On 13 September 2005, as part of a government initiative to tackle climate change, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) issued a statement announcing that “New measures to make buildings more energy efficient will save one million tonnes of carbon per year by 2010, equivalent to emissions from more than one million semi-detached homes”.
Some of those new measures are contained, in part, in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and will, in part, be implemented by changes to Parts F and L of the Building Regulations, see
The proposed revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations are due to take effect in April 2006. Assuming that the interim documents are not redrafted, then the key points are:
– New builds will be required to meet target CO2 emission rates;
– Mandatory pressure testing of heating and cooling apparatus on a pass/fail basis will be introduced;
– There will be a requirement to notify the local authority on the commissioning of building services systems to ensure compliance with the pressure testing regime;
– Building log books will be required, detailing the building services installed and used, to be passed on to successive owners or occupiers.
The revised Regulations will apply, for example, to; extensions to existing non-residential premises; the provision of fixed building services; and any increase in capacity of fixed building services. Where the Regulations do apply, improved energy performance of a building may be required under the heading of “consequential improvements”. Such improvements would encompass, for instance, the replacement of heating or cooling systems more than 15 years old. Those consequential improvements would be subject to a cost limit, probably set at 10% of the cost of the principal works.
The government’s deadline for implementation of the EPBD, 4 January 2006, will not be met. Worryingly, in “notes to editors” the ODPM’s press release also stated that “the EPBD requirement that when existing buildings with a floor area over 1000 m2 undergo major renovation, their energy efficiency should be upgraded in so far as is feasible, will be implemented from April 2006”.
At the time of writing, no detailed information on the manner and terms of implementation of the EPBD has been forthcoming from the ODPM. This lack of information must give rise to some cause for concern.
Malcolm Dowden is an associate at Charles Russell
On 13 September 2005, as part of a government initiative to tackle climate change, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) issued a statement announcing that “New measures to make buildings more energy efficient will save one million tonnes of carbon per year by 2010, equivalent to emissions from more than one million semi-detached homes”.
Some of those new measures are contained, in part, in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and will, in part, be implemented by changes to Parts F and L of the Building Regulations, see Toughen up on energy by David Strong.
The proposed revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations are due to take effect in April 2006. Assuming that the interim documents are not redrafted, then the key points are:
– New builds will be required to meet target CO2 emission rates;
– Mandatory pressure testing of heating and cooling apparatus on a pass/fail basis will be introduced;
– There will be a requirement to notify the local authority on the commissioning of building services systems to ensure compliance with the pressure testing regime;
– Building log books will be required, detailing the building services installed and used, to be passed on to successive owners or occupiers.
The revised Regulations will apply, for example, to; extensions to existing non-residential premises; the provision of fixed building services; and any increase in capacity of fixed building services. Where the Regulations do apply, improved energy performance of a building may be required under the heading of “consequential improvements”. Such improvements would encompass, for instance, the replacement of heating or cooling systems more than 15 years old. Those consequential improvements would be subject to a cost limit, probably set at 10% of the cost of the principal works.
The government’s deadline for implementation of the EPBD, 4 January 2006, will not be met. Worryingly, in “notes to editors” the ODPM’s press release also stated that “the EPBD requirement that when existing buildings with a floor area over 1000 m2 undergo major renovation, their energy efficiency should be upgraded in so far as is feasible, will be implemented from April 2006”.
At the time of writing, no detailed information on the manner and terms of implementation of the EPBD has been forthcoming from the ODPM. This lack of information must give rise to some cause for concern.
Malcolm Dowden is an associate at Charles Russell
