[Update: Part L changes ]
inspecting exhibits or merchandise, or attending entertainment events. In a retail store, for example, this should include lighting control systems that switch the display lighting off outside store opening hours, except for displays designed to be viewed from outside the building through display windows. Emergency escape lighting, specialist process lighting
and vertical transportation systems are not subject to the requirements of Part L.
■ Heating and cooling The regulations now cover the installation of combined heating and power (CHP) systems and also heat pumps as well as the standard heating and water heating systems. CHP is the simultaneous generation of heat and power
from a single source, usually an internal combustion engine but biomass boilers and Stirling engine generators are now available. CHP is becoming increasingly common in new buildings where a constant heat load, such as swimming pools and leisure centres, makes it economic. A CHP plant in new and existing buildings should have a minimum quality index of 105, a power effi ciency of greater than 20 per cent, and metering installed to measure hours run and electricity generated and fuel supplied. Heat pumps take energy from a low temperature source
and upgrade it to a higher temperature that can be usefully employed. This low temperature source can be either air, ground or water, and air conditioning units and refrigerators are all types of heat pump. Their effi ciency is measured in terms of a coeffi cient of performance (CoP), which compares heat in to heat out.
■ Energy meters With the growing need for companies to reduce their energy use where possible, the use of energy meters is an important part of helping to monitor where it is being used. Ideally, all energy consumption should be directly metered, but this is not always practical or cost effective. With this in mind, the Building Regulations ask for at least 90 per cent of each type of incoming energy to be accounted for through the use of metering. The Regulations also allow various estimation methods
to be used where direct metering is impractical. This allows the fl exibility to mix and match in order to overcome practical installation problems, optimise capital and installation costs and ensure that operators have a practical method of establishing an audit of energy use. In buildings with a total useful fl oor area greater than 1,000m2
, automatic meter reading and data collection facilities should be provided.
Part L2B – Work Within Existing Buildings Other Than Dwellings There are exclusions to what counts as an existing building. This affects premises where the proposed extension has a total fl oor area that is both greater than 100m2 and greater than 25 per cent of the fl oor area of the existing building. If this is the case, then the work should be regarded as in a new building, and Approved Document L2A should be followed. There are exemptions for the energy effi ciency requirements
for certain classes of buildings – listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas both fall into this category.
Compliance
Non-compliance with Part L can result in one or more of the following:
■ Reworking – work must be redone to meet the standards required if this is possible; ■ The withholding of a certifi cate of compliance; ■ A low energy effi ciency rating for the building; and/or ■ A person carrying out electrical work that contravenes the Building Regulations can be fi ned up to £5,000 for the contravention, and £50 for each day the contravention continues.
More info The ECA will be preparing
further guidance explaining the requirements of Part L, and this will be in two parts. There will be guidance on the electro-technical requirements for dwellings, and guidance on the electro-technical requirements for buildings other than dwellings. Further information is available from the technical department of the ECA or by visiting
www.eca.co.uk.
One notable development within Part L2B is that of
commissioning, which should be carried out as for a new building and full information provided, which could be in the form of a logbook given to the owner. A way of showing compliance would be to produce information following the guidance in CIBSE TM31 Building Logbook Toolkit, and the information should be presented in templates as, or similar to, those in the TM. The information could draw on or refer to information available as part of other documentation, such as the Operation and Maintenance Manuals and the Health and Safety fi le required by the CDM Regulations.
Information Part L stipulates that the owner of the building should be provided with suffi cient information about the building, the fi xed building services and their maintenance requirements so that the building can be operated in such a manner as to use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances. A way of complying would be to provide a suitable
About the author
Giuliano Digilio Giuliano Digilio is the head of ECA Technical Services. He has extensive experience in the electrical and electronic engineering building services industry, and sits on numerous technical committees for the ECA in the UK and Europe.
set of operating and maintenance instructions aimed at achieving economy in the use of fuel and power, in a way that householders can understand. The instructions should be directly related to the particular system(s) installed in the building. The instructions provided should explain to the occupier of the building how to operate the systems effi ciently, including how to make adjustments to the timing and temperature control settings, and the maintenance required to enable operating effi ciency to be maintained at a reasonable level. The person responsible for the whole building and carrying
out the design should include all the information on the Building Emissions Rate (BER) and the Target Emissions Rate (TER) with the operating and maintenance instructions. It is also a requirement to produce an Energy Performance Certifi cate, and the recommendations section also informs the occupier of how the energy performance of the building may be improved.
In summary The revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations are comprehensive and will help buildings in England and Wales implement the types of energy reduction measures that will achieve signifi cant CO2
reductions. By delivering effi cient
building services – including heating, hot water, fi xed lighting, ventilation and cooling – electrical contractors will provide building owners with the products, services and information needed to ensure energy effi cient operation.
Winter 2010 ECA Today 57
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