Building Regulations Part L

PART L 2006: BUILDING REGULATIONS:

CONSERVATION OF FUEL AND POWER

The Approved Documents, which contain guidance on the performance expected of material/building work, together with detailed of examples/solutions on how to achieve compliance, were published on 15^th March.

The documents can be found on the Department for Communties and Local Government's (DLCG) Planning Portal website.

THE DOMESTIC HEATING COMPLIANCE GUIDE

This guide offers guidance on compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations for space heating systems and hot water systems and is also available on the Planning Portal website.

High Efficiency Boilers Only From April 2005

The Government aims to reduce UK carbon levels by changing the Building Regulations Part L1, and by April 2005, boilers installed in homes in England and Wales should fall into the SEDBUK band A or band B categories (high efficiency or condensing boilers).

The Heating & Hotwater Industry Council and its members support the Government's aim to reduce carbon emissions.

Government leaflet for consumers

The Exceptions Assessment Procedure

There will however, be occasions when it is too difficult or too expensive to install a condensing boiler - these are known as exceptions situations. A procedure has been developed by Government and industry so that installers can assess whether an installation is an exception situation.

Apart from domestic boilers, the new Part L Building Regulations will contain other changes, which will be announced in mid 2005 and become law January 2006. These will include new rules for heating controls, space heating appliances like gas fires and a requirement that heating systems should be cleaned and inhibitors used.

1st April 2005 - Building Regulations Documentation

On 1st April 2005, ODPM added the following documents to its web site

• The amendments to Approved Document L1 - click here to view this document.
• The circular announcing these changes (no. 04/2005)
• The Guide to the Condensing Boiler Installation Assessment Procedure for Dwellings
• The consumer information leaflet.

These documents can all be found via the Planning Portal website.

Building Regulations half-day seminars

A series of half-day seminars are taking place in 2006, aimed at explaing Parts L1 and F of the Building Regulations, click here for more information.