TRACKING HOUSEBUILDERS’ STRATEGIES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE FUTURE HOMES STANDARD INDUSTRY VIEWFINDER 49


Which, if any, measures have you introduced to improve comfort and reduce overheating risk?


constraints’ (23%), but also a ‘lack of clear guidance’ on the routes to delivery and compliance (23%). Perceived as somewhat less important was the previously reported shortage of installers, such as for heat pumps, and the supply of heat pumps themseles. ossily showing the diffi culties posed y the more commonly selected risks, continued concerns around the performance gap between as-designed and as-built building performance was only seen as an issue by 11%, and so was ‘warranty or insurance concerns.’ While good news, these two areas should not be discounted as ongoing problems for the sector, as buildings need to continue to evolve and scrutiny of as-built performance tightens. he low fi gure on the performance gap posing a ris for compliance was slightly counterintuitive, particularly given that 71% of respondents said they were concerned about this issue. Factors cited as reasons for the gap were topped by ‘installer skills shortages’ (69%), ‘poor installation quality’ , and importantly for heat pumps effi ciency, inadeuate commissioning.” Issues such as airtightness failures, occupant behaviour, product substitution (in value engineering processes), and a lack of post-occupancy evaluation, were seen as less prevalent. One verbatim comment nailed the crucial issue of a gap being caused (literally) by airtightness layers eing damaged y follow-on trades. here was a reasonaly strong ote of confi dence in the supply chain’s readiness to deliver on the FHS, as far as its provisions are known. Most respondents (67%) believed suppliers had made preparations to deliver compliance (although 36% of these said that the supply chain was only ‘partially prepared.’) And there was a contingent saying that suppliers were ‘poorly prepared’ (25%), and ‘not prepared at all (8%). If this is representative of the wider sector then clearly the jury is out, and the supply chain needs to do a lot more to convince many of its customers on its ‘FHS-readiness.’


CONCLUSION


Although the FHS is still not yet in force, our survey gives an interesting sample of housebuilders’ views and their approaches on how its requirements, as far as we know them, are being tackled in the sector currently. In some ways presenting a major shift to higher amounts of renewables, alongside more robust fabric and more rigorous design, for more progressive green advocates, the FHS still doesn’t offer a high enough bar for many enlightened developers. But, as housebuilders and developers move from consultation and planning toward practical implementation, this research gives a glimpse of the industry’s response, and remaining challenges.


SURVEY SPONSORS


We are grateful to our two survey sponsors for their participation in this White Paper report:


Envirovent Soprema


PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH


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