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 | |||
with Part L. | ” |
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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 | |||
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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 | 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 | |||
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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. |
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What’s my target? |
| Can you comply using electric heating and hot water? | |
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The target is set in terms of Kilograms of carbon dioxide for every | Yes. | ||
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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 | |
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| 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 | |||
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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. |
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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 | |||
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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 | |||
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given product or building service. |
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6 | +44 (0) 1733 456789 |