Building Regulations Part L.

Basic Guidance for a Housebuilder on the new Part L Building Regulations: Effective from 6^th April 2006

PART L     1A            New Dwellings

PART L     1B            Extensions to Existing Dwellings

PART L     2A            Complying with the Building Regulations

Part L 1A - Newbuild

For compliance with regulations a SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) rating is required before building work starts.

All previous methods of compliance are no longer acceptable.

Five Criteria for Compliance

1.        Predicted rate of CO² emissions from the dwelling.

2.        Performance of the building fabric.

3.        Appropriate measures to limit the effect of ‘solar gain’.

4.        The performance of dwelling - as built - is consistent with the predicted rate of CO² emissions.

5.        Necessary provisions for the energy efficient operation of the dwelling are put in place.

Summary of correct procedure for the Housebuilder

·          Get planning permission

·          Get SAP rating before you start building and submit to building control. This rating, which is called “Design - Final” proves that the building will meet all criteria.

NOTE: Builders get SAP rating from a competent and person with accredited software. The cost of the SAP rating is between £100 - £150 per dwelling.

·          Once the building has been constructed and if it is more than 2 units an air tightness test is required.

·          Once that test is completed the builder should forward the certificate to his SAP Assessor with confirmation that the building specification was followed as per original SAP calculation, and will then be issued “As Built - Final”.

·          If there is any change to the building during construction - another SAP rating will have to be done to ensure compliance.

·          If the building then does not comply the house-builder will have to undertake remedial work so the building does achieve the desired SAP rating.

·          Once all agreed the “Energy Performance Certificate” can be issued by the SAP Assessor.

·          An “Energy Performance Certificate” will be part of the new “Home Information Pack” which is a legal requirement for all house sales with effect from July 2007.

Part L 1B Extensions

An elemental approach for compliance is now used.

All building works have to comply with the following U Values.

What is a U-Value?

U-Value - The measure of heat flow through a constructed element of a building.

The lower the value the better the thermal performance.

A U-Value always refers to a construction rather than an individual product or element.

SUMMARY:

A builder can no longer construct a new dwelling without a SAP rating.

Previous methods of compliance no longer apply.

The builder takes responsibility for remedial work if products are changed from original specification for those with inferior performance.

The thermal performance of different elements of the building fabric can be adjusted as long as the completed SAP rating is good as or better than the original.

PART L 2A

Complying with the Building Regulations.

There is a need to show that carbon dioxide emissions from the Building Other Than Dwelling as constructed are as good as, if not better than the defined target and that, in so doing, limits to design flexibility for individual elements e.g. Wall U-Value, Air-permeability, fixed building services are met. There is also a requirement to show that the qualify of construction ensures that the Building Other Than Dwelling, as built, achieves the intended performance standard. There are other requirements to which insulation has limited or no significance.