Fensa plans quick and easy transition to compliance
10th July 2012

Following publication by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) of its new requirements for glazing industry Competent Person Schemes (CPS), all Scheme operators are required to comply by assessing existing registered glazing installation companies against the newly extended and ‘improved’ processes. FENSA will shortly be issuing a number of guidelines and instructions to help installers through this assessment change from the existing to the new process. This will simplify the procedure and minimise administration time involved for registered companies.

DCLG describes these new CPS regulations as aiming to improve “consistency and transparency, enhancing quality assurance and improving the level of compliance with the Building Regulations.”

The assessment of FENSA registered installers against the new CPS
requirements will begin in autumn 2012. From October FENSA inspectors
will be assisting and checking to ensure that registered businesses
satisfy the new requirements. Before then, full details of the process
will be communicated and a ‘FENSA New Requirements Guide’ published. This will be sent direct to all registered companies.

“DCLG has issued all Competent Person Schemes with a document called ‘Conditions of Authorisation’ that outlines the new requirements that need to be met,” comments FENSA General Manager Chris Mayne. “This sets out what all CPSs have to do to assess existing and newly registered glazing installation companies on their technical competency. This includes a revised on-site inspection regime.”

FENSA has been preparing for this change for several months. Most recently, it has achieved accreditation by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) as a ‘Certification Body’ to BS EN 45011:1998.
This is a DCLG requirement for all CPSs. This means that FENSA has an approved system in place to help its registered businesses meet the new requirements.

Chris Mayne concludes: “The new CPS requirements for installation companies are designed to raise standards across the industry and should be welcomed by all parties. FENSA is here to help registered businesses through the process quickly and easily during the proscribed two-year transition period implemented by DCLG. There are no commercial benefits to be gained from operating under these new DCLG requirements and the aim is to assist the industry as much as possible.”