The Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions has completed its industry consultation process for Part L of the Building Regulations, and construction has backed significant changes.
Radical improvements to the legislation covering the energy efficiency of new and existing non-domestic buildings have been endorsed by the construction industry writes Roderic Bunn.

In its final submission to the DETR, consultant Oscar Faber has reported a broad consensus for including the performance of building services in the next edition of Approved Document L.

The report lists no less than 27 energy improvements which have the blessing of over 90% of those polled in the consultation process. Other measures, such as airtightness standards, mandatory performance testing and requirements for heat recovery, were endorsed by over 88% of those polled.

The consultation process marks the end of a wide ranging review of the energy efficiency provisions in the Building Regulations. The DETR is being careful to solicit as many views as possible to avoid a repeat of the industry's rebellion in 1994 over revisions which sought to limit the use of air conditioning.

Key measures for the non-domestic sector which received overwhelming industry support (percentages in brackets) include:

  • performance requirements for air conditioning and mechanical ventilation (97%);
  • tax incentives to encourage energy efficiency (95%);
  • large-scale repair or refurbishment to include energy efficiency requirements (95%);
  • substantial increases in lamp efficacy and control exercised over lighting system efficiency (93% & 94%);
  • a CO2 rating system based on the Energy Performance Index Method (91%);
  • major step changes to be introduced at five yearly intervals (91%);
  • performance testing to improve the as-built performance of existing buildings (90%).

    Proposed measures which failed to capture the interest of the industry included positive discrimination in favour of chp (59%), penalties for exceeding CO2 targets (50%) and tradeable carbon permits (25%).

    However, an energy or CO2 target for buildings was seen as being important in terms of design flexibility, especially as a route to promoting renewable forms of energy. Support was also strong for tax incentives for efficient building users in preference to taxing the inefficient.

    Introduction of energy efficiency measures at so-called trigger points in a building's life, such as at rent review or change of ownership, received lukewarm support.

    There was general support for improving window insulation standards to 2·0 W/m2K, with an increase of wall U-values to 0·3 W/m2K and roof values to 0·2 W/m2K.

    Minister for Construction, Nick Raynsford, is considering the report before issuing formal proposals on revisions to the Building Regulations.

    "Our next task will be to develop these ideas into practical proposals in stages to achieve swift results," said Raynsford. "We then aim to consult on a first package in the latter half of 1999 to enable significant improvements to come into effect in the first half of 2000. Other packages will then follow." Building Services Journal will carry a full report of the Part L proposals in the March issue.

    • Source

    Building Sustainable Design