The very nature and design of trickle vents mean that air will ventilate through them, something homeowners aren’t keen on. However, it is crucial for ventilation and required by building regulations in some cases so do you actually need them?
All buildings have to be ventilated in order to maintain the health and well-being of everyone using them. There are two kinds of ventilation: background and rapid. Background ventilation can be provided by trickle ventilators and rapid ventilation by opening the window.
The need for background ventilation depends upon the building and how it is currently being ventilated. If a space is not well ventilated then it can lead to condensation build up within a room which, if left, can lead to the spread of potentially harmful mould spores.
Current Building Regulations Part F state that it is only mandatory to install trickle ventilators within a replacement window if there was a trickle ventilator within the existing window. This is so buildings that were originally designed to have background ventilation continue to do so. Removing such vents could lead to serious problems with condensation and air flow within a building.
All replacement windows, where the existing windows being removed currently have trickle vents, are required to include trickle ventilation to the same ventilation rates.
When windows are being installed as part of an extension building project the overall ventilation rates of the building must not be negatively affected.
Ventilation regulations only apply to conservatory additions if they are over 30m2 in floor area.
New build homes must comply with the building regulation requirements for ventilation through a building as detailed in Part F documents.
When work is being done to a listed building then a balance between historical building conservation and ventilation must be considered. In these cases it is best to take the advice of your local planning conservation officer.
Hedgehog Aluminium Systems are able to incorporate minimal trickle vents into our slim frame aluminium casement windows to provide the required ventilation.
Always consult with building regulations or your architects for the requirement for your building or design project.