Creda Heating Solution manual Quick start guide, Xpelair Xcell, What changed? Block Assessment

Meeting Part L

The quick start guide!

Xpelair Xcell 270

Electric heating continues to grow in popularity. In April 2006 the
revision to Part L of the Building Regulations meant the way you comply
“ for new buildings changed. This is the quick-start guide to complying
with Part L.	”
What changed?		Block Assessment
All the old methods of compliance have been abolished and		Part L 2006 has important rules for setting and achieving the
replaced with a Target Carbon Emission Rate (TER).		targets in flats and apartments. So called ‘Block Assessment’
Whatever fuel type you choose for the heating and hot water of		allows for all the flats or apartments in a building to be assessed
		in one go.
your new building - gas, oil, LPG or electric - you have to show
that the overall carbon emission rate is less than the target for that		Each flat or apartment can be dealt with as the developer or
building type.		specifier feels appropriate for meeting the overall TER, across the
There are also new minimum standards for U-values and air-		different floors and sides of the building. Any given flat or
		apartment does not have to meet an individual TER as long as the
tightness, which must be tested on completion of the building.
		whole building does.
However, even meeting all the minimum standards will not
guarantee a pass.		This allows the developer or specifier flexibility in how to achieve
The biggest change is that under the new rules the whole building		the target. For example, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
		(see picture above) may be installed which would create carbon
is taken into consideration. Every factor that can influence carbon
		savings which can be shared out across the whole building.
emissions is relevant and it’s the whole building that must pass.
		It also reduces running costs and becomes a major selling
So just building to minimum standards may not guarantee a pass
		feature. For more advice on saving energy see the guide at the
because the whole building may still exceed the target
		back of this brochure.
carbon emission rate.
What’s my target?		Can you comply using electric heating and hot water?
The target is set in terms of Kilograms of carbon dioxide for every		Yes.
square metre of the building, over the course of a year		The only test for compliance is that the building does not exceed
(KgCO /m2/yr).		the target carbon emission rate. We continue to supply electric
2		heating and hot water solutions into fully compliant buildings.
A range of sample buildings is used to set the target, which is
		Electric heating has also been shown to have lower lifetime costs
then adjusted for the size and shape of the actual design and the
		of ownership than gas, is easier and quicker to install,
heating and hot water plan.
		is maintenance free, offers great design flexibility and has lower
The complex calculation of both the target and the actual score of		initial capital costs.
your new building can be performed within special SAP 2005		Electric heating is the fuel of the future. Low carbon electricity
approved software. (The government’s adopted Standard
		from UK sources produces low carbon heating only with
Assessment Procedure). An accredited SAP assessor is required
		electric products.
to complete this.
The targets created under Part L 2006 demand a 20% reduction		How do I reduce the carbon emission rate of a building?
in carbon emissions compared with the previous rules. This new
tougher target was set to improve the country’s energy efficiency		There are a number approaches that are proving most effective at
and dependence on imported fuel and to reduce the devastating		reducing the carbon emission rate of a building. We recommend
effects of climate change.		you consider the following options. In isolation or in combination,
The tougher target applies to all relevant buildings, all products		all of these options have been used in conjunction with modern
		electric heating.
and all fuel types. It’s the whole building that must comply, not any
given product or building service.
6	+44 (0) 1733 456789	www.creda-heating.co.uk