Part L
Downloads:
20/03/06: Part L: Conservation of Fuel and power Building Regulations
- L1A Work in new dwellings (2006 edition)
- L1B Work in existing buildings
- L2A New buildings other than dwellings
- L2B Work in existing buildings that are not dwellings Building Regulations Part L1 (2006)
15/09/05: Download the TEHVA document
A compliance briefing for housing and specification professionals on Approved Document L (ADL) of the building regulations (England & Wales) from The Electrical Heating & Ventilation Association (TEHVA).
17/10/05: Energy white paper downloads
- Energy White paper - Our energy future - creating a low carbon economy
- PPS22 - Planning for renewable energy
- Home selling pack - The home information pack
20/10/05: Part L information pack
24/11/05: Creda launches new heater inline with Part L
28/02/06: Part L & SAP rating latest
28/02/06: Part L presentation
Main section:
Building Regulations Part L1 (2006)
The proposed revision to Part L of the Building Regulations will further aid the implementation of the Government's programme of commitments in the Energy White Paper and in the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency. Significant improvements in the Building Regulations energy efficiency provisions are seen as a major contributor towards achieving the self-defined target of a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2010 as mentioned above.
Amendments to the Building Regulations will lead to an improvement in the energy efficiency of new buildings of around 25%. Key features in the proposals include:
- Setting performance standards for buildings as a whole rather than for construction and services elements
- Firming up on pre-completion testing of air-tightness
The Energy White Paper also indicated the Government's welcoming of the new EPBD, which must be implemented by January 2006, however this will now be incorporated into the Building Regulations (ADL) in April 2005. Anticipated amendments include:
- Proposed new Approved Documents L1A, L1B, L2A and L2B: These contain the proposed changes to the Building Regulations legal requirements for energy efficiency and the new guidance on ways of showing compliance
- Future Performance Standards conveying forecasts of the performance standards that might be introduced into the Building Regulations around 2010
- Proposals for implementing of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
- Calculation Methodologies in support of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
- Adaptation Strategy providing an assessment of the impacts that climate change will have on the energy performance of buildings
New Build Compliance for Approved Document L
For the new build sector (ADL1A), compliance will be driven by deriving a Target Carbon Emission Rate (TCER) for a dwelling or the average of a block of dwellings and demonstrating compliance with the target through a Design Carbon Emission Rate (DCER) for the same dwelling or average for the same block of dwellings. The U value and Carbon Index methods are superseded by DCER.
The TCER is derived from the following formula:
(Co2 Heat/HW x Fuel Factor + Co2 lights) x improvement factor
At the time of going to print the fuel factor for electricity is 1.47 as taken from the ODPM July 2004 ADL consultation document. However this remains under development as improvements in the Renewables mix of energy production in the UK should reduce the number over time. The improvement factor is 0.8 or a 20% reduction.
To summaries, to gain building control approval from April 2006, a buildings’ DCER must be less than its TCER. The TCER or target will be set according to house-type and there are 16 variations that have been agreed by the Building Research Establishment.
Specification professionals will benefit greatly from the Office of the Deputy Prime Ministers (ODPM) decision to allow block average assessment for TCER and DCER calculations. This provides considerable flexibility in overall design and will enable compliance to be met through a mix of improvements in materials, construction method and air tightness along with possible specification of innovative measures.
Specifically an average means that each unit in a multi-dwelling building will have its own rating and compliance will be assessed as the sum of all the individual targets and actual design measure, after weighting for floor area averages. Weighting is achieved by multiplying the carbon per m2 by the dwelling floor area (m2) and then dividing the sum of all dwellings by the total floor area (m2). Applied Energy provide a design application service to assist all Specifiers in completing heating, hot water and ventilation designs in compliance with all prevailing regulations.
Part L and SAP
SAP is the Standard Assessment Procedure for producing an energy rating for a dwelling, based on the calculated annual energy cost for space and water heating. While Part L focuses on carbon emissions, SAP considers energy efficiency. Therefore, SAP takes into account thermal insulation, heating costs / efficiency, ventilation characteristics and solar gain. Currently, the SAP is normalised for the floor area and the rating is expressed on a scale of 1-120 (the higher the number the lower the carbon emitted). All new buildings must have a SAP rating and although there is no minimum standard, some housing providers specify a target SAP value as a measure of efficiency.
The new Part L (ADL1A) will for the first time put SAP at the forefront of compliance as the DCER calculation replaces the carbon index methodology. It is important to note that whilst SAP is used as a carbon compliance tool for the new ADL1A, the SAP score has little bearing on compliance as the regulation is concerned with carbon as a policy driver rather than the cost implications of fuels used within SAP. Furthermore, Specification professionals will be aware that when considering the cost of running a heating system.
SAP fails to take into consideration the wider costs of ownership issues such as increased capital cost of equipment, regular servicing and on-going maintenance requirements related to gas and oil systems. In capital cost terms, a gas or oil system can add around £1,000 per dwelling compared with electric and the on-going servicing and maintenance exposure will range between £75 per annum as estimated by the National Landlords Association and £192 per annum for a British Gas servicing contract.
The revisions being made to SAP during 2005 will align it to Part L 2006 and are expected to include:
- A revised scale of 1-100, where 100 now represents zero energy cost and it can be above 100 for dwellings that are net exporters
- The Dwelling CO2 Emission Rate (DCER) replacing the Carbon Index
- Energy for lighting
- A revision of Solar water heating
- The effect of thermal bridging is taken into account
- The incorporation of additional renewable and energy saving technologies
- Measures of energy now in kWh rather than GJ
It is likely that a reduced version of SAP will be used within the implementation of the European Performance of Buildings Directive and therefore in producing the energy audit required with a Home Information Pack from 2007.
The Applied Energy Solution
Applied Energy Products Ltd has a range of innovative products and solutions from its Creda, Redring and Xpelair brands that provide Specifiers with an advantage in meeting the Target Carbon Emission Rate. Innovative products combined with improved air-tightness and better U-values can contribute favourably to the overall building score to ensure compliance.
Research by The Electrical Heating & Ventilation Association (TEHVA) has found that the option of specifying solar thermal panels to serve top-floor dwellings provides a significant carbon saving in the DCER, which offers even greater flexibility for the building fabric specification. Providing solar thermal dedicated to the top floor also alleviates concerns regarding available roof space, specification of pipe-work and putting in place management arrangements for billing customers. Importantly, fitting solar thermal can also allow Local Authorities to comply with PPS-22 which is now a legal requirement.
TEHVA is also currently contributing to the SAP revision process with the aim of ensuring that high performance ventilation with heat recovery which has obvious carbon benefits, is fully reflected within the new SAP. Specifiers can check this page for latest information on whether this additional compliance method is available. Alternatively you can check our Part L forum and ask questions to our team of experts.
Creda Heating Briefing on Part L of the Building Regulations and Other Issues of Climate Change
Introduction
It is anticipated that in April 2006, following a period of consultation, the Government will implement a revised version of Approved Document L of the Building Regulations (England & Wales). Applied Energy Products Ltd, parent company of leading heating manufacturer Creda (also parent to Xpelair and Redring), is producing guidance for housing developers, local authorities, housing associations and other professional Specifiers. Information specific to compliance with Approved Document L is derived in association with the Electrical Heating & Ventilation Association (TEHVA) and their involvement in the Part L Industry Advisory Group, Working Parties and direct discussions with the relevant Government departments and advisors.
A Cleaner Future
The generation of electricity has traditionally been based on burning fossil fuels. Coal, oil and natural gas are finite resources which will inevitably run out. Burning fossil fuels generates carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions. Across the world, the demand for energy is growing and placing greater pressure on both the availability of scarce fossil fuels and on the sustainability of the environment. The challenge therefore is to identify and develop other, cleaner sources of energy for the future. Increasingly, the solution is seen as renewable energy. Renewables are inexhaustible, clean and are available everywhere. Solar, Wind, Wave, Biomass, Geothermal and Nuclear are all renewable sources of energy.
As we move quickly towards global peak oil availability and with the UK towards becoming a NET importer of gas, there is a recognised need for a dramatic shift in UK energy policy. The Energy White Paper of 2003 quite clearly lays out challenges for the UK that will lead to a shift towards cleaner and more efficient forms of energy generation and distribution. This followed the DTI's commitment in 2000 to pursue a target of 10% electricity production from renewable energy by 2010 and 20% by 2020.
Electric Heating
When fossil fuels run out, heating and hot water appliances will no longer be able to be powered by coal, oil and natural gas. With the alternative electricity from renewable resources, the long term future for domestic heating and hot water, as acknowledged in the 2003 White Paper, rests with electric appliances.
In the short term, electric has a significant role to play in the U.K. At least 10% of the U.K population does not have easy access to a gas supply. In 2004, 42% of new housing starts were flats and maisonettes where electric is often the most cost-effective option.
Many Specification professionals prefer to specify electric heating and hot water solutions due to:
- Lower Capital costs
- Build Speed benefits
- Layout and design flexibility
- Lower maintenance and servicing costs
Electric heating is a growing market with traditional storage and panel heaters representing two of the most popular product types. After consultations during the development of the revised Part L, Government has confirmed that electric heating will continue to play a key role in heating the homes of the U.K and remain compliant with the revised Part L of the building regulations.
With electric heating operating at 100% efficiency, a cleaner method of generation coupled with more efficient forms of distribution means the future is very bright for electrical appliances within the built environment.
Climate Change - Towards a Low to Zero Carbon economy
The relationship between economic development and environmental degradation was first recognised at a UN conference in 1972. However, it wasn’t until the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (1992) that Agenda 21, a wide-ranging blueprint for action to achieve sustainable development worldwide, was adopted.
The Kyoto Protocol was approved in 1997 and mandates industrialised nations to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. Restrictions apply to 38 industrialised parties; the UK is specifically obligated to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2012. To demonstrate the sense of urgency, the U.K government has set itself the tighter and more widely accepted target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.
In January 2000, the DTI announced aims for renewables to account for 10% of electricity generation by 2010 and that by 2020, despite growing demand for electricity, energy efficiency improvements will reduce demand overall. The vision is for new homes to be designed with little requirement for energy, with progress being made towards low or even zero carbon emissions.
The Energy White Paper of 2003 set four goals for future energy policy:
- to cut the U.K.’s CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050 with real progress to be made by 2020
- to maintain the reliability of energy supplies
- to promote competitive markets in the U.K and beyond, helping to raise the rate of sustainable economic growth and to improve productivity
- to ensure that every home is adequately and affordably heated
The Government's Plan for Action' (2004) outlines, in detail, how the energy efficiency strategy in the White Paper will be delivered. The key measures include:
- A new aim to secure annual carbon savings from the household sector in the UK of around 4.2 million tonnes by 2010
- To double the level of the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) activity from 2005, and to extend it to 2011 subject to a review in 2007
- Changes to the Building Regulations which will raise standards of new and refurbished buildings by 20%
- Commitment to leadership by government, including a new commitment for central government to use only the best energy performance buildings
- A stronger emphasis on communicating about climate change
- Fuel poverty programmes will continue to tackle heating and insulation standards in the homes of those least able to afford to keep warm
- The Decent Homes programme, which will continue to improve energy standards in social housing
The implementation of the new Approved Document L (ADL) in April 2006 is now the cornerstone of Government energy policy in this area and lays down some demanding yet achievable challenges for the construction sector and professional Specifiers, particularly in the area of new-build dwellings. The focus for new-build remains an improvement in building fabric to reduce heat loss, with a steer clearly towards the specification of innovative measures including solar thermal and ventilation with heat recovery where appropriate. However, fabric improvements alone will ensure house builders can comply with the new regulations when specifying electric heating and hot water systems.
EcoHomes
EcoHomes is recognised as a mark of environmental quality for house builders within the social housing sector. It is an environmental assessment methodology developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) based on useful checklists of factors, which, if taken into account, can enhance the quality of the design. The rating considers the broad environmental concerns of climate change, resource use and impact on wildlife, but balances these against the needs for a high quality, safe and healthy internal environment.
This is especially significant as:
- Currently less than 2% of the average 180,000 homes built each year reach the Eco-Homes "Very Good" standard
- If these standards were applied across all the new housing stock it would save 180,000 tones of Carbon Dioxide a year
If these standards were applied to all housing it would cut carbon dioxide output by 8% and make a major contribution towards meeting the UK's Kyoto target. Applied Energy Products Ltd is positioned to support housing professionals in achieving an EcoHomes rating.
European Performance of Building Directive
The 2002 European Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) will apply to almost all buildings, residential and non-residential, both new and existing and will be enacted in 2006 via Part L of the Building Regulations. The main objectives are to promote:
- Improved energy performance of buildings within the EU through cost effective measures
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The convergence of building energy standards towards those of Member States which already have ambitious levels
Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22)
PPS22 (2004) sets out the Government’s national policy for renewable energy and provides guidance on promoting the important contribution that naturally occurring forms of energy can make in reducing CO2 emissions. The key principles are:
- Renewable energy developments should be capable of being accommodated in locations where the technology is viable and environmental, economic, and social impacts can be addressed satisfactorily
- Regional spatial strategies and local development documents should contain policies designed to promote and encourage, rather than restrict, the development of renewable energy resources
- Planning authorities should set out the criteria that will be applied in assessing applications for planning permission for renewable energy projects
- Wider environmental and economic benefits of all proposals for renewable energy projects are material considerations that should be given significant weight in determining whether proposals should be granted planning permission
- Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should not make assumptions about the technical and commercial feasibility of renewable energy projects
- Small-scale projects can provide a limited but valuable contribution to overall outputs of renewable energy
- Community involvement should be fostered in renewable projects to promote knowledge and gain acceptance by the public
- Development proposals should demonstrate any environmental, economic and social benefits and impacts
