SNFA publishes new professional rules for aluminum frame verandas

These professional rules have been accepted by the C2P (Product Prevention Commission) of the Construction Quality Agency and are included in its quarterly publication on page 8.

This document particularly recalls that a veranda constitutes a largely glazed space, attached to the house, heated or not, which creates an additional room and is distinguished from the landscaping works of Pergolas type terrace, even if these can provide for locking systems.

The term "veranda" designates a volume whose destination can be very variable, ranging from an extension of the living room, with all the requirements of a living room, to an unheated winter garden or to an entrance hall. to a simple putting out of water of this space. The expected performance of these verandas will not be the same and will require the use of suitable designs and products or components, depending on the desired use, especially in terms of comfort and habitability.

The use of the term "veranda" thus implies:

• Systems that comply with the Professional Rules in force
• Very glazed spaces complementary to the house and respecting urban planning rules
• Construction works subject to the ten-year guarantee

The purpose of these Professional Rules is to support all the players in the chain such as project managers, architects, design offices, companies, in order to guide the technical choices in the design phase as well as possible. to understand the technical solutions proposed by the companies and finally, to follow the realization during the construction phase.

In the vast majority of cases, a veranda is built on an already existing habitat. It is therefore necessary, before proceeding with the study, ordering and construction of this veranda:

• To have an in-depth reflection on the expected destination of this new piece;
• To make a careful examination of the state of the existing on which this new veranda will be established;
• To think about the possible consequences on the existing habitat, for example on its ventilation, due to the establishment of this new space.

With this in mind, this document has been split into two parts:

• A first part called "Rules of definition of the project" with the aim of helping to the preliminary reflection on the object veranda-room desired and making it possible to write the specifications of the envisaged realization.
• A second part called "Rules for carrying out the project" which sets the rules to be observed when building the veranda from the pre-established specifications. This part does not deal with the design of the veranda-room nor the integration into the existing one, the result of the first part.

Practical rules and tools

The Professional Verandas Rules established by the SNFA were created in 2004 and have evolved over time with changes in use and on the market. To support professionals and project owners in defining and carrying out the project, they incorporate practical tools: they include essentials, good questions, common reflections in order to achieve a technically feasible project that meets expectations. of the client.

They contain the essential information with many diagrams and examples making accessible the classic problems, but also, the evolutions in particular on two major subjects which are the seismic hazard and the ventilation (appendices J and K).

Regarding seismic provisions, the new 2014 regulations have led professionals in the sector to work to respond to them and provide constructive provisions. Indeed, this regulation has redefined the zones of seismicity and classified the buildings into 4 categories of increasing importance.

Added to this is the fact that the verandas, contiguous to an individual house for the great majority, are considered in category II, like the house.

Regarding ventilation, the new recommendations of the Professional Rules take into account the ventilation systems of the existing house to size those of the veranda and obtain a set of air renewal that will not degrade the initial situation. Several scenarios illustrate the configurations and solutions, while taking into account the uses of the veranda.

In addition, to this hygiene ventilation, the appendix adds the notion of cooling ventilation (over-ventilation).

• Hygienic ventilation consists of bringing in fresh outside air and removing stale air
• Over-ventilation and night-time cooling consist in increasing the renewal of air in order to lower the interior temperature.

The Professional Rules, in the treatment of summer comfort also consider sun protection, a complementary means to over-ventilation for the management of heat and light inputs.

Hygiene ventilation, over-ventilation and external sun protection