliance to the new Building Regulations and the quality standard EN 1279 1-6, for which we are already fully accredited.”

Treve Temby, quality control manager at Timber Windows.com: “As well as giving a full Oracle demonstration, Build Check gave some good practical advice on U-values which I found to be extremely beneficial.”