ROUND TABLE REVIEW 27 BUILDING


INSIGHTS LIVE


Approaches to Heating & Renewables for Future Homes Standard Compliance


Round table chair, James Parker


W


ith the Future Homes Standard (FHS)’s publication only 24 hours old, netMAGmedia staged the fi rst of two Building Insights LIVE round tables in London, to look at the realities of heating and renewables compliance with the new standard. The event was sponsored by Panasonic Heating & Ventilation, WMS Underfl oor Heating, Garo Electric, Recoup Energy Solutions and Envirovent, and heard valuable contributions from all fi rms’ representatives. We had a broad base of attendees – collectively tasked with delivering a new level of heating as well as general energy effi ciency to achieve much lower carbon emissions. We were joined by housebuilders giving key practical insights, as well as leading academics sharing research, and consultants and industry bodies offering their own perspectives and expertise. The Government’s consultation response was launched on


24 March after a long delay (and the Standard will not be implemented until March 2027). But delegates were fi nally able to assess its actual provisions for the industry, as well as the revised Building Regulations Parts L and F. A chief concern for the heating and renewables side was the ‘functional’ requirement for 40% of new homes’ ground fl oor area to be delivered by roof-mounted solar PV. There was some consternation this cannot be traded off against other elements in designs, so is seen to compromise the position of the other elements in the chosen Option 1 (mechanical ventilation, higher air-tightness and waste water heat recovery). Battery storage of PV-generated electricity is conspicuous by its absence in the published consultation response (like embodied carbon). Our delegates were broadly critical of this, and other key fl aws within the long-awaited FHS. There were a range of views on the PV issue, including on whether kilowatts should instead be used


ADF APRIL/MAY 2026


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