Overview

Building Regulations Part L deals with the Conservation of Fuel and Power from Buildings. “Approved Document L” was last updated in 2006 and compliance is now based on buildings not exceeding a calculated maximum level of CO2 emissions per m2 of floor area, per year. This is calculated based on insulation properties of the building materials used, the type and fuel of the heating system, hot water and ventilation services specified and the “air tightness” of the building.

As well as being based solely on carbon dioxide emissions for the first time, the 2006 target level was also reduced over the equivalent 2002 regulations.

Further changes to Part L will come over the next 8 years, reducing the target
level each time until we get to 2016 where all new homes will have to be “zero carbon”.

Electric heating solutions and Part L

Because of the way electricity is currently generated, electric is measured in SAP as having a high CO2 content, so many consultants and developers mistakenly believe that it is not possible to comply with the current, let alone future, versions of Part L using electric heating. However Dimplex understands the detail of the regulation and SAP – the tool used to calculated CO2 emissions
from buildings. We have successfully
assisted many customers, large and
small, in achieving compliance through:

• Specifying appropriate electric heating products and control solutions
• Advising on good/best practice building fabric and air tightness performance standards
• Suggesting the use of solar hot water heating or mechanical ventilation/heat recovery systems where necessary
• Maximising the benefit of the Block Assessment calculation methodology

The right hand menu of this section gives you different levels of assistance from a brief visual overview to indepth specifiers guides.

1. 8 Simple Steps - very visual and simple download which shows you how different adjustments can be made to the building to reduce its DER.

2. Complaince Calculator - This online calculator goes one step further and returns both a TER and DER figure, so it can also demonstrate whether the building is likely to achieve a ‘Pass’ or ‘Fail’ in Part L. It is designed primarily for new build properties where the building design has yet to be finalised. Please bear in mind that if the options do not meet your requirements exactly, they can be used as an indicator to show you what different types of adjustments are available and how they affect the DER. Please click the box on the left hand side to be taken to this calculator.

3. Specifier Guide - This downloadable pdf is our detailed document showing compliance with 2006 and 2010.

If you need more detailed information than the above options offer, our heating design consultants are able to give advice over the telephone. Alternatively, for large developments, we also have key account managers in the field who are able to visit and discuss your specific requirements.