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The UK was the first major world economy to pass a net zero emissions target into law. This target which was recommended by the committee on Climate Change, is one of the most ambitious in the world and requires the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
In 2018, heating and powering homes accounted for 22% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. The UK has already made considerable progress in this sector by reducing total emissions by 43% since 1990, despite being approx. a quarter more homes. The homes that are constructed now and in the next decade will still exist in 2050, and the Government acknowledged that more must be done to decarbonise all buildings.
The Government in the 2019 Spring Statement made a commitment that by 2025 they will introduce a Future Homes Standard (FHS) for new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency.
The FHS consultation, launched in Oct 2019, represented a first step in incentivising these changes by providing a clear vision for implementation and setting ambitious uplift to the energy performance requirements in Building regulations for new homes.
In December 2021, the Government took the first step of the Future Homes Standard by unveiling new Building Regulations. The second stage will take place in January 2025.
Approved Document L – Conservation of Fuel and Power
The updated Approved Documents L1 and L2 for England were released in December 2021.
The new documents have combined four previously separate documents into just two:
L1 – Dwellings
L2 – Buildings other than dwellings
Approved Document L – Conservation of Fuel and Power
In November 2022, the Welsh Government take the first step of the Future Homes Standard with the release of the new Approved Document L
Approved Document L - Conservation of Fuel and Power
The updated Approved Document ADLI now combines both New Dwellings (LIA) and Existing Dwellings (LIB) into one document.
Building Regulations were last updated in 2016. The 2022 update aims to reduce carbon emissions from new homes by 30% and by 27% for other types of building.
Compliance for windows and doors can be achieved using U-Values and Window/Door Energy Ratings.
The U-Value of a window or door is a measurement of the thermal transmittance of the whole window or door assembly. It measures how well a building transfers heat.
The U-Value measure is given in W/m2K and is identified by a numerical vale such as 1.4W/m2K. The lower the U-Value the more efficient the product.
The U-Value is calculated in accordance with BS EN ISO 10077-1.
The benefit of using U-Value compliance is that it can be uses as a compliance method in all parts of the building regulation – for both new and existing dwellings.
WER/DSERs is a rating system that is based upon a scale of E to A++, A++ being the most energy efficient.
This scheme is similar to the household appliance scheme that you see on white goods like fridges.
WER/DSERs can be used as a compliance method, but only for Existing Dwellings and ‘domestic type windows’ on Other Buildings.
Notional and limiting values are aimed at offering flexibility in the design and development of a building. Allowing different elements to vary in performance as long as the overall targets are met and the limiting values are not exceeded.
When establishing the building fabric performance, designers are advised to start the process with each building element value set to the notional value and not the limiting value.
All AluK products developed for use in the New Build Dwellings market have been designed around the notional value to ensure the building fabric complies with performance requirements within the updated approved document.
If you’d like more information on the Future Homes Standard, changes to Part L and AluK’s Part L-ready products, please get in touch with your local Area Sales Manager.
Call us on +44(0)1291 639 739
For project advice, contact the AluK Team at: Info.uk@aluk.com
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