Changes to Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) came into force in England on 15 June 2022 in the form of two new approved documents. Part L has been slimmed down from four parts into two volumes – dwellings and buildings other than dwellings. Scotland can expect to see similar changes implemented later this year. There are now higher performance targets and CO2 emissions are reduced by 31% for dwellings and 27% for other buildings and a new emphasis has been placed on low carbon heating systems.
These measures are an interim step towards the Future Homes Standard and Future Buildings Standard that will arrive in 2025. They are a stepping stone that will prepare the construction industry for the 2025 regulations, giving supply chains time to mature as the built environment increasingly adopts solutions that are net zero ready.
The new regulations place even greater emphasis on the performance of the building envelope, both thermally and functionally. As well as achieving lower U-values and higher levels of airtightness, the building envelope will be expected to have the capability to accommodate solar PV panels as standard, as well as be able to integrate with other technologies.
The changes continue to broadly follow a 'fabric first' approach, requiring lower U-values than previous versions of the regulations, whilst also incorporating renewable technology. In all new domestic builds, the new U-value for walls will be 0.18 W/m2, 1.4 for windows and rooflights and 1.4 for doors. In non-domestic builds there is a lowered U-value of 0.26 for walls and the majority of windows and curtain walling must achieve 1.6 W/m2.
SAP Testing
New houses in the UK will have to have a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) test. This is the government's chosen assessment method for measuring overall energy efficiency in homes – once at design stage and once as built. The new calculation called SAP10.2 set greater insulation requirements.
A new metric for measuring energy efficiency has been introduced. 'Primary energy' will be used to measure the efficiency of a building's heating as well as the energy required to deliver fuel to a building. The new target primary energy rate is expressed as kWhPE/(m² per year).
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities says the changes 'mark an important step on our journey towards a cleaner, greener built environment and support us in our target to reduce the UK's carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050.
Future Homes Hub
Established to facilitate the collaboration needed within and beyond the new homes sector the Future Homes Hub has been set up to help meet the climate and environmental challenges ahead.
As an independent organisation which brings together the homebuilding sector with the wider circle of supply chain, infrastructure, finance and government organisations – the Future Homes Hub is a valuable information source. Informative guidance is available which explains the changes to Part L, Part F, Part O and Part S of the building regulations.
For more information visit: www.futurehomes.org.uk/guidance
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