New Building Regulations L1 Presented by Robert Eglington Regional Director of MLM Building Control

New Building Regulation L1 The new Regulations have been published and the approved documents are currently in draft form only The proposed date of implementation of the changes is April We understand the Statutory Instrument and final documents will be published in March 2006

New Building Regulation L1 The ODPM issued the 300 page consultation document in July 2004 They invited comment from across the entire building industry including all professional bodies The document was made up of 12 sections

New Building Regulation L1 Section 1 – Regulatory impact assessment Section 2 – New document ADL1A Section 3 – New document ADL1B Section 4 – New document ADL2A Section 5 – New document ADL2B Section 6 – Possible future performance standards

New Building Regulation L1 Section 7 – Implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Section 8 – Calculations methodologies of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Section 9 – Adaptation Strategy Section 10 – Dissemination strategy

New Building Regulation L1 Section 11 – Code of practice on consultation Section 12 – Response form

New Building Regulation L1 Draft regulatory impact assessment An assessment of national benefits An assessment of costs on certain building types An indication of the impact on certain buildings An explanation of the reasons behind the proposed changes

New Building Regulation L1 Draft regulatory impact assessment Purpose – “to further improve the energy efficiency of buildings in response to the aim declared in the Energy White Paper and the aims set out in article 1 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive” Background – the 2002 changes increased thermal performance by 25% at a increased cost of up to 3% on construction

New Building Regulation L1 Draft regulatory impact assessment Energy White Paper To achieve substantial reductions in CO 2 emissions Encouragement to improve in energy efficiency Encouragement of the selection of energy sources and generating technologies that produce much less, or no, carbon

New Building Regulation L1 Draft regulatory impact assessment Energy White Paper The target is to achieve a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 Buildings account for 50% of UK carbon emissions Savings in the construction of new buildings and to the upgrading of the existing stock can therefore be significant

New Building Regulation L1 Draft regulatory impact assessment Energy White Paper The plan is also for the future with a review every 5 years Work has already commenced on the proposals for 2010 to 2020

New Building Regulation L1 Draft regulatory impact assessment Options Option 1 – Do nothing Option 2 – Information and Education Option 3 – Amending Part L of the Building Regulations

New Building Regulation L1 Draft regulatory impact assessment Preferred choice – Option 3 Amending the Building Regulations Introducing other legislation to complete the transposition of the other elements of the EPBD - The Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act Supportive training programme

New Building Regulation L1 Draft regulatory impact assessment Extra costs for dwellings are estimated as being from £323 for flats to £1170 for a detached dwelling Increased costs for commercial work are estimated at £19/m² and £7/m² for industrial buildings – these costs do not include ‘Consequential Improvements’

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL1A Work in new dwellings The new SAP 2005 will be the only way of showing compliance Elemental and target U values will no longer be permissible as ways of showing compliance

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL1A Work in new dwellings The new SAP will be a transparent calculation that will remove the ability of designers and checkers to interpret the guidance There will be minimum U values imposed to constrain design opportunities Sample air pressure testing will be imposed in a similar way to sound testing - major Housebuilder objections! There may be a ‘Robust Option’ as an alternative to the pressure testing regime

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL1A Work in new dwellings The 5 criterion to showing compliance that will need to be followed are 1. Predicted carbon dioxide emission from proposed dwelling does not exceed the target

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL1A Work in new dwellings 2. The performance of the building fabric and the heating, hot water and fixed lighting systems should be no worse than the design limits 3. The dwelling has appropriate passive control measures to limit solar gains 4. The performance of the dwelling, as built, is consistent with the Dwellings Emissions Rate

New Building Regulation L1 Section 2 – Draft ADL1A Work in new dwellings 5. The necessary provisions for energy efficient operation of the dwelling are put in place

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL1A Work in new dwellings Limiting U Value standards (W/m²K) ElementArea-weighted dwelling average Worst individual sub- element Wall Floor Roof Windows, rooflights, doors etc

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL1A Work in new dwellings The air pressure test standard will be set at 10m³/m² per hour at 50 Pa There will be a honeymoon period for failure to meet this standard until 31 October 2007 Testing arrangements will be split into those using and those not using accredited construction details Those that have adopted accredited construction details - a pressure test should be carried out on each dwelling type

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL1A Work in new dwellings Dwellings that have not adopted accredited construction details Testing to be minimum of a. 2 units of each dwelling type in the development b. 5% of each dwelling type – can be reduced to 2% if the testing was successful on the first 5 dwellings tested c. The sample to concentrate in the earlier completed dwellings of each type

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL1B Work in existing dwellings Type of work covered by the approved document Extensions Creating a new dwelling through a material change of use Material alterations to existing dwellings The provision of a controlled fitting The provision or extension of a controlled service The provision or renovation of a thermal element

New Building Regulation L1 Section 3 – Draft ADL1B Work in existing dwellings Limiting U-value standards (W/m²°K) for small elements Eg Metre box scenario ElementLimiting U-value Wall0.70 Floor0.70 Roof0.35 Windows, Doors etc3.30

New Building Regulation L1 Section 3 – Draft ADL1B Work in existing dwellings Standards for thermal elements (W/m²°K) ElementStandards for new elements in an extension Standards for replacement elements in an existing dwelling Wall Pitched roof – insulation at ceiling level 0.16 Pitched roof – insulation between rafters 0.20 Flat roof or roof with integral insulation Floors

New Building Regulation L1 Section 3 – Draft ADL1B Work in existing dwellings Window areas are restricted to 25% of the floor area of the extension plus the area of any windows or doors which, as a result of the extension works, no longer exist or are no longer exposed Special options will be made to allow for conservatory type extensions

New Building Regulation L1 Section 3 – Draft ADL1B Work in existing dwellings Replacement boilers to be of a condensing type or traditional in some limited existing circumstances Guidance is given on solar heating systems Recommendations are made on water treatment in heating systems in hard water areas Additional controls for high efficiency luminaires

New Building Regulation L1 Section 3 – Draft ADL1B Work in existing dwellings Historic Buildings Special considerations can apply to Listed buildings Buildings in a conservation area Buildings of local architectural or historic interest Buildings within National Parks, areas Outstanding National Beauty and World Heritage sites

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL1B Work in existing dwellings Renovation of thermal elements Where more than 25% of the surface area of a thermal element is being renovated, a way of showing compliance with the regulation would be to upgrade the whole element in question

New Building Regulation L1 Section 4 – Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings The proposal is to raise the overall standard of energy performance by about 27% The elemental approach to design will no longer be acceptable A nationally agreed methodology to achieve an overall energy performance standard must be adopted

New Building Regulation L1 Section 4 – Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings The proposed methodology will be more flexible and building specific - SBEM The flexibility in the methodology will be constrained by a series of poorest acceptable benchmarks The use of LZC heating systems are allowed for and compensation for their use are within the calculation method

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings The proposals make pressure testing a legal requirement

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings New regulations will be drafted requiring submission of certificates for the building and its systems New regulations will be drafted requiring regular inspection of air-conditioning systems and the submission of reports

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings The calculation method for energy will a comparative study against the notional building The carbon improvement in buildings will be up to 20% with a further 10% allowance if no LZC energy systems are adopted The air pressure test standard remains at 10m³/m²h at 50 Pa

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings – Table 4, limiting U-value standards ElementArea weighted average value - U value W/m²K For any individual element – U value W/m²K Wall Floor Roof Windows* and rooflights High usage entrance doors6.0 Vehicle access1.54.0

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings A failure to meet air permeability tests can be made up for by re-examining the energy standard calculation and making any necessary adjustments There will be honeymoon period for the testing of buildings under 1000m² until 31 October 2007.

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings As an alternative to air pressure testing on buildings under 500m² an allowance of 15m³/m²h at 50 Pa can be used in the energy calculation method. Compensatory features can then be installed Large, complex buildings may be subjected to an alternative approach to air pressure testing

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings There will be a 5 step approach for compliance applicable to new buildings 1. Predicted carbon dioxide emissions from the proposed building does not exceed the target 2. The performance of the building fabric and the building services system should be no worse than the design limits 3. The building has appropriate passive control measures to limit solar gains

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2A Work in new buildings other than dwellings 4. The performance of the building, as built, is consistent with the Building Emission Rate 5. Providing information

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings Types of work covered include; Consequential improvements An extension A material change of use A material alteration The provision or extension of a controlled service or fitting The provision or renovation of a controlled element

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings Where the work involves the first fit-out of a ‘shell’ constructed under these guidelines the design should be as if it were all ‘new-build’ Allowances are made for ‘Historic buildings’

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings Consequential Improvements - Regulation 17D.- (1) applies to a building with a total useful floor area over 1000m² where the building work includes an extension, fixed building services or an increase to the capacity of any fixed building services

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings Where this regulation applies, such work, if any shall be carried out to ensure that the building complies with the requirements of Part L – see Table 7 for trigger values The regulation does not require anything to be done that is not technically, functionally and economically feasible – this has been defined

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings ElementThreshold valueImproved value Cavity wall Other wall type Floor Pitched roof ceiling level Pitched roof between rafters Flat roof

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings Consequential improvements include; Where there is in increase in the installed capacity of heating or cooling plant - To upgrade any thermal element served by the plant with increased capacity To replace any existing window or door within the area served by the plant with increased capacity

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings There is no limit to the value of this work where there is an increase in the installed capacity of the plant, only that it must be cost effective – the 10% capital value rule does not apply If the value of this work exceeds 10% then further consequential improvements are not required

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings In addition the 10% rule, based on the value of the principal works, applies and requires certain other elements in addition to those previously mentioned, to be upgraded including Heating and cooling systems more than 15 years old need to be upgraded or replaced Inefficient lighting systems, to install energy metering The provision of an LZC energy system as long as a 7 year simple payback can be shown

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings When carrying out a Material Change of Use reasonable provision would be to include; Replacement windows Controlled upgrading of any renovated thermal elements

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings For extensions over 100m² and greater than 25% of the existing building ADL2A should be adopted – this currently includes air pressure tests For extensions less than 100m² alternative values given below should be adopted

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings ElementStandard for new elements in an extension Standard for replacement elements in an existing building Wall Pitched roof – insulation at ceiling level 0.16 Pitched roof – insulation between rafters 0.20 Flat roof with integral insulation Floors

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings Windows – see table below OR the ratio that is present in that part of the existing building to which the extension is to be joined

New Building Regulation L1 Draft ADL2B Work in existing buildings other than dwellings Building typeWindows and personnel doors as a % of the exposed wall Rooflights as a % of the area of the roof Residential buildings3020 Places of Assembly, offices and shops 4020 Industrial and storage buildings 1520 Vehicle access doors and display windows As requiredN/A

New Building Regulation L1 The future Our proposed standards are still lower than some other EU countries – e.g. Denmark and Switzerland Aspirational U values for 2010 ItemIndicative U value Roof0.1 Wall0.2 Windows, doors etc1.4 Floors0.2

New Building Regulation L1 The future Air permeability standards are likely to be reduced to 5 or 7m³/m²h to bring us into line with standards currently in operation in countries such as Germany and Holland It should be noted that in Switzerland the current standard is set at 3.6 m³/m²h

New Building Regulation L1 Implementation Transitional provisions These have not yet been confirmed and we await further advice from the ODPM

New Building Regulation L1 Any Questions?