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With the new Document F of the Building Regulations due to come into effect on 15 June 2022, window manufacturers need to consider the design of their windows. The government announced changes to the building regulations to not only help the UK achieve net zero, but to also improve ventilation. These changes affect both windows for new-builds and replacements for existing dwellings.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the benefits of natural ventilation in helping support the safety of residents and preventing the spread of airborne viruses.

The new guidance details the updated requirements for ensuring that buildings in the UK have adequate means of ventilation provided for people in the building. There are two approved documents: ‘Approved Document F: Volume 1 applies to dwellings’ and ‘Approved Document F: Volume 2 applies to buildings other than dwellings’.

One of these means of ventilation is background ventilation, which is usually provided in the form of trickle vents. Under the ‘Control of ventilation’ the regulations state various requirements including, but not limited to:

• Ventilation should be controllable, either manually or automatically.

• Background ventilators should be at least 1,700mm above floor level, to reduce cold draughts, but still be easy for the occupant to reach.

• Background ventilators with automatic controls should also have manual override.

• All rooms with external walls should have background ventilators. If a habitable room has no external walls, ventilation can be met via another habitable room that has openings to the outside, which provides purge ventilation and background ventilation of at least 10,000mm2 equivalent area.

The guidelines highlight that a window with a night latch position isn't adequate for background ventilation, due to the risk of draughts, security issues and the difficulty in measuring the equivalent area.

More detail on the minimum equivalent area of background ventilators for natural ventilation, the total number of ventilators required and the requirements for new and replacement windows is covered in the Document F guidelines.

Failure to comply with the regulations can result in prosecution and an enforcement notice requiring the windows to be replaced or altered: “The good news is that our new Timber Trickle Vents help you comply with the new guidelines without spoiling the look of your timber windows,” said Coastal MD, Loren Jenner. Our TVT Timber Veneer Vent Set fits over the TVA Trickle Vent, enabling the vent to be finished flush and in the exact same colour/finish as the window.”

The TVT Timber Veneer Vents bring many benefits to your timber window:

• Available in a choice of three finishes – oak, pine and sapele – so whether you're staining or painting your timber windows, the trickle vents will blend in perfectly with the completed unit

• They fit flush to the surface of the window, making them less obtrusive

• Available in two sizes to help achieve required air flow levels. The TVT242 Timber Vent Set combined with the TVA283 Trickle Vent provides an EA Air Flow of 3,000mm2 and the TVT347 Timber Vent Set combined with the TVA389 Trickle Vent provides an EA Air Flow of 4,300mm2.

As Coastal's Head of Marketing, Neil Jones, says: “Don’t devalue your carefully crafted timber windows by fitting any old trickle vent just to achieve compliance. These new TVT Timber Vent Sets are extremely subtle while providing background ventilation. They’re the ideal trickle vent combination for timber windows.”

To request a Timber Veneer Vent set sample or for more information on how Coastal can help you comply with the new Document F: Ventilation 2022 Guidelines, call 01726 871 025, email [email protected] or visit the website: www.coastal-group.com.