windows with a fensa certifacate

[rugeleyboy]

we recently had new windows and doors at our house, approx 2 years ago.

the new door we had is now cracking and the windows we had are apparently not legal because of the fire escape is not big enough.

the company we had them off has gone bankrupt, however we have had a FENSA certifacate to say they are ok.

can i go to FENSA with this problem?

i will be going to CAB aswell.

[Buenchico]

FENSA is a scheme under which registered window installers are permitted to self-certify that their work meets government standards in respect of heat-insulation levels and associated workmanship.

A FENSA certificate is NOT, in itself a guarantee and FENSA will not be able to DIRECTLY assist you with your problems (but see below).

However, if the company which installed your windows and doors was complying with the conditions of its FENSA registration, they should have guaranteed their workmanship. At this point you're probably jumping up and down while shouting "Can't this guy read? I've told him the firm went bust so how the hell can I claim on their guarantee". The important thing about any guarantee given by the firm, however, was that to meet government requirements, the guarantee should have been backed by insurance specifically intended to preserve the terms of the guarantee in the event of the company ceasing to trade.

If you've still got any guarantee document provided by the installers, read through it very carefully to see if there is any reference to the name of an insurance firm. (If so, contact the firm directly). Otherwise, because the firm had to prove to FENSA that they had insurance, FENSA should have details of the relevant insurance company.

The FENSA site is here:
http://www.fensa.co.uk/index.html
(If you click on the FAQs link, you'll see where I got the information about compulsory insurance-backed guarantees from).

Hoping this helps,

Chris

[rugeleyboy]

nice one chris.. i will do that.

many thanks

[buildersmate]

Means of escape in the event of fire is covered by Part B of Building Control. For a domestic dwelling, the need to escape through windows only applies for floors more than 4.5 metres above ground level. Normally this means it applies only to houses with a third storey above ground and first floor. Is that what you've got?

[rugeleyboy]

no, buildersmate

we have only got a normal house, upstairs/downstairs.

we had a bloke come round yesterday from another window company who told the wife our window openings was not big enough.

perhaps he was trying to pull the wool?