Green Building Forum - Building Regulations and Standards

Are the UK Governments 2050 Cabon Emission Targets achievable?

happyadd — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:40:05 +0000

I am a final year student studying Quantity Surveying at the University of Glamorgan, Wales, UK.

For my final year dissertation I have set a question which asks whether the UK Governments CO2 reduction targets are achievable at present within the UK Construction Industry.

However, as part of my research I have proposed a questionnaire that targets the areas which I feel most contribute to achieving the targets.

I was hoping you guys may be interested in taking part. It will be used completely anonimously and will be in the format of an excel spreadsheet where you can tick the boxes and send it back.

If you would like to take part please contact me at happyadd@hotmail.com
and I will send you a questionnaire.
Your contribution would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your time

Adam]]>

Research Paper on AECB Enery Performance Standards

drjonnyc — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:21:37 +0000

Well this is my first discussion and post!

I am currently at the beginnings of my dissertation for university - a long research process!

The topic that i am looking at is the AECB Energy Performace standards - and the cost implications that each level (Silver, PassivHaus, & Gold) bring.

The research that i have conducted so far informs me that the silver standard can be achieved will practically no extra cost, but i have not found anything relating to the PassivHaus & Gold standard.

I would apprciate any help on the subject in particular background to costings of the 3 levels.

Thanks]]>

Passive-on.org a resource for Passivhaus design

stephendv — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:08:49 +0000

The documentation available on the freely downloadable CD includes case studies of passivhauses built in Southern Europe and the UK. These demonstrate how the passivhaus concept can be adapted for a wider range of climates, and includes information on summer cooling techniques. It also includes a free demo of the Passive House Planning Package software (excel spreadsheet) - the fully working version is also much more affordable for self-builders (200 USD).
http://www.passive-on.org/en/]]>

Domestic energy certificates

ken davis — Mon, 07 May 2007 10:04:18 +0100

the main point i want to make however ( and i do believe in principle that energy certs are a good thing) is that people who are likely to put in higher than current standard insulation i.e you and me, into their buildings and then cover them over e.g i have insulated below all my suspended floors and have started insulating walls inside (in addition to cavity fill), will need to keep a record (photos) of the work and/or have a receipt from their builder because RdSAP (reduced data standard assessment procedure) will only recignise visible improvements e.g loft insulation and fill holes of cavity fill.

info: out of the possible 100 points achievable with RdSAP, double galazing willonly get you another 4 while a condensing boiler will add 15.

so any queries????]]>

Low energy lighting in new builds and renovations

Richard Waite — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:58:40 +0100

The question is, do people have to fit cfl-compatible fittings and if so, can you tell me where I can find the regs / standards on lighting?
Many thanks.
Richard]]>

Cavity Wall Insulation AND Foam-backed blocks?

yorkshirerob — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:08:40 +0100

More to the point is there any problem with the combination?
Can't find answer anywhere - getting different stories from builder/plumber/wall insulation company !!
:cry:]]>

Who makes or advises on the Approved Documents??

Danb1203 — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:54:49 +0100

my discussion topic basically describes my question.....

i'm basically after who advises on what information is published and / or who sets out new regulatory standards that we should meet??

Many thanks]]>

Fire Regulations: - New legislation or Better education?? Dissertation topic

Danb1203 — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:49:08 +0100

I'm currently conducting research about the Building regulations Part B..... I was looking along the lines of finding faults within the regulation for my dissertation.

I was wondering if anybody on here came across some problems associatted with this part of the regulation? and would you consider that by better education around this part of the regulations would make any difference?

Thanks for looking]]>

CORGI

Wojtex09 — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:11:28 +0100

I am looking for Plumber with CORGI certificate.

Regards

Izabela
www.wojtex.co.uk]]>

DPS

Nigel Silkstone — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:52:08 +0100

Would any one know of references to any regulations covering D.P.C.â€™s or web sites I could use to find answers to this question?
Thank you for any help and advice you can give in this matter.]]>

terminal flue position

jeanette — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 10:58:05 +0100

Thanks]]>

Part L and external doors

Johan — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:21:01 +0100

If I've read the part L regulation correctly you need to use doors with better a u-value then 2.2W/m2K IF they have more then 50% glazing. Other doors it stats u-value <3.0W/m2K. Is this correct?? :shocked:

Sounds a bit mad to me! A door without a window should easily achieve less the 1.0W/m2K with a PUR core...

You also don't need building regs/FENSA cert. to fit a <50% glazed door as I understand it. Is this correct?

Anyone who can help clear up my confusion? Many thanks.]]>

Argon fill

richy — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:56:30 +0100

Whats the minimum spacer for a 4mm k glass unit which is Argon filled. I need to stay with as slim a unit that will pass Building Regs.]]>

Court case on Supplementary Planning Guidance? Documents

bobirving — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 09:27:51 +0100

Part P - Can I DIY?!

tonywright — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:52:20 +0100

Research paper on the Passivhaus standard

Emily — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:36:54 +0100

(4th time lucky - I will get the hang of this sometime!)

I'm a final yr student in Nottingham, and for a small research papr (5000 words) I've decided to look at the Passivhaus standard - whether people think it could meet high levels of the CSH without additional cost, as suggested by the BRE, and if this is the case, why the uptake of design measures to achieve the standard have been so slow in the UK.

I read a few threads on here a while back but I've got a few specific questions, and I'd really appreciate it if anyone has chance to give a few yes / no answers. If you have any other comments or opinions about the standard, I'd also really appreciate them.

1. Are the requirements of the Passivhaus standard clear?

2. Are the values set at the right levels? If not, too high, to low?

3. Would the standard work as it is in the UK?

4. Would you be happy to live in a house with continuous mechanical ventilation?

5. Do you feel that designing homes to the standard would achieve high levels of the CSH without additional cost?

6. Super insulation, air tightness and attention to solar gain / shading, or.. on site renewable energy generation?

Thanks.

Oh, if you answer the questions and you don't mind, an industry, or area which you work in would be very handy, but if not I totally understand.

Cheers

Emily]]>

Building Regulations Part L compliance abuse?

GBP-Keith — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 17:58:57 +0000

This not only smacks of dreadful cop-out in the extreme but harks back to the late eighties when builders were allowed to trade-off walls against windows etc.

I see at least two serious issues with this state of affairs:
1. this is probably the reason why the LCBP is over-subscribed. Actually being abused to let builders and their clients build building that don't meet the regulations.
2. the solar panels wood burning boiler or whatever is used is not part of the structure of the building so the homeowner could easily switch it off/remove/replace it at any time.

Someone told me there may be an amendment in the pipeline to close this loophole but why does the gov not target the software or insulation manufacturer/s for encouraging it?

I may be wrong about all the above. If I am no doubt you will all correct me. But if I'm not then I want to get this exposed in the next issue of BFF so any supporting feedback would be appreciated.]]>

Air infiltration conversion rates

Mike George — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 11:53:14 +0100

Here goes:
Part L1 states guidance figures of 10m3/m2/hr @50Pa for new housing
[whole building volume] [m3] per m2 of external fabric [in contact with outside air] per hour @ 50Pa

The software I am using works on values inputted in ach [air changes per hour] @ 0Pa

Converting the requirement to air changes per hour is buiding specific
As a simple example 1ach for a building 200m3 with a surface area of 100m3 would be 200/100 = 2m3/m2/hr @ 0Pa
To convert to values at 50Pa multipy x 20 = 40m3/m2/hr

Therefore in order to comply with Part L1 this example would require a maximum air infiltration rate of 0.25ach

Is this correct? In particular the rule of thumb figure of 20 to convert from 0Pa to 50Pa?]]>

Changes to Permitted Development - Microgeneration

biffvernon — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 18:25:53 +0100

Audience: Local planning authorities, members of the public and firms involved with householder development
Consultation period: 4 April 2007 to 27 June 2007

There's a nice little 21 question quiz to fill in. Download it from here:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1508888]]>