Part F
If you are planning to build a new building in Bedfordshire, it is important to understand the requirements under Part F of the new regulations. The new regulations set a higher standard for energy efficiency, so new builds and extensions should comply with the new standard. These regulations also set new glazing limits for new build homes, schools and care homes. The new regulations require domestic new builds to prepare for future electric vehicle charging points.
Proper ventilation is vital for indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Proper ventilation will keep the indoor air fresh, making people feel more comfortable in their offices and homes. Proper ventilation will reduce the risk of infection by 70% or more. Part F details how ventilation airflow must be provided in a building to reduce heat loss and energy consumption. The airflow rate will vary depending on the number of rooms and the occupancy level.
Part L
Approved Document O is the latest edition of Building Regulations that will apply to new dwellings, schools and student accommodation. It is designed to limit excessive heat and moisture within buildings and prevent condensation. It also addresses air quality and ventilation and sets out guidelines for the use of extract ventilation in domestic buildings. If you are planning to install one of these new features in your home, here are some useful tips. Ensure that the design of your new building is up to date with the latest regulations.
New buildings constructed from 2020 must meet the latest Part L standards. This part introduces new energy efficiency standards for heating systems and windows. The standard also introduces a new principal performance metric to measure energy efficiency. These calculations will take into account both CO2 metrics and the primary energy used by the building. Including the efficiency of heating systems, the energy used to produce fuel and the efficiency of power stations will help to calculate compliance.
Part O
Whether you’re renovating or building a new home, Part O of the Building Regulations 2022 will affect you. This document will require you to take into account the rising risk of overheating and its consequences for human health. This regulation will affect all new dwellings, as well as those where people sleep. To ensure compliance, you’ll need to implement a simplified checklist method or use CIBSE’s TM59 thermal modelling. Among other things, Part O of the Building Regulations will require you to install electric vehicle charging points in buildings, including new dwellings, and flats that are undergoing renovations.
The new regulations require you to consider the effects of overheating on other parts of the building, such as its design and its functionality. The main goal of Part O is to prevent overheating and limit the amount of unwanted solar gain. However, it may also have an impact on your conceptual design. For instance, the amount of glazing in a building is a critical design element. For this reason, it’s important to integrate a mitigation strategy for overheating into the design process. Alternatively, a scheme approved under the current Building Regs could need to undergo costly changes to comply with the new regulations.
Part S
Listed buildings are subject to a range of regulations, including the Part S of Bedfordshire Building Regulations 2023. These regulations are designed to promote energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, which is of particular importance for the construction industry. These new regulations come into force from 15th June 2022, but do not apply to any existing buildings. This is due to the need to make the construction industry prepared for the new standards.
Planning in Bedfordshire is set to become even more difficult, with uncertainty over the Oxford-Cambridge arc and talk of reforming the Standard Methodology. This means that the number of new homes in the region is set to increase significantly. Fortunately, the borough is undertaking a review of its local plan. This means that the local plan review is already underway.
