Clearview National March 2019 - Issue 208 | Page 20

PROUD SPONSOR OF
INDUSTRY NEWS
INDUSTRYNEWS
Making the invisible visible
On a day in late January, when many motorists were facing
white-out conditions with the ‘Beast from the West’, the
Madjeski Stadium was brightened up with the BFRC’s first
ever Fabricators’ Forum. And, for an event that aimed to
‘bring companies together to share views, knowledge and
concerns of the issues affecting our industry’ it seemed to
do just that, with attendees from all areas of fenestration –
including Clearview, of course – and some very colourful
debates, hosted by the organisation that gave homeowners
the rainbow rating for doors and windows…
» » THE STRUCTURE OF THE
day saw five key presentations,
each followed by an open forum
to discuss any issues raised during
the talk, with an expert panel.
Following an official welcome
from host and moderator Paul
Godwin, and an introduction
to the BFRC and its ongoing
work led by Managing Director,
Anda Gregory and Lis Clarke,
Operations Director; in which
they outlined the background
and current plans of the British
Fenestration Rating Council, the
official agenda was underway.
Anda Gregory explained, “The
Fabricators’ Forum wants to show
how BFRC provides the impartial
visible proof that windows and
doors will perform as promised.
In 2019 we will be unveiling more
plans to demonstrate why BFRC
is the UK’s most trusted and most
widely-used energy rating system
and for manufacturers, systems
houses, fabricators, installers and
homeowners.”
As such, attendees to the event
got a sneak preview of some of
the exciting new BFRC branding
which will be fully launched in
the spring, while Anda also shared
some of BFRC’s strategic plans
for the industry to maintain its
market leading position.
And while the topics were as
vast and varied as the feedback
that arose from them, the theme
threaded throughout the event
was energy efficiency – one of
the most important and greatest
benefits from installing modern
windows.
First to the podium was Bob
Morrissey, BFRC Business
Development Consultant,
presenting on how energy
ratings can be used as a valuable
marketing tool, using his own
insight and experience from
when he was a salesman for
an installation business. Bob
worked as a salesman and held
senior management positions
for over 20 years; starting out
at Staybrite Windows (part of
Bowater Windows Plc), and his
experience of working directly
with consumers for so many years
has undoubtedly put him in an
elevated position when it comes
to properly understanding the
customer journey and what drives
20 » M AR 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
someone to choose a door or
window.
He cited that
“misapprehensions and
misinformation” around energy
ratings – when it comes to the
consumer – massively alter
perception versus reality. And, the
take home message from Bob’s
presentation seemed to be that
as consumers are more keen than
ever to compare products and
installers against each other, a
recognisable and reputable system
from a respected organisation
would be the optimum way for
fabricators to communicate with
installers, and for installers to
communicate with end-users;
something which was described as
the ‘Golden Thread’ throughout
the event.
Russell Day, GGF Director
of Home Improvements
presented on the status of Energy
Legislation and Regulation in
the industry – after explaining
the difference between them
– and how while we may be
“winning the fight to reduce and
conserve energy”, there are still
improvements to be made. These
improvements, Russell suggested
could include better training and
surveillance of installations, and
finding a way to improve non-
compliance figures.
After a break for lunch,
Gary Morgan, BFRC Technical
Director, presented on the issues
around Testing and Certification.
With many concerns raised
throughout the day on the issue
of whether what is designed
is the same as what is built, or
indeed fitted, when it comes to a
BFRC rating; i.e. an A+ window
installed incorrectly becoming a
B or even C rated product; this
was perhaps one of the most
important presentations; so it
was a shame that time constraints
didn’t allow for a panel discussion
after this particular topic.
Gary made some very
interesting points on the matter
however, ranging from the
simple question of ‘Why certify
a product?’ (the easy answer
being that people will always
want to know how good or safe
or efficient a product is going
to be before they buy or use it),
right up to the risks of falsifying