What is Assure Certification?

There was a time not so very long ago when you could have new windows and doors installed in your home without any form of legal documentation to back up the quality of the work.

Then in April 2002 the government launched new building regulations requiring double glazing companies to meet certain minimum standards of quality and compliance with their new installations. Which brings us to Assure Certification.

What is Assure Certification?

Assure Certification is a way of giving home owners a measure of reassurance that the installation of their windows and doors complies with building regulations.

Assure Certification is actually an official UKAS accredited Competent Persons Scheme, authorised by no less than the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, for the replacement of windows, roof windows, roof lights and doors in England and Wales.

Why is Assure Certification important?

Two reasons. Firstly, it’s a legal requirement that every window and door installation or replacement in England and Wales is registered to prove that it measures up to the standards set by the Government’s Building Regulations.

Secondly, and just as important, Assure Certification is your own assurance that the person installing your windows and/or doors has the minimum level of competence required to satisfy the Government’s building regulation standards. You will also be sent a certificate to verify that the work is registered with the Local Authority.

A further assurance is that all Assured installers and surveyors are issued with an ID card as a further guarantee that they are technically competent.

It’s also worth knowing that were you to have an installation carried out that failed to comply with Building Regulations, the work would not be legal. Many homeowners could well be unaware of this, and as a result have to pay to get their installation accredited.

Is Assure Certification the same as FENSA?

No, however both organisations have members who are accredited double-glazing firms that provide certification to assure homeowners that they will have the benefit of financial protection and insurance, and that their windows and doors have been installed to comply with Building Regulations.

FENSA is The Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme, set up when the government launched the new Building Regulations for double-glazing companies in 2002. The regulations cover the replacement of external uPVC windows, doors, roof windows and roof lights in England and Wales.

You can find a local Assure and FENSA certified installers for your Residence Collection windows and doors using our handy search tool.