The UK Government has implemented several building and construction regulation changes in the past few months. These are focused on domestic with many policy changes for commercial builds; they are also relevant for new builds and existing properties.
So why are these changes being brought into effect? The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities stated that these changes are bringing us another step towards the UK's goals of a greener future.
They stated, 'it supports us in our target to reduce the UK's carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050'.
The updated regulations included amendments to approved documents;
- Part F - Ventilation
- Part L - Conservation of Fuel and Power
They have also released two new approved documents to further expand the UK's building regulations, which are;
- Part O - Overheating
- Part S - Infrastructure for charging electric vehicles
These changes have been brought about as the first measures in the government's Future Homes Standard and Future building standard, which is planned for 2025 and aims to have all new builds operate at net zero.
This is because heating and power account for 40% of the UK's total energy use, according to the Departments for Business, Energy and Industrial Power. That's why we are looking to improve the energy efficiency of our homes in the UK so as a nation, we can reach net zero by the 2050 goal.
UK Building Regulation Changes
Let's take a look at some of the critical changes that have now come into effect in the UK as of the 15th of June 2022.
New-build Homes Will Need To Produce Fewer Carbon Emissions
New-build homes will now need to produce 31% fewer carbon emissions. This can be achieved through properly insulating cavity walls and roofs, installing electric heating systems and combining renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
Fastbuild has a range of metal stud framing products available at next-day delivery, so you can build and properly insulate internal partition walls stress-free.
Reduction In Commercial Properties Carbon Emissions
Commercial properties will now need to produce 27% less carbon. Between 2019 and 2020, there was a 5% decrease in emissions from the business sector; this is mainly a result of reductions in emissions from business activity following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The business sector is estimated to have been responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK in 2020, with carbon dioxide being the most prominent.
By focusing more on renewable energy as well as the efficiency of said properties, the carbon footprint of commercial properties can be further reduced.
Primary Energy Metric
There is now a new metric for measuring energy efficiency within commercial and domestic properties. The energy efficiency of a property will now be measured using this primary energy metric to establish the property's heating efficiency and the energy needed to deliver fuel to the building.
The Primary Energy factor for mains gas is 1.130 kWh/kWh. The associated primary energy use would therefore be (10,000 kWh / 0.90) x 1.130 = 12,556 kWh.
When looking at the energy required to deliver fuel to the building, it even extends to the efficiency of the power station supplying the power.
New Minimum Efficiency Standard
There has been a new minimum efficiency standard for all new builds.
- U-values for walls will now be 0.18 W/m2
- U-values for windows, doors and rooflights 1.4W/m2
- In non-domestic builds, the U-value for walls is now 0.26W/m2
- In non-domestic builds, the U-value for windows/curtain walling should achieve 1.6W/m2
Fastbuild stocks a range of insulating products, including loft insulation rolls as well as acoustic partition wall insulation rolls.
Heating Systems
Both domestic and non-domestic properties must now have a maximum flow temperature of 55 degrees celsius to prevent overheating properties and energy wastage.
Heating Existing Non-Domestic Buildings
Amendments to the approved documents now state that in existing non-domestic buildings, it is required to improve the efficiency of the heating and hot water systems. This can be done through the installation of new and improved controls.
Lighting Non-Domestic New Builds
In non-domestic new builds, there is now a new minimum lighting efficiency. It has been raised to 95 luminaire lumens per circuit watt for general lighting and 80 luminaire lumens per circuit watt for display lighting.
Changes To FEES Levels
FEES stands for the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard, and the required level in new homes will now be extended to extensions built on existing properties. These will be set by a full fabric specification (SAP compliance).
What Are The New Approved Documents O and S?
As we mentioned before, the government has now added two more new approved documents to the existing UK building regulations. Approved document O establishes glazing limits in domestic new builds, care homes, student accommodation and schools. This is aimed at reducing the amount of unwanted solar gain.
Document O also enforces new levels of cross ventilation, which will help to moderate internal temperatures.
The new approved document S requires that each and every domestic new build property have the preparatory work completed for the installation of electric vehicle charging points in the future.
For more information regarding the building products stocked by Fastbuild or to have a read through more of our UK building regulation guides, head over to our knowledge centre.
