Updated Building Regulations to Come into Effect from June 2022
Starting in June 2022, some major changes to the Building Regulations are set to come into effect. These changes aim to help the construction industry align with the net zero targets set by the government and make the transition to net zero smoother for all parties involved. The new rules include stop-gap measures for improving energy efficiency in housing regulations ahead of the more stringent Future Homes and Buildings Standards set to be introduced in 2025.
Changes to the Building Regulations
The new measures will make it mandatory for builders in England to cut carbon emissions by 30% for new homes and 27% for new non-domestic buildings. The rules will also apply to new exten[LH1] sions to existing buildings and to installations of new materials or technology. These changes, designed to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, are being introduced in Approved Documents L, F and O, which lays down the foundation and the system for helping the industry move towards net zero goals. Part L sets the requirements for the energy efficiency of properties, Part F contains the requirements for the ventilation of buildings and Part O deals with the overheating of buildings.
Other changes are being introduced in the new Approved Document S, which specifies what building infrastructure must be in place for charging electric vehicles. From June, it will be a requirement for all new buildings to have adequate infrastructure for charging electric vehicles.
To learn more about the changes, please read the Approved Documents on the gov.uk website.
Buildings in the Planning Process
Buildings in the planning process that submit their initial notice of full plans before 15 June 2022 will not be required to adhere to the new regulations, provided they start construction within a year, i.e., before 15 June 2023.
New developments that have already received their planning permissions under the old regulations will be exempt from complying with these changes, as long as the construction begins by 15 June 2023.
All building work that is not subject to notices or applications but does fall under the new regulations must comply with the new regulations from 15 June 2022.
Those who fail to follow the revised Building Regulations could be served with an enforcement notice and legal action.
Learn More About the Building Regulation Changes
If you’re looking to learn more about the upcoming changes to the Building Regulations, sign up for our Lunch & Learn on the subject. Once you sign up, you will receive a short email lesson every day for the next five days, each covering a different aspect of the regulation changes. This Lunch & Learn email series covers the following:
- Introduction to the Building Regulation Changes
- Implementation Timeline
- Major Updates from Approved Document L – Conservation of Fuel and Power, BREL Report and Airtightness in New Dwellings
- Major Updates from Approved Document F – Ventilation
- Major Updates from Approved Document O – Overheating covering the Simplified Method, the Dynamic Thermal Modelling Method and Acceptable Strategies for Reducing Overheating Risk
- New Approved Document S – Infrastructure for the Charging of Electric Vehicles covering the Standards for Electric Vehicle Charge Points and Cable Routes.
Sign Up for our Lunch & Learn Here: