I have been asked to quote for carry out insulated dry-lining to parts of a house. My reading of Part L1B is that, where I am carrying out major works to a 'thermal element', I should seek to meet new-build U values. Although I would be delighted to achive these in most circumstances, in this specific case it would significantly narrow 2 staircases and a ground floor WC. Is there an exemption in such cases? The (eps) board I propose to use would achieve a U value of about 0.55 as opposed to 0.3. Also can I submit a Building Notice for these (relatively minor) works, rather than a full application?

Any comments gratefully received. Thanks, Nick

just answered thie first q on the old forum

Thankyou!!

Mike,

Just looked at your 'loopholes' on the Tidal power thread. I DO think insulation to exg bldgs needs to be mandatory -or ££££ 'encouraged' so much that it happens from common-sense- but I don't have the answer to how it can be policed. It seems utterly impossible. I do, however, feel that coercion is the only thing which will get most people into gear. I feel the same re micro renewables. Which volume builder is going to build an estate of starter homes with, say, SWH and pv? Re-phrase the Q after it has become mandatory to stick a minimum of x kWh potential heat or power generation on any NB, and get a very different answer, and economies of scale. Yes, very, very simplistic, but we as a nation simply do not take climate change seriously (and I definitely include myself in this, as I troll off in my car, in case it sounds as if I am throwing stones). Nick

Nick, I totally agree with you regarding new build, but I think the way forward for existing is through carrots, not sticks.

As Nigel indicates the new regs should in theory police themselves once HIP's and energy performance certificates come on line. The problem is that they will ultimately be based on a SAP rating, which does not seem to indicate [at present] any substantial improvement to ratings when improvement measures such as insulation upgrades are carried out. Where then is the incentive, if you start with a bad rating; add insulation, and then end up with only a slight improvement? If the carrot is meant to be keeping your house equity high, then it is very paltry fare indeed.

If you look at the predicted carbon emissions however, improvements register more of an effect. This is a rather curious feature of SAP software, though I suppose this could be exclusive to the version I have access to.

Has anyone noted significant SAP improvements to ratings resulting from insulation upgrades? and are they concurrent with the predicted CO2 reductions?