Part L of the Building Regulations

Part L of the Building Regulations (in England and Wales) was introduced by government on 6 April 2006, and it concerns the implementation of energy efficiency measures.

These regulations raise the energy efficiency of new buildings by 40%, compared with the Part L 2002 requirements. They also improve compliance by introducing new energy performance requirements for building services within all new buildings. The time for the building industry to comply with the new regulations has been tightened, and the transitional arrangements have been cut from the expected maximum of three years to just 12 months. Therefore all new buildings without full building plans approved by 6 April 2006 by the local authority, must comply with the new Part L requirements from 6 April 2006.

The new Part L requirements are as follows:

"Reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by:

limiting
- heat losses through the fabric of the building
- excessive solar gains and
- heat gains from pipes, ducts and vessels used for space heating, space cooling and hot water storage
providing energy efficient and properly commissioned fixed building services with effective controls
providing to the owner sufficient information about the building and its building services so that the building can be operated and maintained in such a manner as to use no more fuel and power than is reasonable in the circumstances."

The final Part L 2006: Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Power) Approved Documents are available and contain:

guidance on the performance expected of installed building services and building work in order to comply with each of the requirements of the Building Regulations
practical examples and solutions on how to achieve compliance for some of the more common building situations.

Copies of these Approved Documents can be downloaded below.

The government have confirmed that Part L of the Building Regulations will be implemented with the following transitional arrangements:

The revised Part L 2006 of the Building Regulations came into effect on 6 April 2006. From that date, any building work including building services work must comply with the revised Part L 2006 regulations unless:

work has started before 6 April 2006 in accordance with a building notice, full plans, initial notice or amendment notice
where full plans are not required to be deposited, a contract is entered into before 6 April 2006, provided that the work is started before 1 October 2006
full plans have been deposited and approved before 6 April 2006, provided that work is started before 1st April 2007
a plans certificate or plans certificate combined with an initial notice has been given to a local authority before 6 April 2006, provided that the work is started before 1st April 2007.

Any building work carried out under the transitional arrangements will be subject to the current Part L (2002) regulations and energy efficiency standards.

The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) has been approved by DCLG (formerly known as ODPM) to operate an Electrical Energy Efficiency Scheme for firms wanting to self-certify that their electrical installation work carried out in commercial and industrial buildings complies with Part L of the Building Regulations.

The Scheme comprises three scopes covering the following areas of work:

lighting
electrical heating
controls.

Each firm registered with the ECA scheme will have to employ at least one Energy Supervisor. The Energy Supervisor is an experienced individual responsible for ensuring that electrical installation work is designed, installed and commissioned in compliance with the Building Regulations. An Energy Supervisor must be suitably qualified and have satisfactorily completed a suitable Part L training course, recognised by the ECA. Training course T34-006 "Part L for Energy Supervisors" was launched in early May 2006.

Firms registered with the ECA scheme will have the right to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations. This means that any electrical installation work carried out within the scope of Part L does not have to be inspected by a Building Control body.

Clients that use a firm registered as a Competent Person have the reassurance that they are using a firm that has been independently inspected and certificated as competent to carry out the work.

For further information on this scheme please visit www.partl.co.uk or contact the ECA on 01623 404 515.

ECA Energy Efficiency Guides: