Conservation of Fuel and Power - New Part L (2010)
On 1 October 2010 the new UK building regulations came into force and replaced the previous 2006 version. They apply to non-residential and residential buildings, including those for which planning permission has been granted, but work not yet started.
With buildings producing around half of UK carbon emissions, they set new energy performance standards for buildings. Focusing upon emissions, they present a major challenge for everyone involved in construction – design, costs, compliance and so on.
Part L sets the regulations for:
- Heating
- Mechanical ventilation
- Air conditioning
- Lighting
- The control space heating
- Airtightness/permeability
- Solar emissions
- Energy meters
- And the testing and commissioning of all systems and structures.
The following is a summary of the main changes for new buildings:
- A 25% reduction is required in the TER (Target Emission Rate). All nondomestic buildings will have to do comply with a "notional" building being used as a guide to aggregate CO2 emissions. The Code for Sustainable Homes will act as a national standard for domestic buildings and require a flat rate reduction in emissions of 25%. BREEAM ratings will be used to help meet government targets on reaching a 40% improvement over the 2002 standards.
- Design flexibility will be limited by the requirement for higher specifications and design standards in order to meet the 25% TER plus substantial revision.
- The effects of Solar Gain must be limited in domestic buildings and measures as an assessment of solar overheating. A new approach will be used for nondomestic buildings will assess this through glazing, compared with an "average" building. Such an approach to "passive design" is intended to lead to reduced demand for mechanical air conditioning.
- The Quality of Construction of the building envelope will be particularly important in avoiding thermal bridging and securing pressure tested airtightness. Penalties will be imposed for non-compliance.
- Building Management Information must be provided to building users and owners concerning the operation and management of all systems within the building service to ensure that no more energy is used that intended by the designer, e.g. at least 75% of lighting must be low energy, while 100% low energy lighting will assist in meeting the TER 25% reduction required.
MEETING THE DEADLINES:: Any scheme for which planning permission had been granted before 1 October had to be started on site by 1 October 2010 to avoid these new building regulations. Various environmental bodies have criticised possible loopholes which might allow building under the 2006 regulations.
DECREASING THE U.K's CARBON FOOTPRINT: to meet the overall target emission rate government is looking to reduce the "performance gap" between energy efficiencies of new and existing buildings. Part L1 A of the new building regulations include suggestions for reducing a buildings carbon footprint, for instance by lowering the "U-values" – a measurement of the transmission of heat through floors, walls, roofs, glazing etc. The lower the "U-value" the better the performance of the building.
ZERO CARBON EMISSION TARGETS: these have been set by central government to be achieved by 2016 for domestic buildings (2011 in Wales) and 2019 for nondomestic buildings. Designed to help meet these targets the new Part L will be studied further changes in 2013. All construction professionals are being urged to act immediately to review the viability of using renewable energy, improved energy efficiency, and low carbon building specifications and techniques in an effort to exceed current minimum standards. It is intended that this will help save future expense as well as increasing a property's market value. The aim is an overall increase in the nation's low Carbon buildings and a reduction in energy costs.
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How the Benfield ATT Group can help
Comprehensive Service
The Benfield ATT Group provide a comprehensive service for architects, contractors, developers, project owners, self-builders and others to help them meet the greatly increased demands of the new building regulations.
Building Your Dreams
From concept analysis and pre-design sustainability assessment, through planning, engineering, manufacturing design, fabrication, and on-site erection, their aim is to give you "The Buildings You've Always Dreamed Of". Addressing everything from specifications for energy efficiency, airtightness, and window and door selection, to heating, ventilating and the other products needed to achieve a value engineered, cost-effective building envelope, they will assist you in in achieving a truly effective eco-design.
All Forms of Property Development
This applies to all forms of housing development from domestic homes and residential schemes to flats, apartments and upward extensions for Penthouse schemes. These considerations are particularly important when considering Code for Sustainable Homes levels 4 and 5.
The same services are available for non-residential projects, like village halls, visitor centres and other community buildings, as well as nurseries, schools, nursing homes, health facilities, offices and workshops.
A Truly Green Approach to Building
The Benfield ATT Group (www.benfieldattgroup.co.uk) take a comprehensive ecological approach to Sustainable Green Building, embracing the need for waste minimisation, construction design and management (CDM) and architectural creativity within the overall project management facilities available.