BUILDING FABRIC 35
FUTUREPROOFING WINDOWS AND DOORS
Adrian Pavey of Nationwide Windows and Doors discusses the importance of housebuilders and developers ensuring their properties’ fenestration meets the standards of tomorrow as well as today.
I
t is a pivotal time for the construction industry at the moment, and one which is seeing a lot of change. There are several things that we need to do to improve how we operate, across many different areas, including environ- mental standards and workmanship quality, as well as meeting the demands of future homeowners. With all this change looming over those
in the housebuilding industry, and the Government already making changes to the regulations for new homes, it further highlights the importance of having one eye on the future and being prepared to adapt to the challenges of tomorrow.
FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS Without doubt, one of the biggest changes occurring in the world right now is a shift towards a more environmentally conscious planet. The emphasis on this has grown recently with a big focus on the COP26 event, and it is clear that the Government is taking positive steps in its commitment to reach net zero by 2050.
The construction and manufacturing industry has a big role to play in reducing the nation’s carbon footprint, which is why we have already seen the Government act and outline its changes to the efficiency standards of newbuild developments.
The Government’s Future Homes Standard set out plans to reduce carbon emissions for new homes and addresses Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations. It looks to improve the energy efficiency of new homes and ensure that those built from 2025 onwards will produce 75-80 percent less carbon emissions than homes built previously.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR HOMES’ WINDOWS & DOORS? As part of this, minimum U-values of windows and doors are set to drop by the spring of 2022, and again in 2025, meaning manufacturers will need to produce more energy efficient products and developers will also need to use
products which meet these regulations and reduce the nation’s carbon footprint. These products already exist, and there are various windows and doors on the market which offer the required energy efficiency to meet these changing regulations. As well as the final products,
developers and manufacturers also have a responsibility to commit to practices which are beneficial for the environment. This means choosing recyclable and sustainably sourced materials to ensure that homes are being built as efficiently as possible.
MAKING SMART WINDOWS & DOORS Adapting to the demands of the future is not only about meeting environmental standards and regulations; one of the challenges of the future for housebuilders is being able to build homes which appeal to the modern homeowner. The rise of smart technology in the home through various innovations and apps has meant that homeowners are
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