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?
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.
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.
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.
Our range of HVAC solutions aim to provide future proof technologies to building projects over various sectors.
Request our presentation on Building Regulation changes that answer the most frequently asked questions.
Latest News
Our news section cover building regulations, what the changes to Part L, F, and the new Part of O entail, and what this means for HVAC specification.
Decarbonising heat and what lessons have been learnt?
Decarbonising heat is seen as a key area to address if the UK is to achieve its net-zero 2050 target. The scale, complexity, and cost of the transition to low carbon heating technology means the industry needs time and support to adjust to the changes it faces. The much-anticipated regulatory framework and clear strategy for the energy transition process should provide a reliable platform to take on the challenges on our journey to a low carbon future.
Debunking the misconceptions of electric panel heating
Modern, energy efficient electric panel heaters that offer a high level of control to users, whilst using low carbon energy, are unrecognisable from the inefficient, clunky panel heaters of the past. Despite technological advances, the perception of electric heating mostly relates to the old technology that grew in popularity with the advent of cheaper nuclear energy in the late 1950s. Traditionally, panel heaters in homes were accompanied by storage heating to make use of the energy generated ‘off-peak’ and assist with under-utilised night-time energy available on the grid. In addition, electric heating has long been a convenient form of secondary heating, for example with the use of portable fan heaters.
What is the requirement for HVAC system compliance for a collective housing application?
One regulatory requirement for collective housing applications, or large residential developments, is to comply with Part L of the Building Regulations. The updated Part L has been published and is concerned with the conservation of power and fuel in buildings. Fixed heating, ventilation and air conditioning services in new residential dwellings play a large part in achieving the required energy performance of a building and their targets and requirements are outlined in this Approved Document.