In recent months there have been significant changes made to the building regulations, with several new approved documents and consolidated Building Regulations 2010 published. While the latest changes to Part L are not on the scale of 2006 revision, there is plenty of detail under the surface. It is important to remember that Part L is just a few new paragraphs. Its states that reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power….and that fixed building services shall be energy efficient of schedule 1, which is part of the building regulations, and is therefore legally binding, along with the other regulations. And is Part L, plain and simple. Part L contains one requirement, Requirement L1, which is subdivided into four items. It applies to all buildings: there is no requirement L2.
Emissions Calculations
The 2010 carbon emissions targets are now 25% more stringent that 2006. The method of calculating the target CO2 emissions factors for a new building has changed. The national building is now used for the comparator for assessing the target emissions rating. This notional building is of similar form geometry to the proposed building. The allocation of rooflights has changed, which affects the role of daylight and, of course, in the absence of daylight electric lighting. With the increase in emissions factor for electrical energy which has changed to 0.592kg/Wh from 0.422kg/kWh, there is likely to be considerable pressureto reduce the energy consumed in electrical system. This is likely to increase the focus on energy performance, on energy labels and on better controls to reduce energy use in electrical systems.
What does Part L actually require?
Part l conservation of fuel and power
l.1 Reasonable provisions shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by:
a. limiting heat gains and losses:
i. through thermal elements and other pasts of the building fabric; and
11.from pipes, ducts and vessels used for space heating, space cooling and ot water services:
b. providing fixed building services which
i. are efficient in energy
ii. have effective controls: and
iii. are commissioned by testing and adjusting as necessary to ensure that they use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances.
Reguirement L1(B)iii is now made more effective by Regulation 44, requiring a commissioning certificate to be presented to building control.
Requirement L1(c) on the production of Building log books is now addressed in Regulation 40. This means that a provision of a building log book is a regulatory requirement under the current building regulations.
Commissioning of building services is vital if they are to work efficiently and effectively as the deigner intended. But it is often not carried out, or carried out systematically. The CIBSE Commissioning Codes cover air systems, boilers, controls, lighting, regrigeration and water systems. Commissioning Code M provides a guide to the management of the whole commissioning process to deliver intergrated working systems. Code M presents current standards of good commissioning practice in the form of recommendations and guidance, and is the approved method of demonstrating compliance with regulation 40.
Looking to the future, work is already advanced on the 2013 revisionsto Part L. Industry working groups are reviewing the current arrangements, and advising the Department of Communities and Local Government on the options to deliver further reductionsin energy use and carbon emissions, while meeting the government’s targets to reduce the regulatory burden on all businesses, but particulalry in the house building industry. A consulation is promised for the end of this year. So we will continue to see changes to Part L as we work towards the zero carbon objective, with homes set to achieve the target from 2016, and non domestic buildings from 2019.
Energy Efficient Solutions (2011,p.12-13)
