What are the building regs about trickle vents?

[paulbandler]

I'm having some sash windows made and am getting some mixed messages about whether I am obliged to have trickle vents in them. Does anyone know the correct position regarding building regs? I've been told that there was an attempt to make it a legislative requirement, but then that was withdrawn and replaced with a requirements to just ensure that there is an adequate source of ventilation some where (e.g. a vent thru' a suspended floor).

 

[Gervase]

They're not mandatory on sash windows (bloody silly if they were, really!).
Part F of the regs states that there are some windows "that cannot reasonably be expected to accommodate trickle vents - e.g. vertical sliding sash windows"

 

[skier-hughes]

This also confuses me, as on one hand we are told to have double glazing and seal all round the windows to stop draughts, then you have to add draughts because of all the sealing you've done.

I've just moved my Rayburn and now I have to have a double airbrick installed to meet BR's, so all that heat saved by the double glazing they insisted I fit instead of single is whistling away because of the airbricks, which last night were creating quite a draught with the high wind. I hope it slows down when we seal the chimney, otherwise the Rayburn will be on trying to heat a continually cooling room :-0

 

[biffvernon]

No Paul, you're not obliged to have trickle vents. There is a subtle but important difference between that part of the Building Regulations that is the Law and the part that is Guidance. In this area, even the guidance admits of the possibility of ventilation through air bricks and passive stacks as alternatives to trickle vents.

On the subject of trickle vents this page, which is still in a rather drafty form and needs further sealing round the edges, may be of interest.