Legislation

Legislation As the UK looks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% before 2050, the Government has introduced a range of legislative measures relevant to home building.

Below you will find information on these key areas of legislation.

Code for Sustainable Homes

The Code for Sustainable Homes measures the sustainability of a new home against categories of sustainable design, rating the 'whole home' as a complete package. The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home. The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

The Code also gives new homebuyers better information about the environmental impact of their new home and its potential running costs, and offer builders a tool with which to differentiate themselves in sustainability terms.

The Code for Sustainable Homes was launched as part of a package of measures towards zero carbon development, including an overarching consultation: Building A Greener Future on the shift to zero carbon; and a consultation on the draft of a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning and Climate Change.

Decent Homes

The Decent Homes Standard defines a decent home as one that is warm, weatherproof and has 'reasonably modern' facilities and services. It aims to see all social rented homes meeting these standards by 2010. It is estimated that 95% of social housing will meet the target, with the remaining social landlords being set new dates for delivery beyond 2010.

Part L of the Building Regulations / SAP

SAP is the Government's 'Standard Assessment Procedure'. Outlined in Part L of the Building Regulations, it assesses the energy efficiency of new homes.

Building Regulations Part L deals with the Conservation of Fuel and Power from Buildings. "Approved Document L” was last updated in 2006 and compliance is now based on buildings not exceeding a calculated maximum level of CO2 emissions per m2 of floor area, per year. This is calculated based on insulation properties of the building materials used, the type and fuel of the heating system, hot water and ventilation services specified and the "air tightness” of the building.

Energy Performance Certificates

Energy Performance Certificates are now compulsory for anyone buying or selling a home, and are designed to help improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

Part F

Part F of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2000 states that 'there shall be adequate means of ventilation provided for people in the building'.

The Part F (Ventilation) Building Regulation requires that the background ventilation of a building be calculated using a number of variables based on building design and occupancy.

There are four ventilation systems within Part F.

Intermittent extract fans and background ventilators
Passive Stack Ventilation and background ventilators
Continuous Mechanical Extract and background ventilators
Continuous Mechanical Supply & Extract with Heat Recovery

Legislation Timeline

Make sure you are up to date with the latest legislation and reduced carbon targets.