The rating was met following testing by BM TRADA sister company Chiltern Dynamics.

George Barnsdale, which believes its window is the first timber unit to meet the rating, is now working to ensure all of its window range can be BFRC-rated by the end of 2006. The company has invested in training its own BFRC-certified simulator to speed up the certification process.

“Part of the reason for the surge of demand for energy rating is, without doubt, the revisions to Part L, which has placed renewed emphasis on fuel conservation,” said BM TRADA technical consultant Andy Sumner.