Scottish Building Regulations

Energy, Security & Compliance: What Every NuView Window Meets

Every window we fit, uPVC or aluminium, is built to the same standard. This is what that standard means, and what Scottish rules actually require of a window.

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The standard, at a glance

Locking	Multi-point, as standard, every window
Handles	Key-locking, every system
Glazing	A-rated as standard
Spacer bar	Warm-edge throughout
Sealed units	Argon-filled, low-E, made to measure
Glazing options	Double, triple or acoustic
Testing	Air, water and wind resistance tested on every system
Regulations	Scottish Building Regulations on every job

Built for Scottish conditions

Wind-driven rain, low temperatures and exposed sites place real demands on windows. VEKA, Sheerline and Cortizo systems are all independently tested for air permeability, water tightness and wind resistance. But a well-tested system still depends on being surveyed, specified and fitted correctly for the actual property, which is why our own team does all three.

Escape windows: what Scottish rules say

Every bedroom and habitable room in Scotland without an alternative protected escape route needs a window you can get out of in a fire. Under Standard 2.9 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations:

Minimum clear opening: 0.33m², the unobstructed area you can actually climb through, not the frame size
Minimum width and height: 450mm in both directions
Maximum cill height: 1,100mm from floor to the bottom of the clear opening
Applies up to 4.5m storey height; above that the property needs a protected fire-resisting route instead

Configuration matters. A side-hung casement and a tilt and turn in turn mode generally clear these figures easily. Top-hung vents and vertical sliders need checking room by room, as a slider typically opens to about half its height. We work this out at survey stage, not after the windows are ordered, and every child-safety restrictor we fit releases quickly by hand in an emergency.

Regulations are updated from time to time, so we always check the current Technical Handbook for your job.

Safety glass

Scottish Building Standards require safety-rated glass in critical locations, such as low-level glazing, glazing close to doors, and door glass. Toughened glass is the standard way to meet this; laminated glass is the alternative and adds security and noise benefits. Every door we fit is toughened as standard. See glass and glazing.

Background ventilation

Habitable rooms need background ventilation. Trickle vents are the standard way to provide it without leaving a window ajar. We fit them as an option and recommend them, because a modern airtight window without background ventilation traps moisture and drives condensation. There’s a full explanation on our triple glazed windows page.

Thermal performance

A-rated double glazing as standard, with whole-window U-values of around 1.2 to 1.4 W/m²K; triple glazing at around 0.8 to 0.9 for £90 extra per window. Scottish standards on energy are among the strictest in the UK and keep tightening, and triple glazing puts you well ahead of them.

Door security is covered on locks and security.

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