Institutions call for more coordination of regulations
n
CIBSE is calling for a ‘streamlining’ of the building
and energy performance regulations so that they can be dovetailed with forthcoming changes to European law. The proposal forms part of
the institution’s response to the government’s informal consultation on how to improve the Building Regulations in England and Wales. It comes as the Royal Institute
of British Architects (RIBA), in its response to the consultation, also argues for legislation in this area to be more coordinated and less ‘piecemeal’. CIBSE’s consultation paper
summarises the responses from more than 190 members of the institution. It says that the regulations should
be streamlined with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to reduce the time and cost involved in implementing both the recast EPBD and the next cycle of revisions to Part L. The institution also highlights the
need to increase levels of practical compliance, particularly relating to the energy performance of buildings. Hywel Davies, technical director
of CIBSE, said: ‘Given the links between the Building and Energy Performance Regulations and the closely aligned timescales for the next cycle of revisions to Building Regulations and implementation of the recast, we believe this offers an opportunity to save time and money, both for the industry and
Hywel Davies: streamline the rules
government.’ RIBA attacks the Building Regulations as being ‘impenetrable and alienating for a lay person’ and in need of simplification. It says that, if they were written in
plain English, homeowners would be more able to make educated choices when undertaking small building works to their homes. RIBA president Ruth Reed
said: ‘We do not need more regulation, but better regulation. The Building Regulations come from firm foundations, but in recent times have become complicated and disorganised through uncoordinated and piecemeal amendment and addition.’ RIBA also calls for more incentives within the Building Regulations to improve the performance of the existing building stock. For full details and a copy of the
CIBSE report, visit
www.cibse.org and click on the Knowledge Bank. For RIBA:
www.architecture.com See Legal column, page 28
Cable commits to engineering
Business Secretary Vince Cable has publicly committed his support to research and engineering ahead of the government spending cuts this month. During his speech, he announced that business-led funding schemes, such as the Technology Strategy Board, should be extended to help ensure the UK continues to compete at international level in areas like research and development (R&D).
www.cibsejournal.com
Engineering consultancy Buro Happold welcomed the move, after warning that its own investment in R&D would be under threat if tax breaks were slashed earlier this year. Colin McKinnon, innovation
leader at the company, said: ‘While it is clear that funding cuts more generally will be unavoidable in the current financial climate, it makes sense to focus expenditure on areas where the UK research base leads the world.’
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October 2010 CIBSE Journal
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