VIEWPOINT
STOCKING FOR THE FUTURE HOMES STANDARD Iain Parker, key account manager, Knauf Insulation
IT’S HARD TO believe, after so many delays, that the Future Homes Standard is here. And even now the industry is still getting to grips with what the new regulations mean. While they may not affect merchants directly, the standards are likely to stimulate demand for products that deliver the high-performing fabric now required to make energy efficient homes. This is an opportunity for merchants to support their customers as they adapt to the new standard and deliver future homes.
The three targets New homes must meet three performance targets: the Target Emission Rate (TER) for operational CO2, the Target Primary Energy Rate (TPER) for total energy use, and the Target Fabric Energy Efficiency Rate (TFEE) for thermal performance. The TFEE can only be met by designing and building a thermal envelope that is energy efficient and airtight, with minimal thermal bridging.
While the TER and TPER are primarily met through renewables and low-carbon heating, the performance of the building fabric also influences both targets by reducing energy demand and ensuring heat pumps run efficiently. For this reason, the building fabric should always come first, when advising customers on the best route to compliance.
Evergreen products, new opportunities Perennially in-demand products such as Loft Roll 44 are likely to be sold in greater quantities than before. The maximum U-value for all roof types is still 0.16 W/ m²K, and this can usually be achieved by installing insulation to a depth of 270mm. However,
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the new standard makes it clear that, in practice, U-values for many elements of the building fabric will need to be far lower to meet the TFEE.
Increasing the insulation depth to 400mm or even 500mm can deliver further reductions in heat loss at a relatively low cost. The loft offers one of the easiest opportunities to improve fabric performance and can provide greater flexibility elsewhere in the building envelope. This is already standard practice for many housebuilders, but it presents an opportunity to increase the value of sales for customers who have yet to make the switch to deeper lofts.
150mm is the new normal
Wider cavity walls are quickly becoming the new normal. According to a survey conducted by Professional Builder in late 2025, in association with Knauf Insulation, 66% of respondents who build with masonry cavity walls will start building with 150mm cavities when the FHS comes into effect, with a further 23% considering it.
One of the benefits of building with 150mm cavities is that it allows builders to use more forgiving materials to meet the TFEE. The same survey found that 54% of respondents identified mineral wool, either rock or glass, as their preferred material for insulating cavity walls, compared with 38% for rigid boards such as PIR and EPS.
Glass mineral wool products, such as DriTherm Cavity Slab 32, can accommodate minor imperfections in the substrate and knit together at abutting edges in the cavity helps reduce the risk of gaps and thermal bypasses. When combined with deeper lofts, 150mm cavity walls ensure an optimised approach to future homes that will meet the TFEE for most house types.
For merchants, being ready to accommodate this shift is crucial, whether that means stocking longer wall ties or more insulation suitable for 150mm cavities.
Beyond the TFEE It’s natural that customers will be highly focused on meeting the new fabric standards, but it’s important not to forget
other performance factors when considering insulation.
Fire safety is a factor that should not be overlooked. Fires associated with solar panels are a recognised risk, and this should be considered when designing and building the fabric. Using non-combustible insulation can help limit the spread of fire if one occurs. Glass mineral wool is typically classified as A1 or A2-s1,d0 under the Euroclass reaction to fire system, although ratings can vary between products. Acoustics are another important factor in an increasingly noisy world. Contrary to conventional wisdom, glass mineral wool is just as suitable and effective as rock mineral wool in acoustic applications. It also has the added advantage of being easier to handle and lower in embodied carbon, another increasingly important metric for building materials.
What future homes mean for merchants In a changing regulatory landscape, the role of the merchant is becoming increasingly important. By anticipating shifts in product demand and helping customers prioritise high-performing building fabric, merchants can position themselves as trusted partners in delivering compliant, energy efficient homes. Merchants can reassure their customers that, although the Future Homes Standard is a significant regulatory overhaul, the same principles of good practice apply. Optimised approaches to the building fabric are already clear. 150mm cavities and 500mm lofts, using glass mineral wool, will meet the TFEE for most house types while combining thermal, fire safety, and acoustic performance. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2026
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