Whether it’s a home extension or a conservatory roof replacement, the purpose of these projects is often to create a new space that can be used and enjoyed all year round. A key factor in achieving this is making sure the chosen approach supports excellent thermal performance, ensuring compliance with the building regulations and helping rooms stay comfortable without the need to blast the heating or run fans. However, in a relatively unregulated market, it can be difficult for installers and homeowners alike to judge whether manufacturer thermal performance or U-value claims will reflect true performance. This is where independent certifications come in.
Independent certification is when a third-party organisation that isn’t affiliated with the manufacturer assesses whether a product or system meets specific industry standards for quality, safety, and performance. These assessments are usually rigorous and involve a commitment from the manufacturer to submit to regular assessments or spot checks to ensure the solutions they produce today are in line with those that have been assessed previously.
However, choosing a home improvement product that carries independent certification for a key aspect of its performance can provide peace of mind that it will do what it is intended to, meet local building regulations and be a solid long-term investment. What’s more, certified products often come with warranties or guarantees, offering extra protection to both installers and homeowners.
Home improvement systems are currently not required to carry third-party certification on their thermal performance. However, with volatile energy costs and growing environmental concerns, energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important consideration for all construction projects, both from a regulatory point of view and for homeowners themselves.
When replacing an existing conservatory roof with a warm roof system, it is important that they provide a low level of thermal transmittance to ensure it can stay warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. The minimum U-values for warm roofs is dictated by the relevant Building Regulations, e.g. 0.15 W/m2K in England, 0.13 W/m2K in Wales and 0.12 W/m2K in Scotland.
Find out more about the thermal performance requirements for conservatory roof replacements.
Our Guardian Warm Roof has been independently tested by The Building Research Establishment (BRE) – which certifies that the U-value achieved by our standard Warm Roof system is 0.15 W/m²K or better, and 0.12 W/m2K for the Scottish version. Certification from reputable bodies like the Building Research Establishment (BRE) provides reassurance that these standards are met, helping create more energy-efficient living spaces.
We use the Guardian Warm Roof system within our Guardian Home Extension too, combining it with the Guardian Warm Wall which uses the BBA-certified Kingspan TEK system. This provides a U-value of just 0.16 W/m2k and extremely low air leakage thanks to the unique way the panels slot together.
Find out more about the thermal performance requirements for home extensions.
This independent testing can also lead to these solutions being fully approved by quality and building control bodies. These partnerships can help to streamline various building control checks and ensure a smooth construction process.
Want to know more about how we support Building Control approval? Check out our blog.
Installation quality is important to ensure a thermally efficient, draught-free conservatory or extension. Both the Guardian Warm Roof and Guardian Home Extension are manufactured offsite and fabricated by our Certified Fabricators to meet a projects’ exact requirements. This includes precision cutting openings for windows, skylights and doors. This ensures the systems are delivered to site ready to install, reducing the risk of thermal bridging.
Discover more about U-values and installation quality.
To then ensure that builders have access to the right skills and support, and that homeowners can identify fully-trained professionals, we created the Guardian Certified Installer Network. To become certified, installers must meet strict criteria, including proving their experience, holding public liability insurance, and committing to a strong workmanship guarantee (usually 10 years). They also must undergo technical training on the specific Guardian systems they want to offer to ensure they have the skills to install them correctly.
Our Certified Installer Network is also tied to TrustMark— the only UK Government endorsed quality scheme for building work in and around the home. As TrustMark Scheme Providers, we have committed to meeting and maintaining the operating requirements set out by the scheme. This allows us to award the TrustMark logo to Certified Installers of our Guardian Warm Roof System that comply with the required standards of technical competence, trading practices and customer service.
Explore our Certified Installer Network.
From energy-efficient systems to Certified Installer Networks, independent certifications can help installers and homeowners make informed decisions and ensure that projects meet the highest standards.
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