Legal To be continued
This month the 2010 revisions to Parts F, L and J of the Building Regulations come into force. But, although the next review won’t be for a few years, don’t sit back and wait for it, advises Hywel Davies
of certainty about the future direction of the regulations, instead of the previous arrangements in which changes could happen at almost any time, which meant that following them could be a real struggle for the sector. The three-year cycle also dictates that, by and large, the
A
‘Parts’ of the Building Regulations cannot be changed in consecutive rounds. I say ‘by and large’ because there is one crucial exception to this rule – one that is of particular interest to those in the area of building services engineering: the exception affects Parts L and F. To meet the ‘zero carbon’
targets for dwellings in 2016, and other buildings in 2019, Parts L and F have to change every three years. So, as readers in England and Wales get to grips with the latest changes to Parts L and F, and readers
reform that the previous government introduced to the Building Regulations was a three-yearly cycle for changes. The government agreed to give industry a degree
Stunell asked in particular for evidence relating to
compliance with the regulations. Around 200 readers responded to the CIBSE survey asking for feedback on Part L compliance, enabling us to provide evidence from day-to-day practice of how commissioning goes unchecked, how nobody is asked for a building log book, and how few projects have their as-built energy rating checked against the design. Since then, CLG has held a workshop to discuss the
As we get to grips with the latest
changes to Parts L and F, we need to be mindful that there is more to come in 2013
in Scotland prepare for changes in their standards, they need to be mindful that there is more to come in 2013. Over the summer, while ministers went on holiday, Andrew Stunell, the junior minister in the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) responsible for the Building Regulations, asked industry to send him ideas on how the regulations might develop. This might seem a cynical ploy: ask everyone what they think, with supporting evidence, when they are all away, and nobody has time to submit a proper response. But that might be an unwise view of the situation. Stunnell is an unusual minister. Some readers may recall the so-called ‘Stunell Act’, or the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act, to give it its proper name. This Private Member’s Bill, sponsored by Stunell, amended the 1984 Building Act, introducing regulatory powers relating to sustainability, security and compliance. So the current building regulations minister may know the regulations better than some of his officials.
28 CIBSE Journal October 2010
key issues, and has indicated that it plans to consult more formally on the future of Building Regulations compliance. Our concerns about enforcement of Part L were stressed, and supported by others. CLG officials are also
looking at the ‘recast’ Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). This must be implemented in EU member states by 2013. One proposal submitted by CIBSE to CLG was to streamline the next revision of Part L and combine it with implementing the recast
EPBD, creating one process, one set of regulations, one consultation, one set of industry activity and, for CLG, one administrative task. This means cutting red tape and burdens on industry, saving money and achieving a single outcome covering all aspects of the energy performance of buildings. This idea is not just CIBSE’s idea. Other industry
bodies including FETA, HVCA, ECA and BSRIA – whose members together make, install, commission and test much of the energy-using kit installed in buildings – support it, too. It remains to be seen what CLG will think. One thing is certain: the stream of consultations,
changes and regulations relating to energy use in buildings is set to continue unabated for some time to come. We will be ready to react and respond when consultations are launched. l
Hywel Davies is technical director of CIBSE.
CONSULTATION EVENT For the full CIBSE response to the informal consultation by Andrew Stunell, go to
www.cibse.org/consultation CIBSE will be holding an
event on on 13 October at 6.30pm to discuss the future of building regulations and in particular the links with the EPBD. Further details will be advertised shortly on the CIBSE website.
www.cibsejournal.com
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