As of today, Wednesday 15th June 2022, new building regulations are being enforced in England. Part L: Conservation of fuel and power and Part F: Ventilation, have been updated. A brand new Part O: Overheating and Part S: Infrastructure for charging electric vehicles have also been introduced.
The government has put transitional arrangements in place. If your Initial Notice was received before 15th June 2022 and work will start on site before 15th June 2023, work can take place under the old regulations. If these conditions are not met, the new regulations will apply to your project.
It is important to note that the following are not considered as commencement on site: removal of vegetation, demolition of previous buildings, top soil removal, excavation of trial holes, dynamic compaction and general site serving works.
When multiple dwellings or buildings are on a single application, work must have started on each unit for the transitional arrangements to apply. Foundations for blocks of flats is considered as a start on all units within that block.
Part L
All new homes are now expected to produce 31% less CO2 emissions than what was acceptable in the previous regulations.
A fabric-first approach is emphasised under the new Part L, with higher minimum fabric standards now in place. There is also a strong focus on reducing the performance gap between the way a building is designed and its as-built performance.
Part F
The previous Approved Document F and the Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide have been replaced by a new Approved Document F, Volume 1: Dwellings and Approved Document F: Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings. These introduce new guidance for work to existing dwellings and updated ventilation guidance for new dwellings and buildings other than dwellings.
Part O
The brand new Part O applies to new residential buildings and is designed to reduce the risk of overheating through limiting solar gain in summer and providing adequate means to remove heat from a building.
To demonstrate compliance with Part O you will need to complete what is called the Simplified Method of overheating calculations. If this fails, you will need to undertake the more complex Dynamic Thermal Modelling Method.
Part S
The newly published Approved Document S provides technical guidance regarding the installation and charge point requirements and applies to new residential and non-residential buildings, buildings undergoing a material change of use to dwellings, residential and non-residential buildings undergoing major renovation and mixed-use buildings that are either new, or undergoing major renovation.
This update forms part of the UK’s drive to switch to electric vehicles. A ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will come into force in 2030, meaning the country needs to upgrade its infrastructure to support an increasing number of electric vehicles.
