Building Regulation Changes – October 2010, Parts L, F and J.

Further to our recent technical report relating to the proposed changes to parts L and F and In order to keep our clients fully informed regarding changes to the building regulations, please find the following information which was part of Housing and Planning Minister John Healey’s announcement on 12th March 2010.

1. The changes have been confirmed after extensive consultation with industry, stakeholders and the Building Regulations Advisory Committee.

2. The Statutory Instrument (SI) amending Parts L, F and J of the building regulations (Conservation of fuel and power, Means of ventilation and Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems) is being laid today and the regulations take effect from October 2010. Revisions to the relevant supporting technical guidance (Approved Documents and Compliance Guides) will be made available shortly, together with a summary of responses of last year's consultations on Parts L, F and J.

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3. Today's SI also makes changes to the Building Regulations Competent Persons Schemes (CPSs) and minor technical amendments to Part G of the Building Regulations. The Part G and CPS amendments will take effect on 6 April 2010 and Approved Document G will be published today. The SI that made substantive amendments to Part G was laid in May 2009.

4. The Government target is for every new home built from 2016 to be net zero carbon with a further 25 per cent improvement relative to the standards announced today from 2013.

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5. We have recently consulted on proposals that all new non-domestic buildings must be zero carbon from 2019.

6. The changes to Part L announced today will require a 25 per cent improvement above current standards for every new home. An aggregate approach for improvement of new non-domestic buildings will deliver an improvement of 25 per cent overall, rather than for each individual building. This is because there is greater variety among non-domestic buildings and some will be much easier than others to make efficient. The changes to Part L will increase the minimum levels of energy efficiency for building fabric and services, so that CO2 targets cannot be achieved through renewables alone. This reflects the principle of reducing overall demand for energy. The measures will also come into play when people elect to carry out work to existing buildings including extensions and conversions, fabric renovations, replacement windows and boilers.

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7. Part F has been revised with new requirements and guidance for installation and commissioning of ventilation systems. This will help to maintain indoor air quality and avoid adverse health effects that could otherwise have occurred due to the greater tendency to more airtight buildings arising from the Part L changes.

8. Guidance on Part J has been revised to ensure that combustion appliances can continue to function safely in more airtight homes. A new requirement has been introduced for the provision of Carbon Monoxide alarms when installing all solid fuel appliances. The changes also remove technical disincentives to the wider use of Biomass heating systems.

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9. Changes to Part G of the Building Regulations were due to come into force on 1 October 2009. They extend and update the existing provisions in Part G that have been in force since 1992. As well as a general updating, they make three significant changes: they introduce a minimum water efficiency standard for all new homes, extend safety provisions to all types of hot water system (not just unvented systems) and require thermostatic mixing valves to be fitted on baths in all new homes.

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