Austin Energy Services

Energy Consultants

01752 839422 / 07817144751

SBEM/Part L Building compliance

Anyone involved with property development needs to ensure from the outset of the project that they are going to be able to comply with Part L of the 2006 Building Regulations for England and Wales.

The Target Emissions Rate is between 23.5% and 28% lower than the notional similar building that complied with the 2002 Building Regulations for England and Wales.

EPBD

The UK Government signed up to the European Performance of Buildings Directive of 2002. This required EU member states to commit to certain targets and timescales regarding the reduction of CO2 Emissions.

Part L

In order to comply with the EPBD each member state was required to put in place whatever legislation it deemed necessary. Ultimately this led to the Building Regulations of 2006 and Part L which specifically deals with the energy performance of buildings. In brief;

Part L1A & L1B relate to new and renovated dwellings respectively.

Part L2A relates to new build and large extensions of non-dwellings.

Part L2B relates to renovation, refurbishment and smaller extensions of non-dwellings.

Complying with Part L

Demonstrating compliance with Part L2A or L2B requires a calculation of the energy performance of the building using approved software such as SBEM (we use the Carbon Checker interface) by someone qualified to do so. We are able to offer this service.

Furthermore, for a Part L2A building an Energy Performance Certificate will be required. It is the responsibility of the main contractor to provide this upon completion.

It is however, vital that the design team know before construction starts what the EPC rating will be and if Part L is complied with. We can do a predictive “off-plan” EPC and Part L calculation using SBEM. If required we could also do the on construction EPC.

Demonstrating compliance does not however end there. A further multi-step approach is required to:-

Check compliance against the prescribed limits on u-values

Check compliance against the limits of acceptable Building Services such as heating, ventilation, cooling, lighting and hot water systems.

Check compliance against the need to consider LZC technologies

Check and verify compliance to quality of construction and commissioning.

Check the required hierarchy of detailed documentation including check lists, log books, H & S files,

O & M files and certificates.

We can assist you with any of this, please contact us and we will discuss your requirements.