WER and BFRC – What Does It All Mean?

Author: Conservatory Outlet Team  |  Leave a Comment >>

Guest Post by Andrew Glover from West Yorkshire Windows

Today, I have been to the BFRC open forum discussion on the changes that are going to be taking place in October this year. It was held at Leeds United’s football ground and was attended by about 20 or so people. My understanding is that it was open for all licence holders and I am unsure if anyone else had an invite.

The idea of the meeting was to educate us about the new regulations we all HAVE to comply with and the easiest way to do it.

Basically, from the 1st of October, this year, all replacement windows will have to be C Rated or above and all double glazing installers will have to provide proof that the products they are installing comply with the new rules. The only way to prove what you are fitting, is to have it certified by the BFRC.

Currently, a large number of fabricators of Frames and Glass have submitted there products to be tested and there are hundreds of different certificates out there. Every time you want to change the specification of any of your ratings, you have to have it re tested and re submit to the BFRC for approval. Although it’s a bit of a ball ache, most companies have managed to get through it and they all seem to have numerous different ratings with different frame and glass combinations.

As for retailers, there aren’t that many companies that have there own rating, so most installers don’t advertise or push WER windows too much. Those that do, have a marketing and selling advantage (sshhh don’t tell anyone). If a retailer wants to push them, but doesn’t have its own rating, it can ride of the back of it’s fabricator as long as it buys its glass and frames directly from them, rather than frames from one and glass for another (this is presuming the fabricator has been approved). So all in all, if you are a fabricator or installer and you choose to sell Energy Rated windows, there is a way of doing it.

Cost wise, as it stands at the moment, I have spent in the region of £10k on getting our company registered, with its own licences and 3 ratings. I didn’t have to do this, as Conservatory Outlet have all there own licences and I could have ridden off the back of them, but I made the decision that we wanted to have our own.

All this has changed now (for the installer) and I wish I had have waited, as the cost are considerably less. My understanding is that the BFRC have now created a Authorised Installer Scheme (AI), which allows installers to use there fabricators licence and have it re branded with there own company name. This will include logo’s and Labels, the same as people with full licences.

The fees associated with becoming a BFRC Authorised Retailer are as follows;

• Registration Fee £75 – plus…

• Single Product license (if you only intend to buy in 1 product from a license holder) £199 per annum or Multiple product license (if you wish to buy in a range of different products (max 10)) £399 per annum – plus…
• Auditing fee £250 per annum

Companies signing up to the Authorised Retailer scheme before 30th September 2010, can do so for the fully inclusive cost of £325. (this price includes registration fee, annual multiple product licence and annual audit fee)

The BFRC also state:

Key steps to becoming a BFRC Authorized Retailer;

1. Speak to your fabricator, (they must be a BFRC license holder and they must inform BFRC that they are happy for you to become an AR)
2. Complete the application form below (remember to include details of the products that you wish to retail) Ask your fabricator to complete the Approval form also below.
3. If you are going to source sealed units independently from the License holder, let us know who your supplier is going to be (along with the details requested within the form) Remember: Sealed units need to be identical to those used by the licence holder.
4. Once we have received your completed application form and checked the details, we will send you the appropriate invoice (costs are listed below)
5. Upon payment of the appropriate fees, BFRC will list your company and the energy rated products you are retailing on the BFRC website. You will also receive copies of the artwork relating to your BFRC license (energy labels) and a copy of the BFRC Marketing toolkit.
6. BFRC will appoint an Independent Agent to undertake a surveillance check. After approximately 8 – 10 weeks you will have a surveillance check (this check will take place annually)

So really, not that difficult.

They have also changed that way and cost for getting additional ratings, by allowing you to have a sub licence for changes in the products. For example, you can have one licence for a 70mm medium outer frame, white window with 4mm Pilkington K, 90% argon, 4mm clear glass as your standard C Rated window and have a sub licence for the same window, but a change from K glass to a soft coat. This will cost you a one off payment of £50 and no more on the annual fee. The idea behind this is that you wouldn’t be tied to one product and have the choice to change.

Now, all this is very good and simple for larger companies that can afford to pay the fees, but if you are a smaller installer or one man band, you will have all the same fees to pay as larger companies and as it stands at the moment, you have no choice, you have to comply!

I must say, if I worked for myself, as a one man band, I would be questioning if I want to continue. It’s going to be very difficult and costly to stay legal, doing what you are doing, and you have to ask yourself if it’s worth it?

Saying that, I am sure all the same talks went around when FENSA came in and we have all adhered to it (well most of us).

For my business (West Yorkshire Windows), there isn’t going to be a great deal of change, so it’s going to be business as usual, but I am sure others will have a different opinion…

Want to find out more about WER’s & the BFRC – visit:  www.glasstalk.co.uk