You may have seen since WERs were introduced literature and adverts that say “A rated glass” somewhere on them. Well, the BFRC has issued a warning today to explain that this in fact is not allowed, and that companies found to be advertising glass as A rated could face a hefty fine.
Window, not glass
The issue for the BFRC is that the official A rating is based on the whole window, including gaskets, frames, spacers bars and glass. There is no official A rating specifically for glass units. Current European Regulations do not stipulate a separate A rating just for glass. Only the complete window can qualify for an A rating.
Now, to be fair, our industry doesn’t always make information and rules as clear as they could. There could be a few companies out there who have advertised A rated glass innocently, without fully understand the difference.
However, those advertising glass as being A rated could be at risk of breaching the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008. The penalty for breaking those rules could be as high as £5000 fine should the case be heard in a magistrates court. The fine then becomes unlimited should a case be heard at a crown court, with the option of two years in prison.
The body overseeing the enforcement of this law is local authority trading standards officers. So, given their track record on other window industry rules they’re supposed to be keeping an eye on, we can expect absolutely no one to be prosecuted on this.
Boost for U-Values
The fact that the BFRC is actually having to give a warning tells us something about the whole WER scheme doesn’t it? If companies can either unwittingly or purposely get the advertising wrong on what is classed as A rated and what isn’t, then this cannot be a good thing from a consumer perspective. Homeowners already face a barrage of information when they start the process off to buy new windows and doors. Any uncertainty from one company to another as to what I officially A rated and what isn’t will only serve to frustrate and confuse.
This is where the argument for U-Values being the official measurement of energy efficiency becomes stronger. U-Values are considered to be the most accurate, and do indeed measure the energy efficiency of the glass unit. The drawback though is that the other important factors, like the frames, spacers bars and gaskets are not considered in these calculations.
In reality, will this warning actually be enough to frighten companies currently breaking advertising laws into doing it the right way? Will those same companies even know the BFRC have even put out a warning? Well, unless they read this site, or any other major trade press site, then the answer in “no” to both those questions.
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i was made aware of a company selling their flush fit window that had no energy rating and were telling customers to “just put an A rated unit in it “.At the time it had no weather testing either .
I get orders for “A-rated” glass all the time from PVC fitters, and occasionally timber ones. It compels me to ring them up every single time and clarify that there isn’t such a thing, just so I’ve played no positive role in re-enforcing the notion. Still get them doing it time and time again afterwards. Half of it is ignorance, half of it is just writing laziness.
Misleading adverts are a different kettle of fish, and deserves to be tackled strongly.
I am glad that BFRC have at last started to stand up and hope the other schemes join force. Having 5 BFRC labels we are proud of them and can easily show compliance. The problem is where companies say A Rated glass to get out of paying for the label, will they not do the same if we move to U Values ? How many installers have paid for U Value calculator so they can prove compliance ? Will they not just miss sell U Values. Some systems to not comply to Building Regulations just on U Value need the… Read more »
This is a fair point you make DGB – I have had retailers talking about A rated roofs!!
I think people use it as shorthand for a top performing product without realising that A rated has a very specific meaning.
Oh how beautiful , the purveyors of one mighty scam sending warnings that everyone must use the correct wordings when promoting the scam, absolutely laughable .
On a technical note , the overall window U-value is calculated for the rating system , ignore the spurious climate data and the non sensical index number and all the information you need is there.
There is no technical need for the rating system , none what so ever .
I find it hard to trust the BRFC when it allows companies to send out energy rating certificates to their customers who buy unglazed frames .