Fenestration Self-Assessment scheme. FENSA registration allows window and door installers to self-certify replacement installations comply with Building Regulations (thermal performance, safety glazing). Customers receive a FENSA certificate proving compliance.
| Issued by | FENSA |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | £450 a year |
| Renewal | Every year |
| Who needs it | Glaziers, window and door fitters |
What you need to get it
5 requirements, and what counts as evidence for each.
Installer Qualifications
Hold a relevant qualification: NVQ Level 2 in Installing Windows & Doors, City & Guilds 6129, or demonstrate equivalent competence through industry experience and assessment.
Evidence: Qualification certificates or equivalent competence evidence.
Public Liability Insurance
Minimum £2m public liability insurance specifically covering fenestration installation.
Evidence: Insurance schedule.
FENSA Technical Review
FENSA will review your application and may conduct a technical assessment of your installation quality and knowledge of thermal performance and building regulation requirements.
Evidence: Completed FENSA application. Examples of recent installations available for review.
Deposit Protection Scheme
FENSA requires members to offer customer deposit protection (insurance-backed). Arrange this through an approved provider.
Evidence: Evidence of deposit protection arrangement.
Annual Registration Fee
Pay the annual FENSA registration fee (typically £350–£600 depending on company size).
Evidence: Payment confirmation.
What you have to keep doing
Getting it is the easy part. Keeping it means:
Issue FENSA Certificates
Issue a FENSA certificate to the homeowner/building owner for every notifiable installation within 30 days.
Annual Inspection
FENSA may audit completed installations annually to verify ongoing compliance.
Is it worth it?
At £450, the question isn’t the fee — it’s whether it wins you work. For glaziers it usually does, because it’s the first thing a cautious customer or a commercial buyer checks. Most trades hold accreditations and then hide the logos in the footer. If you’ve paid for it, it belongs where customers actually look.
Tracking it
Accreditations lapse quietly. The renewal date lands in a busy month, nobody spots it, and you find out when a customer asks for the certificate. Gaffer keeps your accreditations, evidence and renewal dates in one place and reminds you before they expire.