10 things you need to know about part l

Things are set to change with Part L and subject to consultations from June 2022 it will affect how you approach both new build and extensions.  Are you ready yet?  Here are 10 things that you need to know …

1. What is Part L of the Building Regulations?

It concerns the conservation of fuel and power and sets the energy performance targets that all buildings in England have to meet.

2. And what is the Future Homes Standard (FHS)?

This is a set of standards that will complement the Building Regulations to ensure that new homes built from

2025 will produce 75-80% fewer carbon emissions than homes built under current regulations.

3. What will change?

The proposed Part L standards coming into force from June 2022 will have a revised set of performance standards that will pave the way to the more stringent measures that the FHS will introduce in 2025.  This interim uplift to Part L will require at least a 31% reduction in emissions compared to current standards. Note: the proposed uplift to Part L applies to England only. Changes to Part F (ventilation) are also proposed, however, this blog only deals with Part L.

4. Primary energy target

Primary energy will replace CO2 emissions as the main performance metric.  This will be a measure of the energy use in dwellings and will take into account upstream energy sources, i.e. whether the dwelling is powered by fossil fuels or renewable sources.

5. CO2 emissions target

Although this will no longer be the primary measure, this target will encourage low carbon choices when designing new homes and will help track progress against the UK’s net zero.

6. Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard (FEES)

While the fabric first approach is retained, the Future Building Standards, currently in consultation, is questioning whether there should be a more demanding FEES.

7. Minimum standards for fabric and fixed building services

The government hopes the FEES as proposed in the FHS consultation combined with minimum fabric standards, will drive overall fabric standards in new homes.

8. Bridging the performance gap

There will be new measures introduced to bridge the gap to the updated Part L, including amended Build Quality guidance; a new compliance report – Building Regulations England Part L (BREL); and an updated SAP – SAP 10.

9. Transitional arrangements

You should note that transitional arrangements will apply to individual homes rather than whole sites as has

been the case previously. This is to capture as many homes as possible under the new regulations.

10. The Timeline

• Late 2021 – Subject to the FSB consultation, the new Part L will be regulated.
• June 2022 – Part L will come into effect
• Spring 2023 – Full technical consultation on FHS with consideration of any transitional arrangements
• Spring 2024 – FHS legislation
• Spring 2025 – FHS implemented

The question is will you be ready for the change?  For more information about the planned changes read our whitepaper: “The Future Homes Standard 2025 and Part L 2021”.