Energist Newsletter - Issue 2 - April May

NEWS ISSUE 2 | APRIL/MAY 2014

WELCOME

making your world better

After months of anticipation and speculation, the new Approved Document Part L is now live in England. But what does this mean for you?

New SAP and SBEM calculators are now readily available, so any approved assessor can have a play, and see how compliance targets have been made stricter. The key question on everyone’s lips is ‘How do these results translate to my next site?’

Here’s some of our initial thoughts for the new build domestic sector…

The introduction of the Target Fabric Energy Efficiency (TFEE) into Part L has been designed to ensure new builds are constructed with high levels of insulation, good air tightness and decent thermal bridging details.

Those developers who are currently switched on to building to these standards shouldn’t hit too many hurdles with these new regs. We recommend you look to use thermal bridging details which are better than standard Accredited Construction Details (ACDs), aim for air tests just over 5 (if using normal ventilation systems) and do your best to hit the U-Values as listed in the Elemental Recipe.

For compliance with the new Target Emission Rate (TER), things are a bit more tricky…

If your current specification passed the older version of SAP by less than 10%, it’s likely

PART LHAS LANDED

you’ll need to up your game to continue showing compliance with Part L.

You should be looking to fit new dwellings with high-efficiency gas boilers, make sure all lighting is low-energy and don’t shy away from low carbon and renewable options… they’re not essential in showing compliance, but they really help!

If you’re about to start your first dwelling under Part L 2013, it’s a good idea to get a copy of the Elemental Recipe (details on how to register for your complete guide to the Regs is on page 2). If you can build each and every element in line with this Recipe, you’ll be on the

Welcome to Issue 2 of the ‘Energist News’ – your bi-monthly round up of the latest news tailored for your needs.

• H O U S I N G S T A N D A R D S REVIEW CONSULATION

• CONSEQUENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS• MAKING LONDON BETTER

• ACOUSTICS IN 2014

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:


button for complying with the TER, and you’ll pass the TFEE by around 15%.

But following this Recipe is unlikely to be the most practical solution. It’s best if you look at each element separately (for example, wall insulation, boiler efficiency, glazing specification), and write them into one of these three categories depending on your own circumstances:

I can do better than what it suggests in the Recipe

2 I can just about match the Recipe, but can’t do any better

3 I can’t meet this section of the Recipe.

Once you’ve gone through it, chances are you’ll have bits of your specification scattered across all three of these groups, which is fine. You need to aim to have as small a number possible in the third section (can’t meet the Recipe), and as big a number possible in the first section (I can do better).

Complying with the Recipe is all about keeping things balanced, so you may decide to build to a lower performing wall U-Value than stated in the Recipe (because 0.18 is difficult to achieve with a brick and block wall), but to compensate, you’d need to make improvements elsewhere, maybe by installing triple glazing for example.

But (as always) it’s never as straight forward as that… the various bits of the Recipe are not treated equally in SAP… so improving a roof U-Value by 0.02 won’t offset a wall U-Value which is 0.02 worse. This is why we strongly recommend working with your SAP assessors to find the best specification for you.

You should find that, once you have a specification that passes comfortably under Part L 2013, you can use this for all future builds, without hitting any major issues.

If you’re not the kind of developer who shies away from PV panels, heat pumps or biomass, then you can wipe the floor with the Elemental Recipe by installing these technologies. One word of caution though: Low carbon and renewable technologies have zero effect on the TFEE. So if you haven’t constructed the building shell to meet this target, you’ll fail Part L regardless of how many solar farms you wire into the house.

And remember, this currently only applies to developments in England – Wales will be joining us at the end of July!

CONTINUED...

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PART L HAS LANDED

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO

PART L 2013All you need to know about energy

efficiency regulations from April 2014

The Team that de-risks the Regs

For a free handy poster of the domestic and non-domestic recipe plus a complete guide to the new Part L regs for England, email us at [email protected] to claim your free copy.

JON PONTINGSenior Energy Assessor and Energist UK blogger

@EnergistUK/EnergistUK

08458 386 387www.energistuk.co.uk

The Government has released its formal response to the Housing Standards Review Consultation, setting out which recommendations of the review it will implement, along with when and how. Whilst there are still some major details to be published (as you can expect with such sweeping changes), the release provides long awaited classification on exactly which regulations the Government intends to cull and when.

As a reminder the Housing Standards Review puts forward recommendations on streamlining Regulation in the house building industry across the following areas: Accessibility Space Standards Security Water Efficiency Energy Efficiency Indoor Environmental Standards Materials Process and Compliance

It’s these recommendations that the Government has now responded to and given us an indication of how they want to proceed. So here’s what’s on the horizon…

Central Government will develop Technical Standards for Accessibility, Space, Security and Water Efficiency which can be adopted by Local Planning Authorities and enforced by Building Control. That will mean LPAs can no longer determine the content of Policy affecting these areas, instead having to use Government standards. These standards could be applied where there is clear local need, but how this will be defined is not yet clear.

Code for Sustainable HomesThe Code for Sustainable Homes also looks to be on the way out, at least in its current form. The Statement expressly states that the role of the Code for Sustainable Homes is to be wound down, although it does leave the door open for a revised version of the CSH to be developed. However, home office requirements, along with rainwater recycling, sheds for cycle storage and compost bins have all been singled out for the cull. Other categories of the CSH are expected to be drafted into Building Regulations (Fabric Energy Efficiency for example and possible smart metering).

The Government quickly needs to announce how it will transition away from the CSH, as there is a vast number of sites in development which are obliged to provide CSH compliance, whether contractually or through planning requirements. Uncertainty is the last thing this industry needs, so more information is needed imminently.

Part L is the driver…Local Planning Authorities also look set to lose their power to enforce increased energy efficiency requirements on a site by site basis, which would ultimately leave the requirements of Part L as the sole driver for energy efficiency. However, LPAs will still have the power to set site by site renewable energy requirements. Whether the carbon targets in the London Plan will survive this cull will remain to be seen…

So when will all of this happen? The Government is looking to publish the draft Technical Standards in the summer. The Building Regulations and National Planning Policy Framework will then need to be updated to allow the implementation of the standards.

It looks as though the Government is aiming for the start of 2015 to bring these new standards in and phase out the CSH. So for the next 8 months or so it looks to be business as usual, but change is on the way…

GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TOTHE HOUSING STANDARDSREVIEW CONSULTATION

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Consequential Improvements (CI) has often been a hot topic in the past. Indeed Eric Pickles ended up going to Judicial Review over his decision not to introduce CI on all buildings below 1000m2 under Part L2013 (and in fact he was victorious). So now we have clarity on CI, what exactly is it and when does it apply?

Well firstly Consequential Improvements can apply to any existing building with a floor area of 1000m2 or more, whether it is a residential or non-domestic building. The guidance that applies to both these scenarios is actually laid out in Part L2B of the Building Regulations.

Consequential Improvements can be triggered when work is undertaken to an existing building of over 1,000m2 and consists of one of the following:

An extension Provision of any fixed building service

(new heating or cooling plant for example) Increase in the installed capacity of any

fixed building service (e.g. larger cooling plant)

The purpose of CI is to improve the energy efficiency of the existing building, but there is a caveat. The upfront work to improve the energy efficiency of the building must cost less than the resulting savings in energy bills measured over

TECHNICAL BULLETIN:CONSEQUENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS

a 15 year period; also known as the 15 Year Payback Rule.

Provided this rule is met, you would need to improve the energy efficiency of your building when altering the building

services, or extending the building.

So what exactly do you need to do under Consequential Improvements? Well this depends on the initial work you’re undertaking.

Consequential Improvements on Extensions:When extending a building of more than 1000m2, the developer should adopt measures that will improve the energy efficiency of the building which cost of at least 10% of value of the principle works. These measures could include:

New heating plant or controls New cooling plant or controls Upgrading AHUs Upgrading lighting systems Providing energy metering Upgrading thermal elements Replacing existing windows that have

a U-value of 3.3 or worse

Each one of these measures should be assessed against the 15 Year Payback Rule to test viability.

Consequential improvements on new heating system or increased capacity of a heating system;

Upgrade the building fabric to achieve the standards in Table 5 of Part L2B:


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Table 5 Upgrading retained thermal elements

ElementU- value W/m2K

(a) Threshold (b) Improved

Wall - Cavity insulation 0.70 0.55

Wall - external or internal insulation

0.70 0.30

Floors 0.70 0.25

Pitched roof - insulation at ceiling level

0.35 0.16

Pitched roof- insulation at rafter level

0.35 0.18

Flat roof or roof with integral insulation

0.35 0.18

Upgrade windows, doors and windows

Consequential improvements on a new cooling system or increased capacity of a cooling system

Upgrade thermal elements to standards in Table 5 as listed previously.

Provide solar control measures where the area of glazing exceeds 40% of the floor area.

Upgrade lighting system where the existing system provides less than 45 lumens per circuit watt.

As you can see Consequential Improvements can add considerably to the cost of your build and it’s therefore really important to evaluate each of the requirements carefully, engage in discussion with Building Control and fully understand the implications.

As always our team are on hand to help you through the Regulations, so give us a call if you come up against Consequential Improvements and you’re not sure what to do.

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We’ve had a busy April here at Energist UK (and it’s only half way through). We’ve launched a whole new website, we’ve published our complete guide to the Part L 2013 Regulations and the icing on the cake is the opening of our new London Office!

Why a London office?London is unique. Under The London Plan, your development needs to be more sustainable, energy efficient and enduring than anywhere else in the country. So we wanted to have a team that is 100% dedicated to helping you meet the requirements of the London Boroughs.

With our new London Office, we’re just a call or tube away, ready to help you from pre-planning to completion. To find out more, visit www.energistuk.co.uk/london

Whilst you are there, why not download our new infographic on the London Plan?

MAKING LONDON BETTER

Energist London will soon be running Free CPD sessions covering the requirements of the London Plan and an overview of Part L 2013. The sessions will give a

summary of the requirements, what to look out for and how to achieve compliance.

If you’d like to register your interest, drop us an email at [email protected].


Now is an exciting time in the world of acoustics. But isn’t it always? Change is afoot. Three very important documents in the world of acoustics – particularly building acoustics – are being amended. It’s difficult to say which document is the most important, as they each consider different areas, so we’ll start with the one most recently published.

BS 8233: 2014 “Guidance on sound insulation and noise reduction in buildings” is a weighty document, and can almost be considered a handbook for acoustics in buildings. It gives criteria for internal noise levels, sound insulation and reverberation in buildings as well as a wealth of information on how to achieve the criteria. The previous version (1999) was a central document for acoustics that Local Authorities and acoustic consultants have referred to across the UK for planning conditions and acoustic criteria. The new version, which is even more expansive, will no doubt be used in the same way.

BS 4142: 2014 “Methods for rating and assessing industrial and commercial sound” is currently out for public consultation and provides a method for assessing the noise impact of industrial noise sources. The current document (published in 1997), although flawed, has been the standard reference point for Local Authorities across the UK for assessing noise from building services plant, and is referred to in planning conditions (and legal cases) across the land. The draft replacement makes recommendations for a more robust assessment method, although the new requirement for measuring weather conditions at the same time as noise measurements has already ruffled a few feathers.

We hope the replacement will remove some of the ambiguity of its predecessor.

Building Bulletin 93 “Acoustic Design of Schools” was initially hailed as the answer to acoustic problems in schools (aircraft noise disrupting classes, assembly halls that echo, teachers losing their voices, etc.), intending to bring about a new era of high-performance school buildings under the intensive building programmes of the early noughties (see PFI, BSF, etc). However, it soon became apparent that some of the acoustic criteria contradicted other design aspirations – for instance natural ventilation – especially since BB93 required a very quiet site (most weren’t) if you wanted your school to have windows that open. Sports halls were also tricky as they generally require two sets of parallel painted blockwork walls, which don’t meet the stringent BB93 reverberation requirement.

‘Alternative Performance Standards’ were also introduced which allowed, with the right justification, a relaxation of the BB93 criteria. These were used frequently (and in many cases, wrongly) to acoustically downgrade the design (mainly to reduce cost), thereby missing the original point of BB93.

The new document (currently out for consultation) promises a more pragmatic approach, with mainly the same criteria but critically, a more sensible way of applying them, particularly for refurbishments. It’s also much clearer which buildings are covered, as this was sometimes a bit vague under BB93.

All of these amendments will impact on building design and specification and may well lead to changes in planning conditions going forward. We recommend a watchful eye.

GUEST BLOGACOUSTICS IN 2014BY HILSON MORAN

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NICHOLAS JONESHead of Acoustics www.hilsonmoran.com



Malcolm Pawley Architects have been specialising in small developments from their Bankside office for over 30 years. As with many of their designs, their Bermondsey Street development featured both a workspace and a living space, where someone could work and live comfortably and keep the bills low while doing so.

“It’s a good way of marketing the property, that it’s energy efficient,” said spatial designer Ricky Patel. “We have extra things that you need in terms of insulation, green roof, any sort of sustainability items we can put in it, we always try to. If it’s cost-effective we’ll put it in even if it’s not needed in terms of building regulations and actual approval.”

CASESTUDY:

Ricky Patel told us he wanted to exceed the requirements across the board, so we advised on how to maximise the efficiency in the elements that were falling short. As a finishing touch, they also included a grass roof for a (quite literally) even greener build.

The result was a build that delivered Malcolm Pawley’s desired targets on time and with fantastic quality. The build is now used as a recording studio, complete with acoustic glazing. For Ricky, the best advice he has for others with an appetite for building green is to bring in the experts, and to do so early.

“That’s what I like about Energist: they work with you from the beginning, you can send them information, they give us the advice in a really easy, understanding way,” said Ricky. “And then we were able to construct with the peace of mind that when we were finished we could have achieved what we needed to.”

“They’ve always allowed us to meet our targets and stick to programme.”

RICKY PATEL Malcolm Pawley Architects

Malcolm Pawley Architects Maximise Space and Energy for an Efficient Two-in-One

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T: 08458 386 387F: 08456 432 432E: [email protected]

Energist HouseKemble Enterprise ParkKemble, Gloucestershire GL7 6BQ

making your world better@EnergistUK/EnergistUK


The Team that de-risks the Regs

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/EnergistUK

@EnergistUK

You can also join the UK Building Regulations Network on LinkedIn for the latest news.

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NEWS ISSUE 1 | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014

WELCOME


As the Six Nations competition continues to build national pride on the pitch, there’s a whole other game being played out in the political world… For the first time in Part L’s history, the English and the Welsh are building their own goalposts, setting the bars at different levels, and creating an uneven playing field worse than Murrayfield.So why are we splitting up, and how is that going to affect new developments?Piece by piece, the Welsh Government in Cardiff is taking control of political powers from Westminster. This includes rewriting all Building Regulations to give them a Welsh specific angle. As Part L was being revised anyway, it was decided this would be the first of the Approved Documents to be given a Cardiff makeover.

So what are the key differences?Firstly, the date. In England, Part L 2013 goes live from April 6th. In Wales, the date is July 31st. If you submit your details to Building Control on or after these dates, you’ll be expected to meet the new set of targets.

In L1A, which is new build dwellings, the way Target Emission Rates are calculated is changing, and will be worked out using a set construction method called the ‘Elemental Recipe’. In theory, if you follow this recipe, you will show compliance. This recipe will be the same in England and Wales, and is

E N G L A N D VS WALES

expected to show a 6 – 8% reduction over our current targets.

In England a second target is being introduced called the Target Fabric Energy Efficiency (TFEE) (this is similar to the FEES score in the Code for Sustainable Homes.) This Target looks at building fabric and air tightness only – it does not consider how well your heating and ventilation systems operate, and does not look at renewables or low carbon systems. This means you need to make sure the U-values of your fabric are much better than they may have been previously, and certainly better than the maximum U-Values of the current Part L (which are not changing).

PART L CHANGES

Welcome to Issue 1 of the ‘Energist News’ – your bi-monthly round up of the latest news tailored for your needs.

• LONDON PLAN C H A N G E S• THERMAL BRIDGING• BREEAM 2014• BUILDING AN ENERGY EFFICIENT P A R A D I S E

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

We launched a brand new website in April, check it out here:

www.energistuk.co.uk