Welsh Building Regulations

Amendments to the Building Regulations (amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2022 (WGC 003/2022) and Approved Documents L1, F1 and O for Wales have been released.

These cover energy efficiency, ventilation and overheating and will take effect in November. The amendments alter the Building Regulations 2010 to:

• provide for new ways of measuring energy efficiency, using new performance metrics

• change the way on-site electricity generation systems are regulated

• introduce regulation on overheating mitigation; and
• make provision about ventilation standards when work to which Part L (conservation of fuel and power) applies.

Elmhurst Energy has undertaken a review of the Wales Building Regulations and has highlighted the significant changes to be introduced from November:

• there will be a 37% reduction in carbon emissions in new homes compared with Part L  2014 standards

• a primary energy compliance metric has been introduced alongside the existing carbon emissions standard

• a new minimum energy efficiency standard has been introduced for new builds, set at a minimum EPC rating of 81 (B)

• tightened limiting fabric standards for thermal elements

• mandatory airtightness testing will be introduced for all new homes

• airtightness testers will be ablemto choose between either pulse or blower door testing as methods to determine airtightness in dwellings

• overheating risk has been addressed in its own Approved Document (Part O) and is no longer featured in Part L and SAP; and

• the SAP 10 methodology will be adopted.

Read more at bit.ly/WalesBRamend

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