What Are SAP Calculations.docx

What Are SAP Calculations?

You’ve probably been flummoxed and frustrated by them, but SAP Calculations are here to stay. Here are the basics, so you can get them right from the start.

SAP Calculations are a requirement of the Building Regulations, and are required for all newly built dwellings in the UK. A SAP Rating has been required for all new homes under Part L of the building regulations since 1995, therefore most developers will be familiar with it.However, for many first time self builders and developers it will be a new and often challenging aspect of the planning and building control process.

You may also need a SAP for a conversion or extension - but slightly different rules apply. SAPs for Scotland also have different requirements.What is SAP?

SAP stands for ‘Standard Assessment Procedure’. It is the only official, government approved system for assessing the energy rating for a new home. SAP assessors must be accredited and registered with a certification body.

A SAP Rating is a way of comparing energy performance of different homes – it results in a figure between 1 and 100+ (100 representing zero energy cost and anything over means you are exporting energy). The higher the SAP rating, the lower the fuel costs and the lower the associated emissions of carbon dioxide.

The SAP Calculations establish an energy cost based on the construction of the home, its heating system, internal lighting and any renewable

technologies installed. It does not include energy used for cooking or appliances.Why do I care about SAP?

In order to meet current building regulations, home builders will need to gain a ‘pass’ on their SAP Calculations. Without it, building control will not sign off the development and the property cannot be let or marketed for sale.

But there are other reasons to care about SAP. A SAP assessor can help the designer or architect to shape the energy profile of a new dwelling – minimising its energy use and carbon emissions. 

The effect of different construction types, heating systems and technologies can be accurately measured and in turn delivered on the ground.

Another key point is that the SAP rating broadcasts the energy performance of the property, and in turn informs the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which all buyers and tenants see. A ‘pass’ is gained by meeting several compliance targets around:

How well the fabric of the dwelling contains heat Solar gain Quality of construction and commissioning of systems  Predicted CO2 emissions from the dwelling

Emissions are King

The headline emissions target is achieved using the DER/TER figures. CO2 emissions are measured by comparing a Target Emission Rate (TER)

against the predicted Dwelling Emission Rate (DER).

This target rate is set within SAP by reference to a notional dwelling of the same size and shape, using a set of baseline values.

Importantly, these CO2 figures are now increasingly used by planners and councils to drive other objectives – from meeting sustainability targets and local renewable energy policy to determining 106 – type community contributions.Fabric Energy Efficiency

Homes built after April 2014 in England are also assessed on Fabric Energy Efficiency. This is not a measure of carbon, but energy demand in units of kilowatt-hours per m2 per year. How well a home retains the heat it produces will have an impact on its CO2 emissions as well as being assessed separately to gauge compliance.Fabric Energy Efficiency is assessed using DFEE/TFEE figures. As with emissions the target is set within SAP using a set of baseline values depending on the size of the property.What’s Involved? 

A SAP Assessor will work from architects plans and construction detail, together with a full HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) specification. For this reason drawings need to be scaled, accurate and show all elevations, sections, floor and site plans.

The assessor will scale off of these plans either electronically or by hand to create a model of the dwelling(s) in SAP software.

Once the site form is established, the heating, lighting and ventilation systems are added – specific products will be picked from manufacturer databases where they are known.

All thermal elements (walls , floors, roofs and openings) are added in detail together with all calculations for thermal junctions. Any renewable technologies and cooling are also added.Once complete, a SAP calculation is capable of producing a raft of detailed reporting outputs, from site form, heat losses and energy demand to seasonal variations, CO2 emissions and renewables contributions, to name just a few.How Do I Make Sure of a Pass?

It’s fair to say that developers and architects didn’t pay much attention to SAP in the old days – but since the significant changes in 2005,SAP 2009 and again in 2014, complying with the SAP regulations and in turn Part L of the Building regs has become a whole lot tougher.This is primarily because CO2 emissions targets have tightened enormously – driven as they are by European and UK climate policies. An average new build designed just 5 years ago is unlikely to pass SAP regs today.It is incredibly important to understand that many factors contribute to a SAP Rating. We are often asked to explain why some builds fail and some pass, and it isn’t always easy to give a straight answer. Numerous factors can play a part, from the size of a boiler to a junction in a wall, to the thickness of insulation in a floor, to which direction the house is pointing!

Some factors may be beyond the clients control – for example having no connection to mains gas could mean having to use an oil or LPG system. These fuels have higher cost and CO2 emissions factors within SAP, and as

the Target Emission Rate is set based on a mains gas system, you take a hit. Tips?

We carry out SAP calcs everyday – spanning single self builds through to 30 storey apartment blocks, so we have a pretty good idea of what works and what does not.

If we ignore the wider climate change issues, resist technicalities, and assume we are not trying to produce a zero carbon house, we can tie down a few good principles which will give you a good chance of success:

1. Minimum u values are there to be beaten, not followedIf the fabric of the building is well insulated, you will not need fancy renewable technologies to get you through. Design as much insulation into the walls, floors and roofs as you possibly can, then add some more.  

2. Windows and doors lose a lot of heat. Pay attention to the u values on the openings you are specifying and get them as low as possible 

3. It’s not the boiler, it’s the controls. Zoned heating and load / weather compensators for boilers will often have a more significant effect on the SAP rating than the system itself 

4. Get it airtight. All new builds require Air Permeability Testing on completion and the resulting figure goes into the SAP Calcs. Make sure the envelope is sealed and get a pre-test check carried out 

5. Pay attention to thermal bridging – this is heat loss through junctions with external walls. Follow a scheme such as Accredited Construction Details (ACD’s) which will allow us to avoid using default figures. For our guide seeThermal Bridging in SAP 2005 

Start Early!

The one key point – even more important than those above, is to start early.If we receive a set of plans half way through a build, there’s not a lot we can do to change the energy performance of that building.

This scenario also leads to much bad practice and usually the installation of unsuitable, expensive technologies added in hindsight just to pass building regs or to meet a planning condition.

Avoid this by engaging with your SAP assessor as early in the process as possible – often this will be well before planning has even been submitted, and certainly well before building regs applications.

Is it Just for New Builds?

Not at all. Many extensions, conversions and change of use schemes will require SAP Calculations under Part L1b of the building regs:

Extensions with more than 25% glazing-to-floor area (SAP Calculations for Extensions)

Barn conversions Commercial to domestic conversions Conversion of a single dwelling into flats or apartments 

Need Help With Your Project?

Take a look at the services we offer around SAP Calculations or alternatively just give us a call on 01202 280062, or email us [email protected]

Accredited Construction Details for Part LAccredited Construction Details (ACDs) have been developed to assist the construction industry achieve the performance standards required to demonstrate compliance with the energy efficiency requirements (Part L) of the Building Regulations.

The details and introductory section focus on the issues of insulation continuity (minimising cold bridging) and airtightness. They are not intended to provide any detailed guidance on other performance aspects such as vapour control, ventilation, etc which must also be considered by the design and construction team.

The details contain checklists which should be used by the Designer, Constructor and Building Control Body to demonstrate compliance.

The details have been grouped by generic construction type. It is strongly recommended that the introductory section is read in conjunction with the particular set of ACDs in order to better understand the principles underpinning the details themselves.

Section 1 - Introduction and general theory of insulation continuity and air tightness  (PDF 1.23 Mb)

Section 2 - Indicative detail drawings:o Steel frame details o Timber frame details o Masonry cavity wall insultation details o Masonry internal wall insulation details o Masonry external wall insulation details

Steel Frame Details

This section shows appropriate details for light steel frame construction. With this form of construction it is important that some insulation is placed outside the steel frame to provide a thermal break and avoid condensation.

Warm frame construction where all the insulation is outside the steel frame. Hybrid construction, where insulation is included both outside the steel structure and in between

the steel components (a minimum of 33% of the thermal resistance should be provided outside the steel.) With this form of construction a condensation risk analysis (in accordance with BS 5250) should be provided by the system manufacturer to ensure there is no risk of interstitial condensation. An internal vapour control layer is generally required.

The details drawn in this section are based on warm frame construction but apply equally to hybrid construction.

The depth of steel frame can typically vary from 75mm to 150mm and these details are appropriate for all such variations.

Insulation thicknesses have not been shown as these depend on the thermal properties of materials. However, it is important that appropriate tightly fitting materials are chosen. Generally, a rigid insulation material is required outside the frame that acts as an insulated sheathing board. Where the hybrid construction is used, with some insulation between the frame, a vapour control layer should be provided unless careful condensation risk analysis shows that this is not necessary.

Although the drawn details shown brick cladding, they are appropriate for a range of other claddings subject to suitable detailing.

Steel Frame Illustrations  (PDF 503Kb)

Timber Frame DetailsThe details within this section are valid for a range of timer frame wall thicknesses from 89mm up to 150mm stud size.

For this form of construction, details are given for the junctions with a range of roof, ground floor and internal floor types, in addition to details around window openings etc.

The nature of timber framed construction is that a variety of structural forms can be adopted, with variables such as stud centres, double or single head plates. The form of structure selected has an influence on the thermal performance of any given wall and so must be taken into account by those using these details.

Further variables are:

Type of insulation chosen Type of sheathing Type and thickness of plasterboard (or other sheet material) Internal linings used and the outer cladding of the building

Products specified should be suitable for their intended purpose.

Insulation thicknesses for main building elements have not been provided as these depend on the thermal properties of the materials chosen together with the proposed U-value.

All details are shown with a brick outer lead for simplification. However, other types of claddings may be used without any loss of thermal performance or increased technical risk subject to suitable detailing. These include render on metal lath (on vertical battens fixed direct to frame), tile

hanging on battens on frame, sheet panel systems on vertical counter battens fixed to frame, out leaf of other masonry.

Timber Frame Illustrations  (PDF 567Kb)CorrectionsPlease note the corrections required to the following pages regarding the detail number on the drawings in the above PDF document:

Page 18 of pdf: detail number on drawing should read TFW-RF-01 and would then be consistent with page footer.

Page 24 of pdf: detail number on drawing should read TFW-WD-02 and would then be consistent with page footer.

Masonry Cavity Wall Insulation DetailsThe details within this section have been developed for a range of partial and fully filled cavity wall constructions.

For this form of construction, details are given for the junctions with a range of roof, ground floor, and internal floor types, in addition to details around window openings.

Insulation thicknesses for main building element have not been provided as these depend on the thermal properties of the materials chosen, together with the proposed U-value.

All details are shown with a brick outer leaf for simplification. However, other types of masonry materials may be used as a substitution, without any loss of thermal performance or increased technical risk- such as blockwork with render, tile hanging or weather boarding.

The suitability of full fill cavity construction is dependant on the exposure of the site and the nature of the outer leaf. Further information is given in BR262 ‘Thermal Insulation: Avoiding Risks’, NHBC Standards, and Zurich Building Guarantees Technical Manual.

Masonry Cavity Wall Insulation Illustrations  (PDF 630Kb)

Internal WallsThe details within this section have been developed for internally insulated cavity wall constructions.

For this form of construction, details are given for the junctions with a range of roof, ground floor and internal floor types, in addition to details around window openings etc.

Insulation thickness for main building elements have not been provided as these depend on the thermal properties of the materials chosen, together with the proposed U-value.

Due to the practicality of fixing insulated dry lining to blockwork these details limit the overall board-insulation thickness to 75mm.

All details are shown with a brick outer leaf for simplification. However, other types of masonry materials may be used as a substitution, such as blockwork with render, tile hanging or weather boarding, without any loss of thermal performance or increased technical risk.

Masonry Internal Wall Insulation Illustrations  (PDF 626Kb)

Masonry External Wall Insulation Details

The details within this section have been developed for a range of externally insulated solid masonry wall constructions.

For this form of construction, details are given for the junctions with a range of roof, ground floor and internal floor types, in addition to details around the window openings etc.

Insulation thickness for main building elements have not been provided as these depend on the thermal properties of the materials chosen, together with the proposed U-value.

All details are shown with a thin coat render system for simplification. However, a range of cladding may be used without any loss of thermal performance or increased technical risk. These include thick coat renders, brick slips, tile hanging, and other proprietary systems. It is recommended that insulating and cladding components are part of a system to ensure compatibility.

Masonry External Wall Insulation Illustrations  (PDF 713Kb)

Thermal Bridging in SAP 2009

09AUG

5

in Share

One of the most significant changes introduced in SAP 2009 was that affecting non-repeating thermal bridging.The full effect of the change is only now being felt as more and more applications are drawn into the new regulations. Most schemes we work on will require some time and attention looking at thermal bridging.

Figure 1: For a semi detached house with loft insulation, the lengths of red junctions

would need to be measured to calculate the non repeating bridging heat loss – note this

includes heat loss at the party wall

What is a Thermal Bridge?

Thermal bridges are junctions between building elements and insulating materials which create a ‘weak link’, thus having a negative effect on the thermal performance of the building. There are three types of thermal bridges:

Repeating thermal bridges such as timber studs in timber frame walls, or mortar joints in lightweight blocks. These are included in orthodox U Value calculations

Non-repeating thermal bridges occur at joints between elements and around openings. These are accounted for in a SAP assessment by entering a calculated or default ‘y’ value

Random thermal bridges occur where extra pieces of structure bridge the insulation layer.An example would be a steel beam in a wall construction. Since steel is 2000 times more conductive than the best insulation, these can be very significant. The designer should make sure that these type of bridges are eliminated, but they are not included in the SAP calculations

 Figure 2: The concentration of heat flux at the corner is often exacerbated by additional conductive materials.

In the previous version of SAP that we assessors have been using for some years (SAP 2005) it is possible to assess the impact of non-repeating thermal bridges very simply by simply stating that Accredited Construction Details have been adopted – and assigning a ‘y’ value of 0.08 W/m2K per °C to the entire dwelling, rather than calculating for each individual junction or bridge.

Whats a y-value?

The Y value can be thought of as an additional heat loss – averaged over the total heat loss area. For example, if you have an average fabric U-value of 0.3 W/m2K and a y-value of 0.08 the effect of the non-repeating thermal bridge would be to increase the U-value to 0.38W/m2K.

Whats a Psi (Ψ) value?

You’ll see reference to Psi values here also. You cant get a y – value without knowing the Ψ value. It is a measure of heat loss per K for every meter length of the junction – W/mK. Accredited Details have default maximum Ψ values covering the most common junctions as per table K1.

A New Approach to Thermal Bridging

Studies have shown that in practice, this simplified approach does not appear to be delivering buildings on the ground with the claimed thermal performance. A better approach is to assess the heat losses through each thermal bridge and to add them all up.

This approach was already available in SAP 2005, but it requires more work than being able to select a single ‘y value’ as previously mentioned.

As U-values are increasingly reduced to generate further CO2 reductions, the proportion of heat loss through thermal bridges becomes increasingly

important. The only default ‘y value’ option now available in SAP 2009 is the worse case value of 0.15.

This in effect means that to use the default figure significantly increases the heat loss of the dwelling, and reduces the performance as far as SAP is concerned.

In order to overcome this, developers and SAP assessors will now need to examine the detailing at junctions, e.g. between walls, floors, roofs, windows and internal walls – and to properly assess the heat loss through thermal bridges. For this Psi values need to be known – you can get these from either:

A suitably qualified person who will calculate the Ψ value for individual junctions or;

Use Psi values as quoted by Accredited Construction Details – as long as ACD’s have been adopted for that junctionChanges in the SAP methodology for carrying out these calculations also mean that the calculated thermal bridging heat loss may be significantly higher in SAP 2009 than was the same calculation in SAP 2005. This is because SAP 2005 ignored junctions with party walls and, where Accredited Construction Details are not being used, the calculated values are also multiplied by 1.25. The calculated y value of a given dwelling type can be used in other dwellings of the same type.

Sounds complicated – what do I need to do?

In practice, every new build subject to Part L 2010 should as a minimum be usingAccredited Construction Details – take a look at the website to familiarise yourself with the differing constructions and junctions. Your SAP assessor will need to know which details you are using so that he or she can adjust the calculations accordingly, and take the relevant figures from table K1.You will then need to print each detail from the website and sign them – the assessor will need this evidence on completion. You may also use Enhanced Construction Details for greater gains. Other schemes are coming along also so watch this space.

ALTERNATIVELY – have the individual Psi values calculated by a suitably qualified person. Send these to your assessor who will manually input these into SAP. The assessor will need confirmation that this person is indeed suitably qualified.

Read our updated Blog for a view on ACDs in SAP 2012.

Whenever I am working on a project which is struggling to meet SAP targets, I don’t go to renewable technologies, I don’t even look at insulation levels (that comes later). The first thing I look at is thermal bridging and more specifically the use of Accredited Construction Details (ACDs).All too often when we mention thermal bridging to a client, the reply is “what’s that” or “never heard of them”. So I thought a brief post on the subject may be in order.

Thermal Bridging and ACDs

Thermal bridging is a key contributor to heat loss within a building – for a good basic understanding head over to Thermal Bridging in SAP 2009.Bridging occurs when two exposed thermal elements meet; this allows heat to transfer through two highly conductive materials to the outside. Junctions like those shown in the picture highlight the problem of ‘cold bridging’.

Photo courtesy of www.britpres.co.uk

Junctions exist in a variety of places, including ‘linear’ junctions such as stud work or timber framing, but in this context we are talking about non repeating junctions affecting external walls. For example these may be where:

A ground floor meets an exposed wall An external wall meets a balcony Lintels and sills Window or door jambs

There are many possible junctions – the number and type will depend on the design of the dwelling. Within the SAP calculation there are 23 junctions available to select, but rarely are more than 10 used in any one project at the same time.

ACDs – The Slightly Technical Bit

Each junction has a psi value associated with it (heat loss value expressed in W/mK) which in combination with it’s total length creates the total heat loss across that junction (heat loss co-fficient).

As a rule, the more complex a building’s geometry, the more thermal bridges will apply. If a property does not use a standardised set of construction details or the thermal bridges have not been independently modelled, then a standard, default heat loss (y-value) of 0.15 is applied to the entire dwelling. This in effect applies a ‘penalty’ to the SAP performance and will have a significant effect on the emissions target, and more recently, on the fabric efficiency (TFEE) target.

To minimise the heat loss within junctions, the thermal bridges must be broken up so that the two highly conductive materials no longer meet. To achieve this strips of insulation are used, creating a thermal break. These improved junctions have been combined into a set of details, called Accredited Construction Details (ACDs). These enable SAP assessors to use improved values for those junctions, and therefore gain a much improved SAP performance….ta da!

So what are ACDs and how do you use them?

Accredited Construction Details

Accredited Construction Details are a set of standardised junctions which architects and builders can follow to ‘design out’ thermal bridges. The full set is available to download online at the government’s Planning Portal.If the specification checklist is followed, the site manager then signs the sheet, and on completion the SAP assessor may use a better performing psi value for that junction. This process can then apply to every other junction in the dwelling, replacing the default psi values with the ACD version. 

The ACD sheets have a description of how to construct each detail, with differing construction methods depending on the build type, i.e masonry or timber.

Enhanced Construction Details

The Energy Saving Trust has also produced a separate, improved set of junctions, called Enhanced Construction Details (ECDs). Although there are far fewer details in this scheme, they are more specific to those particular junctions which do not achieve such large gains under ACD’s, i.e lintels and gable details.

You can use ECDs in conjunction with ACDs, and the process works in exactly the same way. The details can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website.Conclusion

So why is thermal bridging so important? Well ACDs and ECDs can enable an otherwise failing building to pass. All this with no alteration to insulation levels or deployment of possibly expensive renewable technologies.

Due to the recent Part L    changes, thermal bridging is now even more crucial  - most standard builds will simply not pass current building regulations without some consideration of thermal bridging and this is partly due to the new TFEE requirements.We have lots of other advice around the latest regs on our Blog so why not head over to:

Part L 2013 – What Will It Take To Pass? Part L – What Does It Mean To You? What Are SAP Calculations  

And of course, if you need further help with any of these topics feel free to give us a call, or drop us a line. See you next time!

Home › Blog › TFEE – How to Pass the Target Fabric Energy Efficiency

TFEE – How to Pass the Target Fabric Energy Efficiency

07APR

8

in Share

As of yesterday, new homes in England are for the first time being assessed on both a Target Emission Rate (TER) and Target Fabric Energy Efficiency (TFEE). 

Designing to reduce carbon is no secret. SAP assessors have been recommending better heating equipment, better insulation and renewable energy to get the carbon down for some time, and though the TER (carbon dioxide produced per m2 per year) is being tightened by six percent as part of the Part L changes, this approach is unlikely to change.New to the table is the TFEE; the amount of energy demand in units of kilowatt-hours per m2 per year. What factors will affect the TFEE, and how will we advise clients to pass it in the future?To find out I trawled through the regs and tried the latest SAP software from the big three providers. How well you score on TFEE is impacted by three main factors; your U values, your air pressure test result and your thermal bridging.

The regs include a ‘notional’ building spec with an air test result, psi values and suggested U values for floors, roofs, walls and windows. If these are followed then the build will meet the TFEE, but builders are free to pick and choose which to excel on to give leeway elsewhere.

Part 1 – The Frame

Roofs

The maximum U Value for roofs of all types from April will remain 0.20 W/m2K, but we already see most constructors achieve better than this – typically in the range of 0.14-0.18 W/m2K.This isn’t from anything particularly ground breaking; 100mm of PIR boards between rafters and a further 40mm underneath will normally give you a figure at the top end of this range. Or for the plane roof, 100mm of mineral wool between the joists and 200mm on top will give you 0.14 W/m2K.The U-value given in notional design is 0.13 W/m2K. This doesn’t strike me as particularly taxing, and constructors may wish to do better here to give greater leeway later on. Adding an extra 100mm of mineral wool over those joists brings us down to 0.11W/m2K, and you can achieve similar results with an extra 100mm of PIR insulation boards.Walls

The U value suggested for external walls is 0.18 W/m2K. This may present a problem for constructors who want to maintain a 300mm brick-cavity-block structure for habit or space reasons.Even with the best performing blockwork and full fill insulation I couldn’t find a single combination that could get below 0.24 W/m2K without expanding the wall size. Far below the 0.30 W/m2K limit, but nowhere near our model design target.Each project will be different, but I would not be surprised if the majority choose to lose out here and create better floors and roofs – a tactic that paid off for our farmhouse.

That said, there’s nothing to stop the determined builder getting a wall U value this low by increasing the cavity size to 125mm. The most likely combination here would be 75mm of a well known PIR board and 50mm air.

Update: we’ve found a product that exceeds the recommended U value in a standard 100mm cavity. Read more here.Floors

Floors are tricky to advise on because, unlike roofs or walls, the dimensions of the floor alter its performance. Here the upper limit remains the same at 0.25 W/m2K, while the notional model suggests 0.13 W/m2K.Most of our clients already achieve somewhere between 0.12-0.18 W/m2K with well known brands of PIR insulation boards.On an 80m2 concrete and screed floor it only takes 130mm to achieve 0.13 W/m2K, and only 200mm to get down to 0.09 W/m2K. If you’re looking to skimp on wall U values and are already going above the notional design with the roof, this is the place to make up the difference.Part 2 – The Gaps

Windows and Doors

Some variety here – the notional spec suggests that glazing should achieve a 1.4 W/m2K, solid doors 1.0 W/m2K and 1.2 W/m2K for doors with some glazing. This is only slightly better than the 1.6 W/m2K for windows we’d typically expect, although the lower values for the doors are a little surprising.All of these figures are easily achievable and the results you get will depend on the units you buy. I expect we will be seeing more argon filled windows and/or triple glazing, as double glazing alone may no longer be enough.

Something else worth noting – the notional spec is based on the total area for openings being less than 25% of the ground floor of the house. Exceeding this figure in the software wasn’t a game changer but it did mean having to make some savings in other parts of the design.

Thermal Bridging

This is where things got more complicated. Although they’re not set out in Approved Document L1A, there are a set of PSI valuesused in the notional design that fall somewhere between the software assumed defaults and accredited construction details.I found that by following the notional design to the letter and using these psi values I could pass the TFEE, but by using default values I had to make up ground elsewhere. Needless to say, using accredited details gives you a better fabric energy efficiency figure. Given the help they’ll also lend to the tightened carbon targets in the new Part L, these are well worth considering from the start.Air Pressure Testing

The notional model uses an air pressure testresult of 5m³/(h.m²) at 50 Pa. This is an easily achievable figure and we regularly see it exceeded, but it will be much less risky to plan to do better in a more predicable part of the build.We can work out a U value before the materials are even purchased, but failing an air test target after the build is complete can be a complicated and costly process. With the existing carbon target we can often add gadgets and renewable tech post construction to help, but none of the factors that affect the TFEE can be changed without wrecking a brand new house.

Wrap Up

The TFEE sets a new challenge for home builders, but what I find interesting is the emphasis on good design from the start. Up until now we have been able rescue a build in the closing stages with gadgets and renewable energy, but with a second target to hit this will no longer be the case. The smoothest projects will, now more than ever, be from developers who incorporate energy saving from the outset.

Home › News › Part L Changes Finally Announced

Part L Changes Finally Announced

30JUL

0

in Share

The government has today published the governments response to last years consultation on proposed changes to Part L of the building regs.

The delayed announcement – originally expected to be implemented in October 2013 sets out lower-than-expected improvements.The new energy efficiency requirements for England but will not come into force until 6th April 2014.

The interim measures were originally intended to bridge the jump to a 2016 zero carbon target.

The key changes announced by Baroness Hanham today:

8% reduction in carbon emissions over current standards for new residential builds

Only 9% reduction in carbon emissions over current standards for non domestic buildings

Will consult ‘shortly’ on the implementation of ‘allowable solutions’ within the zero carbon target

Changes will, as expected introduce a target for fabric efficiency to encourage ‘fabric first’ approach

The government will not proceed with any quality assurance certification to close performance gap

Government will not be introducing any changes for extensions and replacement windows