BFRC Accused of WER Monopoly

A leading supplier of IG machinery has alleged that the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) is abusing a monopoly position in providing Window Energy Ratings (WER) by unfairly favouring window companies and fabricators over component manufacturers. In a letter sent to the main glazing press last week, Mark Hickox, Sales Director of Thermoseal Group, claimed that, because WERs are based on the complete manufactured window, it will be not be possible for glass sealed unit manufacturers to show that their products comply with the Building Regulations if the new Approved Document L prescribes WERs as the method of compliance for windows.  He argued that this would lead to the fabricators consolidating control of the market by allowing installers and window companies to use their licence only if they bought the sealed units from them.  Furthermore, because a new simulation has to be undertaken at a cost every time a component changes, the changed regulations will remove any incentive to improve or innovate with new, superior components. Responding to the allegations, the Glass and Glazing Federation pointed out that Thermoseal’s case was based on the assumption that the new AD L would require windows to have a minimum Band C WER.  As the Approved Document has not yet been published, this was speculation.  GGF Chief Executive Nigel Rees said ‘The revised Building Regulations will be published shortly and there is then a period prior to their implementation in October 2010 during which these will be assessed in depth.  Perhaps then will be a more appropriate time for this type of discussion, when the full facts are known and we will see if Mr Hickox’s comments will be validated.’ Several organisations (not least the BWF) argued in their response to the consultation that there should be several means of compliance, and the GGF expected that this would be the case. While it acknowledged that BFRC was the only body in the UK running a WER Scheme, the GGF said that there was no reason why others could not be established.  However, they would all have to base their ratings on the same Government and EU formula to calculate the ratings, which produced a whole window energy result.  BFRC was working on several adaptations, such as an ‘Authorised Retailer’ Scheme and a ‘Certificate of Addition’ variation which would bring greater flexibility into the current system without compromising its integrity.