Triple glazing in apartments to comply with new Part L
Posted on July 29th 2021
The Government’s preferred fabric energy efficiency standards for Part L 2021 will require costly enhancements, such as triple glazing in apartments, for compliance. The Government has set out two options for future Fabric Energy Efficiency (FEE) targets. Their preferred option is a significant enhancement over current requirements. This is still in consultation, but it is assumed that this is what …
Whole Life Carbon and Building Regulations
Posted on July 29th 2021
The addition of Whole Life Carbon (WLC) into Building Regulations would do for embodied carbon what Part L did for operational carbon. During the Climate Change Committee Progress Report to Parliament (June 2021) it was recommended that the government set out plans to phase in mandatory WLC reporting by 2025. As methods and approaches for reducing operational emissions have become …
Policy Changes Driving Electricity Requirements Higher
Posted on June 23rd 2021
Policy changes pushing for electrically sourced heating and electrical vehicles are increasing electrical demand, however, there are ways to limit this increase. The cost of providing an electrical connection to a new development can vary significantly. It depends on the size and location of the development, the local electrical infrastructure, and the capacity requirements. The first three are predetermined. In …
Future Part L Risk for Shell and Core
Posted on June 23rd 2021
Shell and core units designed and built to Part L 2013 of the non-domestic Building Regulations may not achieve compliance with future Part L upon fit out, risking letting opportunities for commercial space. This issue is created by the fact that many building notices only cover the construction of the shell, meaning the tenant would need to re-register with Building …
We Invest in People – Gold Accreditation
Posted on June 23rd 2021
We are pleased to announce that we have recently been awarded the We invest in people gold accreditation. With only 17% of assessed companies achieving this standard it represents a very high level of performance. We are particularly pleased to have achieved this at a time of significant change and challenge in the world and in the industry. As well …
Walker Primary School – A Project Success in Enfield
Posted on June 23rd 2021
Appointed as sustainability consultants and BREEAM assessors by Spatial Initiative, the new Walker Primary School successfully achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’, under the New Construction 2018 scheme. Located in the London Borough of Enfield, the new school particularly excelled in the Waste, Land Use & Ecology, and Water BREEAM categories. As part of the BREEAM assessment and to …
SAP10.2: A Future for CHP?
Posted on May 6th 2021
Recent Government proposals show compliance with CHP-prioritised heat networks is likely to be near impossible. This is despite recent indications from Government that the new Part L in Building Regulations would support CHP. The low CO2 emissions factor for electricity in the proposed Part L 2021 pointed towards the end of CHP. A government statement recognised the industry’s concern and …
EV Chargepoints to enter Building Regulations
Posted on May 6th 2021
Electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints will soon be essential for new homes due to the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars (hybrids to be banned from 2035), with Government now also proposing to mandate their inclusion through the Building Regulations. The widespread uptake of EVs and chargepoints suffers from a classic chicken and egg dilemma. A …
Adapting buildings to a warmer climate
Posted on May 5th 2021
The UK climate is changing and it is important that the design of buildings takes this into account. By 2070, summer temperatures in the southeast of England are expected to be 3 to 5°C higher than current, flooding events will increase owing to increased precipitation, and hot spells will be more frequent. All of the above affect building function, longevity, …
Preventing condensation may not stop mould growth
Posted on May 5th 2021
Dealing with this distinction is paramount when assessing the quality of buildings, pre and post construction. Surface condensation can cause issues such as decay of finishes, corrosion of materials, or destruction of organic based materials (e.g. wood, plaster). Mould growth, aside from being aesthetically unpleasant, is a risk to building users as it is associated with a range of respiratory …