FENSA was set up at the request of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by the GGF - the Glass and Glazing Federation, in order to ensure that building regulations and standards were followed when inserting or replacing windows.

When you have had windows, doors or a conservatory fitted, you will need to have them inspected, to ensure that they comply with building regulations. If your installer is FENSA registered, they will have selected installations inspected by a FENSA approved inspector. An installer should have on average 1% of their installations inspected – a minimum of 2, and a maximum of 100 should be inspected annually. Should an installation fail FENSA inspection, the installer will be liable for any replacement costs. They will also receive additional inspections to ensure conformance with the regulations.

As a householder, it is up to you if you choose a FENSA registered installer for your conservatory. However, it is the installers responsibility to ensure the conservatory conforms to FENSA standards.

The FENSA website (FENSA) also offers a listing of glaziers and installers who are FENSA registered, allowing you to choose an installer who will install the highest quality, and most efficient windows.

Another trade association commonly used by conservatory installers is the GGF – the Glass and Glazing Federation. The GGF is recognised as a leading voice for both employers and companies within the flat glass and glazing industries. There are over 1,000 members of the GGF in the UK, so you should be able to find a member in your local area.

GGF members can be found in all aspects of the glazing industry - as well as flat window and conservatory fitting, GGF members may specialise in fire resistant glazing, toughened glass, laminated glass, glass films, mirrors and extrusions.

All GGF members are vetted, and work to a strict code of practice. They undergo regular inspections to ensure their work is up to standards, and that their work is up to the standards detailed in the Federation’s Glazing Manual.

As a customer, you can make use of the federations customer charter, which offers advice to consumers on what to buy, and from where. The GGF is also committed to customer service, and so offers a free conciliation service should the customer and installer not see eye-to-eye over a job. In (rare) cases where this doesn’t work, the GGF also has an arbitration scheme, independently run by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

The GGF website (GGF) contains more detailed information on services offered by members, and also contains a database of GGF registered members, which you can use to find your nearest registered installer.