02/05/2025
The UK Government is considering some significant amendments to building regulations which will impact BWF Members and the wider woodworking and joinery manufacturing industry. A consultation of ...
The Welsh Government has launched a consultation process for the review of Part L of the Building Regulations.
Their objective is to improve the energy performance of buildings in Wales through the Building Regulations to help Wales move towards zero carbon and near zero carbon energy buildings by 2020.
Full details of the consultation can be found on the Welsh Government’s website
The main effects for doors and windows in dwellings are once more divided between new dwellings and existing dwellings.
The guidance for new dwellings is to be given in Welsh Approved Document L1A and is proposed to come into effect in January 2015.
The elemental figures used to determine the target emissions rate (TER) have been improved and are shown below with the current figures from appendix R of SAP 2009,which are used by the 2010 version of AD L1A, given in brackets
• Windows and glazed doors 1.4 W/m2K (2.0 W/m2K)
• Opaque doors 1.0 W/m2K (2.0 W/m2K)
• Semi-glazed doors 1.2 W/m2K (new category)
The guidance for existing dwellings is to be given in Welsh Approved Document L1B and is proposed to come into effect in June 2014.
External windows and doors have been defined as those that separate a heated or cooled space from the external environment, the ground, and any parts of the building which are not heated or cooled or, where another part of the building which is not a dwelling, is heated or cooled to a different temperature. It is also confirmed that “window” and “door” refer to the whole units, i.e. including the frames. Consequently, replacing just the glazing in a door or window, or replacing a door leaf while retaining an existing frame, is not notifiable and does not have to meet the energy efficiency requirements. However, in such cases it would be sensible to upgrade the window or door to as close to the required as is practicably possible.
The proposed performance figures for windows and doors are the same for extensions, conversions, conservatories, material change of use and replacements and are given below with the current figures from AD L1B 2010 given in brackets.
• Windows U-value 1.6 W/m2K or window energy rating (WER) band C, (no change)
• Doors U-value 1.6 W/m2K or doorset energy rating (DSER) band E, (1.8 W/m2K but no DSER figure)
For heritage projects windows can be glazed with glass units having a centre pane U-value of 1.2 W/m2K and/or low-e secondary glazing could be fitted. Any retained windows or doors that have a U-value below 3.3 W/m2K would need to be replaced with a fully compliant product.
To help balance the performance of elements of buildings and to allow designers more flexibility two “trade-off” options have been proposed. One option allows some U-values to be relaxed if others are improved and the other option allows U-values to be relaxed if another energy efficiency measure is improved, e.g. a new boiler is fitted.
The consultation closes on 23 October and the BWF will be submitting a response. Are you based in or do work in Wales? Submit your comments on the measures outlined above to kevin.underwood@bwf.org.uk
