future proofing
Registered Social Landlords and Housing Associations are facing challenging times. With the increase in Local Authority housing targets, the need to build at speed is essential but compliance and safety combined with quality – are of equal importance.
With a 14-strong in-house team of designers and engineers, light steel frame specialists Frameclad are gearing up to meet the demands of the Future Homes Standard which comes into force next year. The more stringent regulations are designed to reduce carbon emission by 75-80% than homes delivered under current regulations.
In a true display of expertise and craftsmanship, two specialised suppliers and an exceptionally skilled team of installers are breathing new life into seven tired old flat-roofed apartment blocks. The result? Spectacular and characterful flat-to-pitch conversions that are leaving the client and residents in awe.
The increased cost of living continues to highlight the need for energy-efficient social housing, leading to greater scrutiny of the thermal performance of building components in new and existing buildings. With legislation also continuing to tighten in the wake of the Future Homes Standard, Russell Hand, Head of Product Management and Technical at REHAU Windows, explains how implementing Passivhaus-informed performance criteria in window specification can ensure properties remain sustainable and efficient.
The state of UK housing is in a profound sense of flux. Rising energy costs are further underlining the need for thermally efficient homes, especially for older properties. This is especially a concern in social housing, as the majority was built between 1945 and 1980 . Consequently, pressure is on building specifiers to select thermally efficient components when retrofitting existing homes or building new developments.
Changes to Part L have significant ramifications for new build – but also replacement programmes. We report...
The Government is expected to unveil its interim update to Part L next month [Oct]. Stopping short of the far more comprehensive changes to follow in 2025 ,with the introduction of the Future Homes Standard, they nonetheless have significant ramifications for new build and refurbishment programmes – including windows and doors.
John Duckworth, Head of Sales, Commercial, Deceuninck, explains: “The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is expected to publish its revision of Part L in this October, coming into effect in England and Wales from July next year.
“While it doesn’t go anywhere near as far as the Future Homes Standard, its ramifications are significant for new build and refurbishment projects, pushing up minimum standards at a time when COVID-related supply chain disruption is already pushing up costs and disrupting delivery.
“Planning now to take out the guess work is critical.”
Dulux Trade has assembled a panel of leading industry experts to share their design insights and initiatives under the theme, ‘Future Proofing Design’ at RIBA London later this month.