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This knowledge management article provides additional guidance on the use of timber window and door frames. It is important that all workmanship carried out during construction is completed in accordance with the relevant tolerances.
Where timber windows and doors are proposed for use within a new build or conversion project, the frames must be robustly constructed and protected to ensure they perform to meet the minimum service life requirements for building components of at least 15 years as detailed within ‘Appendix C’ of the Technical Manual.
Currently CE marked products will be accepted in UK until 30th June 2025. For timber window and door frames, the applicable harmonised standard is BS EN 14351-1:2006+A2:2016.
UKCA marking is a new GB product marking that is to be used for goods being placed on the market in England, Wales and Scotland and it applies to most goods previously subject to CE marking. All construction products in circulation in the England, Wales and Scotland markets
must change their CE marking to the UKCA mark by 1st July 2025.
There are separate requirements for the Northern Ireland market. Guidance on our warranty requirements can be found in the 'External Windows and Doors' section of the Technical Manual.
The number of claims for defective timber framed windows and doors have continued to increase not only in conversion projects but also in new build housing. The cost to remediate can in some cases result in complete replacement being the most economical solution.
The failures range from:
External window and door frames form part of the external envelope and therefore must achieve an expected service life of at least 15 years to meet our Warranty requirements. To achieve that ongoing maintenance is expected, but the quality of construction and initial protection must be adequate.
Workmanship should follow the recommendations of BS 1186-2 - Timber for and Workmanship in Joinery, Specification for Workmanship. The design and construction of factory assembled external windows must meet BS 644 - Timber windows and door sets. Non factory assembled units and ‘bespoke’ units are also expected to meet the same standard.
Timber used for external joinery should be a species classified as suitable in BS EN 942 - Timber in joinery. General requirements and preservative treated. If treatment is not provided, use a moderately durable species or better (sapwood excluded). Guidance on selection is provided in TRADA Wood Information Sheets 3.10 and 4.16.
External joinery should be designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of relevant parts of the following British Standards:
Doors and windows should be selected to withstand the design weather conditions and be classified and tested in accordance with the following weather performance standards:
Bespoke / handmade window and door units must be designed and constructed to meet the same level of weather tightness as factory made tested units. Where these are proposed, there must be a detailed specification of the design, construction and durability of the proposed units submitted to the Warranty provider before installation on site (see more below in CE marking).
Additionally for bespoke / handmade windows, on-site testing at completion of the installation will be required. For guidance on site testing for water penetration reference should be made to CWCT test methods e.g. Technical Note No. 41 for guidance on site hose testing methodology.
Roof lights should be proprietary components, fixed within prepared openings in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and have effective weather sealing. A third party product approval for these roof lights will be required as proof of durability and weather tightness.
Doors and windows should be constructed to have suitable strength and appropriate operation characteristics as required. Aspects relating to strength and operation are covered by BS6375-2 Performance of windows and doors - Classification for operation and strength characteristics and guidance on selection and specification. This includes tests to measure the level of deflection in frame components when subjected to opening and closing cycles.
The design and specification of doors and windows which provide access into a dwelling or into a building containing a dwelling should take into account the requirements of current regional Building Regulations to ensure the system is classified and tested to the appropriate security resistance class.
Design and installation should ensure:
Currently CE marked products will be accepted in UK until 30th June 2025. For timber window and door frames, the applicable harmonized standard is BS EN 14351-1:2006+A2:2016.
The CE marking requirement for windows and doors applies to frames which require a ‘U–value’. This doesn’t apply to certain ‘one-off windows’ e.g. a genuine one of a kind window for a conservation reason using non-standard sections of timber as a replacement to match other existing frames.
This is opposed to a batch of several replacement windows being made that require a U-value e.g. for a Barn conversion project to suit the existing masonry openings (these are not one-offs as they are made using the same section size albeit to different opening dimensions).
The CE marking will be in the form of labelling that should be present when delivered to site. The CE marking will require that a factory production control system is in place and that the following ‘Declaration of Performance’ (DOP) is made for:
The CE marking will not identify weather resistance or durability performance. Separate evidence will be required to establish this; e.g. a UKAS third party product approval.
The validity of CE Marking is left to the Trading Standards officers to enforce in England, Scotland and Wales. This has implications for manufacturers to ensure information is made available. In the case of frames made by smaller joinery workshops (those having fewer than 10 employees) the Construction products Regulation allow for a simpler version of type testing regime to be allowed.
In these situations, the warranty surveyors will require:
Please note, UKCA marking is a new GB product marking that is to be used for goods being placed on the market in England, Wales and Scotland and it applies to most goods previously subject to CE marking. All construction products in circulation in the England, Wales and Scotland markets must change their marking to UKCA mark by 1st July 2025. There are separate requirements for the Northern Ireland market.
For our warranty purposes; timber windows and doors must be checked to ensure they are:
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Every care was taken to ensure the information in this article was correct at the time of publication (March 2022). Guidance provided does not replace the reader’s professional judgement and any construction project should comply with the relevant Building Regulations or applicable technical standards. For the most up to date Premier Guarantee technical guidance please refer to your Risk Management Surveyor and the latest version of the Premier Guarantee Technical Manual.
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