hello,

i want to get new windows put in but the price for double glazed wooden windows is proving to be a problem. its an old house so the windows have to be made and i've had a couple of quotes which have both come in above a grand a window. i have two bay windows at the front and have been told the price for each individual window will be the same irrespective of size, so it is going to cost over three grand for each bay. one way i have thought that i might be able to save money is to get the side windows in each bay to be made to look like sash windows but not actually open. The main window in each bay will still open in the normal way. I have been told that these 'fake' windows will be much cheaper to get made.

Unfortunately i think i might have problems with fire regulations though. Am i right in thinking that every new window has to be able to open in case of fire hazard? If this is the case would i be able to get around it by using the argument that the bay window does open (even though the side panels do not).

I hope this is clear and thank you in anticipation.

Are the poeple you have had quotes off FENSA registered ? If they are they should have considered all of the regs as they will be repsonsible for compliance. If however you are using a non FENSA supplier to fit or possibly even getting the windows made supply only and fitting yourself then you will need to get approval from your local Building Conrtol. A pre-emptive chat with them first will give you the info you need as to all relevant building regs you will need to consider and there may also be other local planning considerations that BC will advise on such as whether there are conservation measures in force. Whatever the case , if you go down the non FENSA route you should get consent from your local BC before you start the work !!

i am not 100% on the regs, but i do know that at the very most only one window in the room would need to be a fire escape window, so if the middle opened the other two could happily be fakes. also, when replacing only windows (ie not as part of an extension) the regs state that the only requirement is for the new window to be 'no worse' than the existing window in terms of fire, insulation, safety etc.