To trickle or not trickle?

Tim Robbins

HI there,

We are getting an extension and were interested in triple glassed windows. One thing the rep said was that there was no point getting the trickle vents as they can adversely affect the air tightness of the window.

So now wondering should we go with the trickle vents?

Would appreciate any thoughts.

Biker1

The days of trickle vents in windows is long gone. You need to ensure adequate ventilation in the building and trickle vents won't do that.

Tim Robbins

Thanks for getting back. We would be getting standard wall vents as well. The advantage of trickle vents is just another way to have air ventilation on a hit day if you need to leave the house. It seems like in the UK it's mandatory to get them but not here. Any idea why that might be?

Lumen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120446186#Comment_120446186

 It seems like in the UK it's mandatory to get them

Source? If it's a window company they're probably lying.

micks_address

if we ever replace our windows i was intending to look at trickle vents.. we get some condensation at the moment only in winter and leaving one of the bedroom windows on trickle would help.. i've tested by leaving the window just slightly open.. there is a vent in the wall as well..

Tim Robbins

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120446702#Comment_120446702

https://www.windowwise.co.uk/building-regulation-changes-from-15th-june-2022-trickle-vents/

Lumen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120447765#Comment_120447765

Yep, they're lying. 😀

AFAIK this is the latest consolidated building regs document for the UK (source)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1141098/The_Merged_Approved_Documents_Mar23.pdf

There are two mentions of trickle vents:

The size of background ventilators (including trickle ventilators) is given in this approved document as an equivalent area in mm2 , not as a free area. BS EN 13141-1 includes a method of measuring the equivalent area of background ventilator openings. 

and

Older houses are unlikely to have been tested but are unlikely to achieve an air permeability of less than 5.0 m3 /(h.m2 ) at 50 Pa unless the building fabric has been substantially upgraded. That would include all or most of the following measures:

...

• Effective closures on trickle vents and other controllable ventilation devices

That's it. Trickle vents are simply categorised as a type of background ventilator. They are not necessary.