Part L Regulations and Reducing Carbon Dioxide
Part L Building Regulations are changed fairly frequently to keep up with the ever-changing world of construction. Often the changes are put in place to take account of new building techniques or materials, recently however, they have been amended to help the Government hit their latest carbon dioxide emissions targets.
To hit the carbon dioxide emission targets, Part L compliance is rightly playing a big part. Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), the Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) and Air Leakage Testing are just some of the additions that have taken extra prominence over recent months.
The additions mentioned above, in conjunction with other areas have been designed to raise awareness and promote responsible building and construction practice with regards to the local and global environment. This extends beyond the scope of the buildings themselves in some cases, the energy efficiency of the construction companies used as well as the geographical location of the new building plot are all factored into the overall energy rating.
Commercial and residential buildings are subject to slightly different rules and regulations for obvious reasons, but the goal is still the same. To reduce energy and work towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable energy solutions.
There are now energy consultants available who can advise on which parts of the regulations apply to the building you are involved with. If you are unsure, it is worth asking for advice, as there are areas under Part L that are compulsory for the building to be given the final go ahead from building control.
