Model Railway Forum

We have new replacement windows being fitted today, to replace replacement windows that were fitted over thirty years ago. By law you now have to have trickle-vents fitted - there is no option on these, so a long vent along the top of each window - two on some windows - very unsightly. These allow air to flow to stop condensation and mold forming. They do have small "fingers" across the exterior to stop bugs etc., from entering, but we have suffered with hundreds of ladybirds wintering inside for some years, not a serious problem, but if you get a slightly warmer day in the winter, they all wake up and the windows are covered - they do not usually fly around the room or enter other parts of the house. So this morning, Pam and I have spent an hour putting a fine glass fibre mesh inside the vents, so that when attached, ladybirds and anything else will not get through. I am not sure why this had to be a law, we have been very capable of opening a small window when necessary. I, as I expect you have seen, many stories on the news where houses etc., have serious mold problems, where people walk around in shorts and a T-shirt in winter, with the heating going flat-out, and no windows open, and then wonder why they have mold problems. Sorry about the rant.

Yeah, Trickle vents are always fitted but usually can be closed internally. Also windows have to be able to be fully opened for fire escape route. I'm not sure if this only applies to windows above ground floor or to all windows regardless though?

Hi Brian - I think the vents were only made compulsory sometime in 2022? We had the front of the house windows replaced in 2022, and the trickle vents were an option - an option we did not take. All windows can be opened, should "escape" be necessary.

We had a single window replaced and the option given was did we want the vents in the frame or in the window. We opted for the frame but they are closable on the inside and they have a filter mesh on the outside component.
All the other windows in the house (built 2002) have trickle vents in the frame, so not a new innovation.
Fortunately insect ingress is not a problem, unlike Cyprus where it was a constant battle, especially tiny ants, that snuck in thru' the air con condensate drain. Clever little beggars. Cockroaches had their own route in via the toilet pan. At least the resident feral cat family kept the snakes away.

it's called ventilation, something the building industry has been doing for years

The new very expensive houses my son has been plumbing in are often sealed completely and are pressure tested. The only ventilation is from the air con and extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchen. No opening windows and tightly sealed doors.

My 2002 house doesn't have extractor fans in the toilets/bathrooms, just wide bore 'ambient' ventilation pipes, the covers for which have some form of sensor (probably humidity) that opens/closes the grille. Ventilation is by way of natural flow twixt inside and out.

Modern building regulations can be very strange. It would appear the more money you have the less fresh air you have indoors.

our 1992 built house did have a noisy bathroom extractor which I disabled soon after moving in, we are still here and either put the window side light on vent or open it and we have had no issues whatsoever.

as usual the building industry over specifying.