Part L compliance deadline: What you need to know
On 15 June 2023, the grace period for compliance with the updated Part L Building Regulations ends. Here’s what businesses need to know.
The Part L Building Regulations establish the benchmark for energy efficiency and carbon emissions of both new and existing buildings. They currently serve as an interim solution until the implementation of the Future Homes and Building Standard which aims to ensure that all new homes, starting from 2025, generate 75% to 80% fewer emissions.
In June 2022, the most recent revision of Part L took effect. It consists of four volumes that cover new dwellings, existing dwellings, new non-dwelling structures, and existing non-dwelling structures. To accommodate the completion of projects already initiated under the previous regulations, the government granted a one-year grace period which concludes on June 15, 2023. From this date affected parties must comply with the new measures.
These measures include the introduction of new energy efficiency targets and modifications to the assessment methodology.
Key takeaways from the Part L update include:
- Emphasis on a fabric-first approach to building performance, focusing on airtightness, insulation, and eliminating thermal bridging.
- Use of energy-efficient walls, floors, windows, and roofs to reduce reliance on technology and associated energy costs.
- New carbon emissions targets: New homes must produce at least 31% less carbon emissions, while non-domestic builds need to produce at least 27% less.
- Introduction of new minimum energy efficiency standards, including updated U-values for walls, windows, roof lights, and doors.
- Implementation of the Primary Energy metric to measure heating efficiency and required energy.
- Adoption of SAP10 methodology, replacing SAP 2012, for measuring and setting metrics and targets.
- Builders and developers required to provide photographic evidence at each build stage to demonstrate compliance with regulatory standards.
- Inclusion of a SAP10 Building Regulations England Part L (BREL) report as a prerequisite for completing and handing over a building, with the report serving as evidence of construction conformity.
What are the challenges?
The updated necessitate careful consideration of the new standards from the design phase in order to ensure compliance can be demonstrated without incurring costly adjustments later on.
Therefore, architects should closely examine building designs to incorporate energy-efficient measures like orientation, shading, and the utilisation of renewable energy sources.
Meanwhile, builders face the challenge of adapting to newer energy-efficient designs, materials, and construction methods. This includes ensuring that the building envelope is well-insulated to minimise heat loss and reduce thermal bridging. They may also require thicker insulation materials and need to be prepared to implement measures for airtightness, such as vapour barriers, tapes, and sealants.
Plumbers and HVAC technicians must focus on installing more efficient heating and ventilation systems while increasing the utilisation of renewable energy sources like solar, thermal, or heat pumps. They may also be responsible for maintaining heating and hot water systems in existing buildings, ensuring they operate efficiently and meet the requirements outlined in Part L.
For electricians working on more efficient lighting systems, such as LED, and installing sensors and other lighting controls to minimise unnecessary energy consumption will be nothing new. However, they will also have an increasing role in installing renewable energy sources like photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind turbines.
All trades are responsible for providing certification to verify that their work meets the required standards. However, builders and developers can avoid potential rework, construction delays, and financial penalties by maintaining detailed records of the materials and systems used during construction, supported by step-by-step photographic evidence.
