Building Regulations in England & Parts L, F and O

With the transitional period now over, the updated 2022 Building Regulations Part L, Part F, and the new Part O, became legally enforceable for all new residential projects.

This is the biggest regulatory change the construction sector has seen in the last 40 years and a stepping stone in our transition away from fossil fuel systems toward decarbonised homes and the electrification of heat - and ultimately, the Future Homes Standard. This shift will impact the way we design buildings and specify technologies.

Have you decided which technologies to specify to achieve compliance for your next residential project?

When will I need to comply with the Building Regulations 2022 changes?

The new English Building Regulations came into law on the 15th of June 2021. For projects with existing planning permission there is one year transitional arrangements period that applies on plot-by plot basis.

What are the four new compliance metrics in updated Part L?

The updated Part L outlines the four compliance metrics for new developments: primary energy target, carbon emissions target, fabric energy efficiency target, and minimum standards for building fabric and building services.

What is the impact of updated Part F and new Part O?

The ventilation system choice under the updated Part F is linked to aritightness as we look to increase indoor air quality. New Part O offers modelling to help mitigate the risk of overheating in buildings.

We designed a simple guide to the changes to Part L and Part F, and the new Part O, and discuss what they may mean for your project.