ADL2

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The Building Regulations 2010
L
Conservation of
fuel and power
APPROVED DOCUMENT
Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings

Requirement L1: Conservation of fuel and power
Requirement L2: On-site generation of electricity
Regulations: 6, 22, 23, 24, 25, 25A, 25B, 26, 26C, 27, 27C,
28, 40, 40A, 43, 44 and 44ZA
2021 edition – for use in England
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2021 edition
This approved document supports Part L of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010.
This approved document takes effect on 15 June 2022 for use in England. It does not apply to work
subject to a building notice, full plans application or initial notice submitted before that date,
provided the work for each building is started before 15 June 2023. Full detail of the transitional
arrangements can be found in Circular Letter 01/2021 published on gov.uk.
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Introduction
What is an approved document?

Approved documents are approved by the Secretary of State and give practical guidance on common
building situations about how to meet the requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 for England.
Different approved documents give guidance on each of the technical parts of the regulations.
These are all listed in the back of the approved documents. In addition to guidance, some approved
documents include provisions that must be followed exactly, as required by regulations or where
methods of test or calculation are approved by the Secretary of State.
Each approved document covers the requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 relating to
a different aspect of building work. Building work must also comply with all other applicable
requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 and all other applicable legislation.
How is construction regulated in England?

Most building work being carried out in England must comply with the
Building Regulations 2010. The Building Regulations are made under
powers in the Building Act 1984.
Building Regulations protect the health and safety of people in and
around buildings, they also provide for energy and water conservation
and access to and use of buildings.
The Manual to the Building Regulations (references to this in the
introduction are taken from the first edition) gives an overview of the
building regulatory system in England. You can access the most recent
version of the manual at: www.gov.uk/guidance/building-regulations-
and-approved-documents-index.
How do you comply with the Building Regulations?

Building work must meet all relevant requirements of the Building Regulations. To comply with
the Building Regulations, it is necessary both to follow the correct procedures and meet technical
performance requirements.
The approved documents set out what, in ordinary circumstances, may be accepted as one way to
comply with the Building Regulations. Note, however, that:
• Complying with the guidance in the approved documents does not guarantee that building work
complies with the requirements of the regulations – the approved documents cannot cover all
circumstances. Those responsible for building work must consider whether following the guidance
in the approved documents is likely to meet the requirements in the particular circumstances of
their case.
• There may be other ways to comply with the requirements than those described in an approved
document. If those responsible for meeting the requirements prefer to meet a requirement in
some other way than described in an approved document, they should seek to agree this with the
relevant building control body at an early stage.
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Those responsible for building work include agents, designers, builders, installers and the building
owner. For further information, see Chapter 7 in Volume 1 and paragraphs A26, B2 and F2 in Volume 2
of the Manual to the Building Regulations.
The Building Regulations can be contravened by not following the correct procedures or not meeting
the technical performance requirements. If the building owner or those responsible for the works
contravene the Building Regulations, the local authority may prosecute them in the magistrates’ court.
For further information on enforcement and sanctions in the existing system, see Chapter B in Volume
2 of the Manual to the Building Regulations.
What do the Building Regulations cover?

‘Building work’ is a legal term for work covered by the Building Regulations. Where a building is not
exempt, the Building Regulations apply to all types of building work as defined in regulation 3 of the
Building Regulations. For further information, what constitutes building work is covered in Chapter A,
Volume 2 of the Manual to the Building Regulations.
The Building Regulations contain sections dealing with definitions, procedures and the expected
technical performance of building work. For example, the Building Regulations:
a. define what types of building, plumbing and heating work is classed as building work in
regulation 3 (for further information see paragraphs A14 to A16 in Volume 2 of the Manual to the
Building Regulations).
b. specify types of building that are exempt from the Building Regulations (for further information
see Table A1 and paragraph A11 in Volume 2 of the Manual to the Building Regulations).
c. set out the notification procedures to follow when undertaking building work (for further
information see Figure 2.1 in Volume 1 of the Manual to the Building Regulations).
d. set out the technical requirements (see Table 7.1 in Volume 1 of the Manual to the Building
Regulations) with which the individual aspects of building design and construction must comply
in the interests of the health and safety of building users, of energy efficiency (for further
information see paragraphs A12(d)–(f), A14(f)–(h), A22, A23, B2(c) and F24 in Volume 2 of the
Manual to the Building Regulations), and of access to and use of buildings.
e. set out the standards for building materials and workmanship in carrying out building work
(for further information see Chapter 7 in Volume 1, and paragraphs F8 to F11 in Volume 2 of the
Manual to the Building Regulations).
When must a building control body be notified?

It is often necessary to notify a building control body of planned building work. To help ensure that
work complies with the Building Regulations, those responsible for building work may need to use
one of the two types of building control body listed below:
a. a local authority building control body (for further information see Chapter B in Volume 2 of the
Manual to the Building Regulations)
b. an approved inspector (for further information see Chapter E in Volume 2 of the Manual to the
Building Regulations).
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If building work consists only of installing certain types of services or fittings (e.g. fuel-burning
appliances or replacement windows) and the building owner employs an installer that is registered
with a relevant competent person scheme designated in the regulations, a building control body does
not need to be notified.
For further information about competent person schemes, see Chapter 5 in Volume 1 and Chapter C
in Volume 2 of the Manual to the Building Regulations.
How to use this approved document

Each approved document contains:
• general guidance on the performance expected of materials and building work in order to comply
with each of the requirements of the Building Regulations, and
• practical examples and solutions on how to achieve compliance for some of the more common
building situations.
They may not provide appropriate guidance if the case is unusual in terms of its design, setting, use,
scale or technology. Non-standard conditions may include any of the following:
• difficult ground conditions
• buildings with unusual occupancies or high levels of complexity
• very large or very tall buildings
• large timber buildings
• some buildings that incorporate modern construction methods.
Anyone using the approved documents should have sufficient knowledge and skills to understand
the guidance and correctly apply it to the building work. This is important because simply following
the guidance does not guarantee that your building work will comply with the legal requirements
of the Building Regulations. Each approved document contains legal requirements (which you must
follow) and guidance (which you may or may not choose to follow). The text in a box with a green
background at the beginning of each section of an approved document is taken from the Building
Regulations. This text sets out the legal requirements.
The explanation which follows the legal requirements is guidance (see Diagram i below). The guidance
then explains one or more ways to demonstrate how building work can be shown to comply with the
legal requirements in common circumstances. The terms in green lettering in an approved document
are key terms, listed and explained in the appendix to that approved document. Guidance in the
approved documents addresses most, but not all, situations that building owners will face. Situations
may arise that are not covered. You or your advisers will need to carefully consider whether following
the guidance will mean that the requirements of the Building Regulations will be met.
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B2
Requirement B2: Internal fire spread (linings)
This section deals with the following requirement from Part B of Schedule 1 to the Building
Regulations 2010.
Requirement
Requirement Limits on application
Internal fire spread (linings)
B2. (1) To inhibit the spread of fire within the building,
the internal linings shall—
(a) adequately resist the spread of flame over
their surfaces; and ➊
(b) have, if ignited, either a rate of heat release
or a rate of fire growth, which is reasonable in
the circumstances.
(2) In this paragraph “internal linings” means the
materials or products used in lining any partition,
wall, ceiling or other internal structure.
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, requirement B2 is met by achieving a restricted spread of flame
over internal linings. The building fabric should make a limited contribution to fire growth,
including a low rate of heat release.
It is particularly important in circulation spaces, where linings may offer the main means by which
fire spreads and where rapid spread is most likely to prevent occupants from escaping.
Requirement B2 does not include guidance on the following.
➋
a. Generation of smoke and fumes.
b. The upper surfaces of floors and stairs.
c. Furniture and fittings.
Key
➊ The law: extract from the Building Regulations 2010.

➋ Statutory guidance.
Diagram i The relationship between regulations and guidance in the approved documents
For further information about the use of technical guidance, see Chapter 7 in Volume 1 and Chapter F
in Volume 2 of the Manual to the Building Regulations.
Where to get further help

If you are unsure whether you have the knowledge and skills to apply the guidance correctly, or if you
do not understand the technical guidance or other information in this approved document or the
additional detailed technical references to which it directs you, you should seek further help. Some
sources of help are listed below.
a. Your building control body may be able to help in many cases.
b. If you are registered with a competent person scheme, the scheme operator should be in a
position to help.
c. Suitably qualified and experienced construction professionals should also be engaged where necessary.
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Contents
Introduction i
What is an approved document? i
How is construction regulated in England? i
How do you comply with the Building Regulations? i
What do the Building Regulations cover? ii
When must a building control body be notified? ii
How to use this approved document iii
Where to get further help iv
Section 0: Introduction 1
Summary 1
Application 2
Selected key interactions with other parts of the Building Regulations 5
Regulations 24, 25, 25B, 26, 26C, 27 and 27C: Energy performance of building
calculations 6
Intention 8
Section 1: Calculating the target primary energy rate and target emission rate 9
Section 2: Calculating the building primary energy rate and building
emission rate 10
Building control notification 10
Heating in the building primary energy rate and the building emission rate calculations 11
Management and control features in the building primary energy rate and the building
emission rate calculations 12
Achieving the target primary energy rate and target emission rate 13
Special considerations when calculating building primary energy rate and building emission rate 13
Buildings with low energy demand 17
Regulation 25A: Consideration of high-efficiency alternative systems 18

Intention 19
Section 3: Consideration of high-efficiency alternative systems 20

Requirement L1(a): Limiting heat gains and losses 21
Intention 21
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Section 4: Limiting heat gains and losses 23

U-values 23
Limiting standards for new or replacement elements 24
Limiting standards for renovated and retained elements 26
Continuity of insulation 27
Airtightness in existing buildings 28
Limiting the effects of solar gains in summer 29
Limiting heat losses and gains from building services 29
Requirements L1(b)(i), (ii) and L2: Fixed building services energy efficiency
and controls and on-site generation of electricity 33
Intention 34
Section 5: Minimum building services efficiencies and controls – general

guidance 35
New building services 35
Replacement building services in existing buildings 35
Sizing new and replacement space heating systems 36
Controls and zoning for new and replacement space heating systems 37
System treatment for hot water systems for space and domestic hot water heating 37
Thermostatic room controls 37
Energy submeters 38
Section 6: System specific guidance 39

Boilers 39
Gas and oil-fired warm air heaters 42
Gas and oil-fired radiant heaters 42
Electric space heating systems 43
Combined heat and power 44
Dedicated domestic hot water heaters 44
Comfort cooling 47
Heating and cooling system circulators and water pumps 49
Heat pumps 49
Mechanical ventilation 50
Heat recovery 52
Lighting 52
Building automation and control systems 53
On-site electricity generation and storage 55
District heat networks and community heating 55
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Regulation 43: Pressure testing 56

Intention 56
Section 7: Air permeability and pressure testing 57

Showing compliance and reporting pressure test results 58
Air pressure testing procedure 58
Regulations 44 and 44ZA and requirements L1(b)(iii) and L2(b): Commissioning 59

Intention 60
Section 8: Commissioning 61
Notice of completion 62
Air leakage testing of ductwork 62
Regulations 40 and 40A: Providing information 64

Intention 64
Section 9: Providing information 65

Operating and maintenance instructions 65
Additional information for new buildings 65
Additional information for work in existing buildings 66
Regulation 23(2) and requirement L1(a): Replacement of thermal elements

and limiting heat gains and losses 68
Intention 69
Section 10: New elements in existing buildings, including extensions 70

General 70
New and replacement thermal elements 70
New and replacement windows, roof windows, rooflights and doors (controlled fittings) 70
Extension of buildings other than dwellings 71
Conservatories and porches 73
Regulation 23(1) and requirement L1(a): Renovating elements and limiting

heat gains and losses 74
Intention 74
Regulations 6 and 22: Material change of use and change to energy status 75
Intention 76
Section 11: Work to fabric elements in existing buildings 77

General 77
Renovating thermal elements 77
Material change of use and change to energy status 79
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Regulation 28: Consequential improvements to energy performance 81

Intention 81
Section 12: Consequential improvements 82

Consequential improvements which apply when extending a building 82
Consequential improvements on installing or extending the capacity of fixed building services 83
Appendix A: Key terms 84

Appendix B: Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (LENI) 91
Appendix C: Reporting evidence of compliance 93
BRUKL report 93
Appendix D: Measures for consequential improvements 94

Appendix E: Hierarchy for establishing seasonal efficiencies of existing boilers 97
Appendix F: Standards referred to 98
Appendix G: Documents referred to 100
Legislation 100
Documents 100
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Section 0: Introduction
Summary
0.1 This approved document is Approved Document L, Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings. It
gives guidance on how to comply with Part L of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations and the
energy efficiency requirements for buildings other than dwellings. For guidance relating to domestic
buildings, use Approved Document L, Volume 1: Dwellings.
0.2 This approved document contains the following sections:
Approved document section Related Building Regulations requirements

Section 0: Introduction n/a
Section 1: Calculating the target primary energy rate and Regulations 24, 25, 25B, 26, 26C, 27 and 27C
target emission rate
Section 2: Calculating the building primary energy rate
and building emission rate
Section 3: Consideration of high-efficiency alternative Regulation 25A
systems
Section 4: Limiting heat gains and losses Requirement L1(a) of Schedule 1
Section 5: Minimum building services efficiencies and Requirements L1(b)(i), (ii) and L2 of Schedule 1
controls – general guidance
Section 6: System specific guidance
Section 7: Air permeability and pressure testing Regulation 43
Section 8: Commissioning Regulations 44 and 44ZA and requirements L1(b)(iii) and
L2(b) of Schedule 1
Section 9: Providing information Regulations 40 and 40A
Section 10: New elements in existing buildings, including Regulation 23(2) and requirement L1(a) of Schedule 1
extensions
Section 11: Work to elements in existing buildings Regulations 6, 22 and 23(1) and requirement L1(a) of Schedule 1
Section 12: Consequential improvements Regulation 28
Appendix A: Key terms n/a
Appendix B: Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (LENI) n/a
Appendix C: Reporting evidence of compliance n/a
Appendix D: Measures for consequential improvements n/a
Appendix E: Hierarchy for establishing seasonal n/a
efficiencies of existing boilers
Appendix F: Standards referred to n/a
Appendix G: Documents referred to n/a
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Application
0.3 The guidance in Approved Document L, Volume 2 applies only to buildings other than dwellings.
In a mixed-use building, this document should be consulted for building work in those parts of the
building that are not dwellings. This document gives guidance for building work in both new and
existing buildings.
NOTE: Dwellings are self-contained units. This approved document applies to both of the
following, which are not dwellings.
a. Rooms for residential purposes.
b. Buildings that contain only rooms for residential purposes.
For dwellings, Approved Document L, Volume 1: Dwellings applies.
0.4 In the Secretary of State’s view, for the purposes of the energy efficiency requirements of the
Building Regulations, a building means either of the following.
a. The whole of the building.
b. Part of a building designed or altered to be used as a separate premises.
Common areas in buildings that contain multiple dwellings

0.5 For the common areas of buildings that contain more than one dwelling, the following guidance
applies.
a. If the common areas are heated, the guidance in this approved document should be followed.
b. If the common areas are unheated, individual fabric elements should meet the minimum
standards set out in Section 4 of Approved Document L, Volume 1: Dwellings.
New buildings
0.6 Guidance for new buildings is given in Sections 1 to 9 of this approved document, Approved
Document L, Volume 2.
0.7 For a conservatory or porch installed as part of the construction of a new building, the treatment
of the conservatory or porch depends on whether both of the following have been achieved.
a. There is adequate thermal separation between the building and the conservatory or porch.
b. The building’s heating system is not extended into the conservatory or porch.
If both (a) and (b) have been achieved, the conservatory or porch should be treated as if it were an
extension being added onto an existing building. The guidance for new elements in existing buildings
in Section 10 should be followed.
If either or both of (a) or (b) has not been achieved, the conservatory or porch should be treated as a
room in the new building. The guidance for the whole new building should be followed, including for
building primary energy rate and building emission rate calculations.
0.8 For the first fit-out works in buildings, such as shell-and-core office buildings, guidance for new
buildings covering first fit-out should be followed. For any subsequent fit-out works the guidance
for existing buildings should be followed.
0.9 For constructing a building from modular subassemblies, or for relocating a modular or
portable building, the guidance for new buildings should be followed, taking note of the special
considerations for these building types outlined in Section 2. If the work extends an existing
building, consequential improvements may also be required. Guidance is given in Section 12.
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Extensions to and work on existing buildings

0.10 Guidance for existing buildings is given in this approved document for the following.
a. Limiting heat gains and losses: Section 4.
b. Building services: Sections 5 and 6.
c. New elements in existing buildings, including replacing a thermal element and constructing an
extension: Section 10.
d. Existing elements in existing buildings, including renovating or retaining a thermal element,
material change of use and change to energy status: Section 11.
e. consequential improvements: Section 12.
Exemptions
0.11 The following classes of buildings or parts of buildings other than dwellings are exempt from the
energy efficiency requirements.
a. Places of worship – buildings or parts of a building that are used primarily or solely for formal
public worship, plus adjoining spaces the function of which is directly linked to that use (e.g. a
vestry in a church).
NOTE: Parts of the building that are designed to be used separately, such as offices, catering
facilities, day centres, meeting halls and accommodation, are not exempt from the energy
efficiency requirements.
b. Temporary buildings with a total planned time of use of two years or less.
c. Buildings with low energy demand which are industrial sites, workshops or non-residential
agricultural buildings.
NOTE: Low energy demand only relates to the energy used by fixed heating or cooling systems, not to
energy required for or created by process needs. This includes buildings or parts of buildings where the
space is not generally heated or cooled other than by process heat or buildings or parts of buildings
that only require heating or cooling for short periods each year, such as during critical periods in the
production cycle (e.g. plant germination, egg hatching) or during very severe weather conditions.
NOTE: Portable or modular buildings with a planned service life of longer than two years, whether
on one or more sites, are not exempt. See paragraphs 2.11 to 2.19.
d. New and existing stand-alone buildings other than dwellings, with a total useful floor area of
less than 50m2.
e. Carports, covered yards, covered ways and some conservatories and porches (see paragraphs 0.18
to 0.19).
Exemptions for listed buildings, buildings in conservation areas and scheduled

monuments
0.12 Work to the following types of buildings does not need to comply fully with the energy efficiency
requirements where to do so would unacceptably alter the building’s character or appearance.
a. Those listed in accordance with section 1 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation
Areas) Act 1990.
b. Those in a conservation area designated in accordance with section 69 of the Planning (Listed
Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
c. Those included in the schedule of monuments maintained under section 1 of the Ancient
Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

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0.13 Work to a building in paragraph 0.12 must comply with the energy efficiency requirements where
this would not unacceptably alter the building’s character or appearance. The work should comply
with standards in this approved document to the extent that it is reasonably practicable.
Historic and traditional buildings

0.14 The energy efficiency of historic and traditional buildings should be improved only if doing so will
not cause long-term deterioration of the building’s fabric or fittings. In particular, this applies to
historic and traditional buildings with a vapour permeable construction that both absorbs moisture
and readily allow moisture to evaporate. Examples include those built with wattle and daub, cob or
stone and constructions using lime render or mortar.
0.15 New extensions to historic or traditional buildings should comply fully with the energy efficiency
standards in this approved document unless there is a need to match the external appearance or
character of the extension to that of the host building. The work should comply with standards in
this approved document to the extent that it is reasonably practicable.
0.16 In determining whether full energy efficiency improvements should be made, the building control
body should consider the advice of the local authority’s conservation officer.
0.17 Additional guidance is available in Historic England’s Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings:
Application of Part L of the Building Regulations to Historic and Traditionally Constructed Buildings.
Exemptions for conservatories and porches

0.18 Where a building is extended by adding a conservatory or porch, the work is exempt from the
energy efficiency requirements, under regulation 21 of the Building Regulations, if all of the
following apply.
a. The extension is at ground level.
b. The floor area of the extension does not exceed 30m2.
c. The glazing complies with Part K of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations.
d. Any wall, door or window that separates the extension from the building has been retained or,
if removed, replaced with a wall, door or window.
NOTE: Replacement walls, windows and doors should meet the requirement in regulation 23(2). See
Section 10.
e. The heating system of the building is not extended into the conservatory or porch.
Exemptions for covered areas

0.19 Where a building is extended by adding a carport that is open on at least two sides, a covered yard,
covered walkway or covered driveway, the work is exempt from the energy efficiency requirements
if both of the following apply.
a. The extension is at ground level.
b. The floor area of the extension does not exceed 30m2.
Live/work units
0.20 A building that contains both living accommodation and space for commercial purposes (e.g. for
a workshop or office) should be treated as a dwelling if the commercial part can be reverted to
domestic use. Guidance for dwellings can be found in Approved Document L, Volume 1: Dwellings.
0.21 The commercial part of a building can be reverted to domestic use if all of the following apply.
a. There is direct access between the commercial space and the living accommodation.

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b. The commercial space and the living accommodation are within the same thermal envelope.
c. The living accommodation comprises a substantial proportion of the total area of the unit.
What constitutes a ‘substantial proportion’ should be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the
building control body.
NOTE: A large non-domestic building that contains a small flat for a manager is not treated as a
dwelling. A dwelling that contains a room used as an office or utility space is still treated as a dwelling.
Mixed-use developments
0.22 When constructing a building that contains dwellings and other types of accommodation, sometimes
called a mixed-use development, refer to the two volumes of Approved Document L as follows.
a. For guidance on each individual dwelling, use Approved Document L, Volume 1: Dwellings.
b. For guidance on the non-dwelling parts of the building, such as heated common areas and any
commercial or retail space, use this approved document.
Selected key interactions with other parts of the Building

Regulations
0.23 The approved documents set out what, in ordinary circumstances, may be accepted as one way
to comply with the Building Regulations. Those designing or undertaking building work remain
responsible for assessing, on a case-by-case basis, whether specific circumstances require additional
or alternative measures to achieve compliance with the regulatory requirements. There are
interactions between many of the requirements of the Building Regulations. Guidance on some key
interactions is given below.
Interaction with Part C

0.24 This approved document, Approved Document L, Volume 2, provides guidance and examples on
upgrading thermal elements. For interstitial and surface condensation, a lesser standard may be
acceptable. Guidance in Approved Document C should be followed.
Interaction with Part E

0.25 This approved document, Approved Document L, Volume 2, provides guidance on insulation that
is reasonably continuous and limits thermal bridging. Construction junctions should limit noise
transfer where Part E of the Building Regulations sets a requirement. Approved Document E should
be followed.
Interaction with Part F

0.26 This approved document, Approved Document L, Volume 2, provides guidance on reducing unwanted
heat loss, by achieving optimum airtightness. When specifying the minimum amount of purpose-
provided ventilation, consider the air infiltration of a building; follow Approved Document F.
Interaction with Part J

0.27 This approved document, Approved Document L, Volume 2, provides guidance on airtightness. For
guidance on permanent ventilation openings for open flued appliances in very airtight buildings,
follow Approved Document J.
Interaction with Part K and Part M

0.28 This approved document, Approved Document L, Volume 2, provides guidance on controls for fixed
building services and on-site electricity generation. Manual controls, where provided, should be
within reasonable reach of the occupants. Follow the guidance in Approved Documents K and M.

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Regulations 24, 25, 25B, 26, 26C, 27 and 27C:

Energy performance of building calculations
This section deals with the requirements of regulations 24, 25, 25B, 26, 26C, 27 and 27C of the Building
Regulations 2010.
Regulations
Methodology of calculation of the energy performance
24. (1) The Secretary of State shall approve—
(a) a methodology of calculation of the energy performance of buildings, including methods for calculating
asset ratings and operational ratings of buildings; and
(b) ways in which the energy performance of buildings, as calculated in accordance with the methodology,
shall be expressed.
(2) In this regulation—
“asset rating” means an energy performance indicator determined from the amount of energy estimated to
meet the different needs associated with a standardised use of the building; and
“operational rating” means an energy performance indicator determined from the amount of energy
consumed during the occupation of a building over a period of time and the energy demand associated
with a typical use of the building over that period.
Minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings

25. Minimum energy performance requirements shall be approved by the Secretary of State, calculated and
expressed in accordance with the methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24, for—
(a) new buildings (which shall include new dwellings), in the form of target CO2 emission rates;
(b) new dwellings, in the form of target fabric efficiency rates, and
(c) new buildings in the form of target primary energy rates.
Nearly zero-energy requirements for new buildings

25B. Where a building is erected, it must be a nearly zero-energy building.
CO2 emission rates for new buildings

26. Where a building is erected, it shall not exceed the target CO2 emission rate for the building that has been
approved pursuant to regulation 25, applying the methodology of calculation and expression of the energy
performance of buildings approved pursuant to regulation 24.
Target primary energy rates for new buildings

26C. Where a building is erected it must not exceed the target primary energy rate for the building which has been
approved pursuant to regulation 25(c), applying the methodology of calculation and expression of the energy
performance of buildings approved pursuant to regulation 24.

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R24-27C
Regulation continued
CO2 emission rate calculations
27. (1) This regulation applies where a building is erected and regulation 26 applies.
(2) Not later than the day before the work starts, the person carrying out the work shall give the local
authority a notice which specifies—
(a) the target CO2 emission rate for the building, calculated and expressed in accordance with the
methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24,
(b) the CO2 emission rate for the building as designed, calculated and expressed in accordance with the
methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24, and
(c) a list of specifications to which the building is to be constructed.
(3) Not later than five days after the work has been completed, the person carrying out the work shall give the
local authority—
(a) a notice which specifies—
(i) the target CO2 emission rate for the building, calculated and expressed in accordance with the
methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24,
(ii) the CO2 emission rate for the building as constructed, calculated and expressed in accordance with
the methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24, and
(iii) whether the building has been constructed in accordance with the list of specifications referred to in
paragraph (2)(c), and if not a list of any changes to those specifications; or
(b) a certificate of the sort referred to in paragraph (4) accompanied by the information referred to in sub-
paragraph (a).
(4) A local authority are authorised to accept, as evidence that the requirements of regulation 26 have
been satisfied, a certificate to that effect by an energy assessor who is accredited to produce energy
performance certificates for that category of building.
(5) In this regulation, “specifications” means specifications used for the calculation of the CO2 emission rate.
Target primary energy rate calculations for new buildings

27C. (1) This regulation applies where a building is erected.
(2) Not later than the day before the work starts, the person carrying out the work must give the local
authority a notice which specifies—
(a) the target primary energy rate for the building calculated and expressed in accordance with the
methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24;
(b) the calculated target primary energy rate for the building as designed, calculated and expressed in
accordance with the methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24; and
(c) the list of specifications to which the building is to be constructed.
(3) Not later than five days after the work has been completed, the person carrying out the work must give the
local authority—
(a) a notice which specifies—
(i) the target primary energy rate for the building calculated and expressed in accordance with the
methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24;
(ii) the calculated target primary energy rate for the building as constructed, calculated and expressed in
accordance with the methodology approved pursuant to regulation 24; and
(iii) whether the building has been constructed in accordance with the list of specifications referred to in
paragraph (2)(c), and if not a list of any changes to those specifications; or
(b) a certificate of the sort referred to in paragraph (4) accompanied by the information referred to in sub-
paragraph (a).
(4) A local authority is authorised to accept, as evidence that the requirements of regulation 26C have
been satisfied, a certificate to that effect by an energy assessor who is accredited to produce energy
performance certificates for that category of building.
(5) In this regulation, “specifications” means specifications used for the calculation of the target primary energy
rate.

ONLINE VERSION
NOTE: Where the building control body is an approved inspector, see regulation 20 of the Building
(Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations 2010 (as amended).
Intention
Regulation 24
Regulation 24 requires the Secretary of State to approve a methodology of calculation of the energy
performance of a building. Approved tools for implementing this methodology for new non-domestic
buildings are the Simplified Building Energy Model or other software tools approved under the
Notice of Approval.
Calculation methodologies are set out in Section 1 and Section 2 of this approved document.
Regulation 25
Regulation 25 requires the Secretary of State to approve minimum energy performance requirements.
These requirements are in the form of a target primary energy rate and a target emission rate.
The targets are set out in Section 1 of this approved document.
Regulation 25B
The Secretary of State considers that a building has a very high performance rate for the purposes of
the definition of a nearly zero-energy building if both of the following are met.
a. The building meets the target emission rate required under regulation 26.
b. Both:
i. An analysis is made of the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of using high
efficiency alternative systems, which include decentralised energy supply systems based on
energy from renewable sources.
ii. This analysis is considered as required by regulation 25A.
Regulations 26 and 26C

A newly constructed building must be shown to meet regulations 26 and 26C by producing
calculations to show that the building meets both of the following.
a. Target primary energy rate.
b. Target emission rate.
Section 2 of this approved document sets out how to produce these calculations.
Regulations 27 and 27C

Both before and after a newly constructed building is built, a notice must be given to the building
control body of the calculations.

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Section 1: Calculating the target primary
energy rate and target emission rate
1.1 A new building must be built to a minimum standard of total energy performance. This is evaluated
by comparing calculations of the performance of the ‘actual building’ against calculations of the
performance of a theoretical building, called the ‘notional building’. This must be carried out both
at the design stage and when work is complete.
The notional building is the same size and shape as the actual building and has standardised
properties for fabric and services. The full properties of the notional building are set out in the
National Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide, which is available from https://www.uk-ncm.
org.uk/.
1.2 The energy performance of the notional building is described using the following metrics.
a. The target primary energy rate, in kWhPE/m2 per year.
b. The target emission rate, in kgCO2/m2 per year.
1.3 The target primary energy rate and target emission rate must be calculated using one of the
calculation tools in the approved methodology, used in line with the version policy as stated in the
methodology. As part of the submission to the building control body, the applicant should show
that the software tool used is appropriate to the application. The calculation tool can be either of
the following.
a. The Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM), for buildings with design features that are capable
of being adequately modelled by the Simplified Building Energy Model.
b. Other software tools approved under the Notice of Approval.
NOTE: An up-to-date list of approved software can be found on the Department for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities webpages.
NOTE: Information on the approved methodology, the version policy for these tools and how to
choose an appropriate modelling tool can be found in the National Calculation Methodology
Modelling Guide.

ONLINE VERSION
Section 2: Calculating the building primary

energy rate and building emission rate
2.1 The same approved calculation tool must be used to calculate the target primary energy rate, the
target emission rate, the building primary energy rate and the building emission rate.
2.2 The building primary energy rate and the building emission rate must be calculated at both of the
following points using the same calculation tool.
a. Before work starts, using design values.
b. When work is complete, using figures for the building as constructed, and incorporating both of
the following.
i. Any changes that have been made during construction to the list of specifications.
ii. The measured air permeability.
2.3 At both of these points the building primary energy rate and building emission rate must not
exceed the target primary energy rate and the target emission rate, respectively. The specification
of the actual building may vary from that of the notional building if the building meets the target
primary energy rate, target emission rate and the guidance in this approved document.
Building control notification

2.4 The building control body must be notified, before the work starts, of all of the following.
a. The target primary energy rate and the building primary energy rate (calculated using design
values).
b. The target emission rate and the building emission rate (calculated using design values).
c. A list of specifications used in the calculations.
Items (a) to (c) above may be reported using the design stage Building Regulations UK Part L
compliance report (BRUKL report) which is produced as a standardised output from the approved
software. For further details of the design stage BRUKL report, see Appendix C.
2.5 The building control body must be notified, once the work is complete, of all of the following.
a. The as-built target primary energy rate and as-built building primary energy rate.
b. The as-built target emission rate and the as-built building emission rate.
c. A list of specifications used in the as-built calculations, and whether the specifications have
changed from those used in the design stage calculations.
Building control bodies are authorised to accept notification of (a) to (c) above as reported in the
as-built BRUKL report, which is produced as a standardised output from the approved software.
For further details of the as-built BRUKL report, see Appendix C.

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R24-27C
Heating in the building primary energy rate and the building
emission rate calculations
2.6 When systems are capable of being fired by more than one fuel, the following applies, according to
the fuel(s).
a. Biomass heating supplemented by an alternative appliance (e.g. gas) – the CO2 emission factor
and primary energy factor should be based on a weighted average for the two fuels. The
weighting should be based on the anticipated usage of those fuels. The building emission rate
and building primary energy rate submission should be accompanied by a report, signed by a
suitably qualified person, detailing how the combined emission factor has been derived.
b. Appliances capable of burning both biomass fuel and fossil fuel – the CO2 emission factor and
primary energy factor for dual-fuel appliances should be used, except where the building is in a
smoke control area, when the anthracite figure should be used.
c. In all other cases, the fuel with the highest CO2 emission factor should be used.
2.7 If thermal energy is supplied from a district heat network or community heating system or
community cooling system, CO2 emission factors and primary energy factors should be determined
by considering the details of the scheme and following the guidance in items (a) to (g) below.
a. The CO2 emission factor and primary energy factor for the heat delivered to the building by the
district heat network should be based on the ‘heat network’ specific factors from Table 32 in the
National Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide.
b. Calculations should take account of the annual average performance of the whole system,
including the distribution circuits, all heat generating plants, combined heat and power (CHP),
and any waste heat recovery or heat dumping.
c. The calculation should include the predicted effect of all buildings or parts of buildings that
will be connected to the system in the first 12 months of operation. A change in the number of
buildings or spaces within buildings connected to the system might affect the percentage of
heat supplied from the communal system. The increased operation of any marginal plant (e.g. gas
boilers) can then be properly accounted for.
d. The electricity generated by any combined heat and power (CHP) or trigeneration scheme should
always be credited using the appropriate CO2 emission and primary energy ‘heat network’ specific
factors from Table 32 in the National Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide.
e. CO2 emissions and primary energy associated with the thermal energy streams of a trigeneration
scheme should be attributed in proportion to the output energy streams.
f. When calculating the building primary energy rate and building emission rate for a building
connected to a new district heat network, the calculation should include all heat sources to
be used up to 31 December 2027. In this way, any planned transition of the heat network to
an alternative means of heat generation will be properly accounted for. When there will be a
change in heat source up to 31 December 2027, a submission to the building control body should
be made to show both of the following.
i. That planning permission, if required, has been granted for the change.
ii. That the heat network will connect to the new source, with confirmation in the form of a
signed contract to connect and supply heat.
NOTE: An existing district heat network is defined in Appendix A. A new district heat network
should be taken as meaning any other district heat network.

ONLINE VERSION
NOTE: When calculating the building primary energy rate and building emission rate for a building
connected to an existing district heat network, the calculation should not include the effect of any
change in heat sources after the buildings are connected.
g. The building primary energy rate and building emission rate submission should be accompanied
by a report, signed by a suitably qualified person, detailing how the CO2 emission factors and
primary energy factors have been derived.
The primary energy factor for the heat output should be taken as:
1/H � (F � PEF – E � PEE)
where:
H is the useful heat (excluding heat rejected) in kWh
F is the fuel input in kWh
PEF is the primary energy factor for the input fuel in kWhPE/kWh
E is the electricity production from the scheme in kWh
PEE is the primary energy factor for district heat CHP generated electricity in kWhPE/kWh.
The CO2 emission factor for the heat output should be taken as:
1/H � (F � CO2F – E � CO2E )
where:
H is the useful heat (excluding heat rejected) in kWh
F is the fuel input in kWh
CO2F is the emission factor for the input fuel in kgCO2 /kWh
E is the electricity production from the scheme in kWh
CO2E is the emission factor for district heat CHP generated electricity in kgCO2 /kWh.
NOTE: See the National Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide for further information.
NOTE: The same CO2 emission factors and primary energy factors used to calculate the building
emission rate and building primary energy rate for buildings connected to a district heat network or
community heating system should be used to check against the minimum performance standards
described in Section 6 of this approved document.
Management and control features in the building primary

energy rate and the building emission rate calculations
2.8 Where enhanced management and control features are provided in the building, the building
primary energy rate and building emission rate can be reduced. This is done by applying the
appropriate factor given in Table 2.1 to both of the following, for the system(s) to which the feature
is being applied.
a. The CO2 emissions.
b. The primary energy.
NOTE: For example, if the CO2 emissions due to electrical energy consumption were 70kgCO2/
(m2·year) without power factor correction, the provision of correction equipment to achieve
a power factor of 0.95 would enable the building emission rate to be reduced by 70 � 0.025 =
1.75kgCO2/(m2·year).

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R24-27C
Table 2.1 Enhanced management and control features
Feature Adjustment factor
Automatic monitoring and targeting with alarms for out-of-range values (1)
0.050
Power factor correction to achieve a whole building power factor >0.90(2) 0.010
Power factor correction to achieve a whole building power factor >0.95 (2)
0.025
NOTES:
1. This means a complete installation that measures, records, transmits, analyses, reports and communicates
meaningful energy management information to enable the operator to manage the energy it uses. A building
automation and control system specified following paragraphs 6.66 to 6.73 would meet this definition.
2. The power factor adjustment can be made only if the whole building power factor is corrected to achieve the
value in this table (>90 or >0.95). The two levels of power factor correction are alternative values, not additive.
Achieving the target primary energy rate and target

emission rate
2.9 Provided the building satisfies the minimum standards for fabric elements set out in Section 4,
the designer can achieve the target primary energy rate and target emission rate by using any
combination of the following.
a. Fabric energy efficiency.
b. Efficient building services.
c. Low and zero carbon technologies integrated in an appropriate mix.
NOTE: The target primary energy rate and target emission rate are not likely to be met by using the
minimum standards for fabric set out in Section 4 alone.
Special considerations when calculating building primary

energy rate and building emission rate
2.10 Special considerations may apply to certain classes of building. These building types include all of
the following.
a. Modular and portable buildings with a planned service life of more than two years (at one or
more sites), follow paragraphs 2.11 to 2.19.
b. Swimming pools, follow paragraph 2.20.
c. Shell and core developments, follow paragraphs 2.21 to 2.25.
d. Industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings, follow paragraph 2.26.
e. Buildings with low energy demand, follow paragraphs 2.27 to 2.32.
NOTE: Industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy
demand and buildings with a planned service life of less than two years are exempt from the
energy efficiency requirements. See paragraph 0.11.

ONLINE VERSION
Modular and portable buildings with a planned service life of more than two years
2.11 Placing an existing module on a new site is considered by the Building Regulations to be the
construction of a new building.
2.12 Special considerations apply to modular and portable buildings with a planned service life of more
than two years.
a. For modular and portable buildings at a single location, follow paragraphs 2.13 to 2.15.
b. For modular and portable buildings intended for use at more than one location, for example
under hire agreements, follow paragraphs 2.16 to 2.19.
At a single location
2.13 Modular and portable buildings with a planned service life of more than two years at a single
location should be shown to comply with the energy efficiency requirements.
2.14 If more than 70% of the external envelope of this type of building will be created from sub-
assemblies manufactured before the date when this approved document came into force, the
target primary energy rate and target emission rate should be multiplied by the relevant factors
from Table 2.2.
NOTE: One way of demonstrating the date of manufacture of each sub-assembly is by relating the
serial number to the manufacturer’s records.
2.15 After initial manufacture, any work on a module should meet the standards in this document,
treating it as work on an existing building. Fabric elements that will be refurbished or replaced in
modular sub-assemblies should meet the minimum standards given in Section 4. Fixed building
services elements that will be replaced in modular sub-assemblies should meet the minimum
standards in Sections 5 and 6.
Table 2.2 Target primary energy rate and target emission rate multiplying factors for
modular and portable buildings with a service life of more than two years at a
single location
Date of manufacture of 70% of modules Target primary energy rate Target emission rate
making up the external envelope multiplying factor multiplying factor
After the coming into force date 1.00 1.00
6 April 2014 – coming into force date 1.30 1.30
1 Oct 2010 – 5 April 2014 1.40 1.40
6 April 2006 – 30 Sept 2010 1.67 1.67
Pre 6 April 2006 1.67 1.67
At more than one location

2.16 Modular and portable buildings with a planned service life of more than two years but with an
intended time of use in a single location of less than two years should be shown to comply with
the energy efficiency requirements. An example of this type of building would be a modular or
portable building intended for short term hire to multiple locations.
NOTE: An example of evidence that the planned time of use in the given location is less than two
years is the hire agreement for the unit.

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R24-27C
2.17 For modular or portable buildings of the type described in paragraph 2.16, a target primary energy
rate and building primary energy rate calculation and target emission rate and building emission rate
calculation should be carried out when the portable building or its modular components are first
constructed. The calculation can be based on a standard generic configuration of modules.
Whenever the building is moved to a new location, in which its intended time of use is less than two
years, these calculations can be provided as evidence that the energy efficiency requirements are
met. The supplier should provide all the following in writing.
a. Details of the calculation.
b. Confirmation that the modules as provided meet or exceed the elemental energy standards of
the generic module on which the calculation was based.
c. Confirmation that the activities assumed in the generic module are reasonably representative of
the planned use of the actual module.
2.18 If the planned time of use of a modular or portable building in a single location is less than two
years, the only practical heating technology may be electric resistance heating. In such cases, the
notional building will use electric resistance heating.
2.19 If more than 70% of the external envelope of this type of building will be created from sub-
assemblies manufactured before the date when this approved document came into force, the
target primary energy rate and target emission rate should be multiplied by the relevant factors
from Table 2.3.
NOTE: One way of demonstrating the date of manufacture of each sub-assembly is by relating the
serial number to the manufacturer’s records.
Table 2.3 Target emission rate multiplying factor for modular and portable buildings with
a planned service life of more than two years but intended time of use at a single
location of less than two years
Date of manufacture of 70% of modules Target primary energy rate Target emission rate
making up the external envelope multiplying factor multiplying factor
After the coming into force date 1.00 1.00
6 April 2014 – coming into force date 1.30 1.30
1 Oct 2010 – 5 April 2014 1.40 1.40
6 April 2006 – 30 Sept 2010 1.67 1.67
Pre 6 April 2006 2.03 2.03
Swimming pool basins

2.20 When calculating the building primary energy rate and building emission rate for a building
with a swimming pool, the thermal performance of the pool basin should not be included in
the calculation. Instead, the building primary energy rate and building emission rate should be
calculated as if the area covered by the pool were replaced with the equivalent area of floor with
the same U-value as the pool surround.

ONLINE VERSION
Shell and core developments

2.21 If a building is offered to the market as a shell for fit-out work by the incoming occupier, the
developer should calculate a design-stage target primary energy rate, building primary energy rate,
target emission rate and building emission rate. These calculations should be submitted to the
building control body. The submission should demonstrate how the building could reasonably meet
the energy efficiency requirements after fit-out.
2.22 If some systems are not installed when a building is put on the market, reasonable assumptions
should be made in the calculation of the building primary energy rate and building emission rate
and model for the efficiencies of services that will be installed during first fit-out work. The
specification provided to the building control body should include all of the following.
a. Details of the services, including any on-site electricity generation, not provided in the base build.
b. The efficiency values assumed for these services.
c. A statement on how access to install any services, including on-site electricity generation, will
be provided during first fit-out work.
2.23 At practical completion of the base building in a shell and core development, the as-built target
primary energy rate, building primary energy rate, target emission rate and building emission rate
calculations should be based only on the building and systems as constructed; the fit-out areas
should be assumed to be conditioned to temperatures appropriate to their designated use, but no
associated energy demand included.
2.24 If an incoming occupier does first fit-out work on all or part of a building in a shell and core
development by providing or extending fixed services for any of the following:
a. heating
b. hot water
c. air-conditioning
d. mechanical ventilation
then a target primary energy rate, building primary energy rate, target emission rate and building
emission rate submission should be made to the building control body after completion to
demonstrate compliance for the part of the building covered by the fit-out work.
2.25 If fit-out work does not include providing or extending any of the fixed services for any of the
following:
a. heating
b. hot water
c. air-conditioning
d. mechanical ventilation
then any lighting systems that are installed should be at least as efficient as those assumed in the
shell developer’s initial submission.
NOTE: A new energy performance certificate is required for that part of the physical building
covered by fit-out work.
NOTE: Paragraph 9.12 outlines requirements for the building log book to be completed for shell and
core developments when first fit-out work takes place.

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Industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings other than
those with low energy demand
2.26 Special considerations may apply for industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural
buildings, where the National Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide cannot adequately account for
the building’s use. For example, if using the National Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide would
lead to negative impacts on cost-effectiveness and/or significant technical risk.
Buildings with low energy demand

2.27 Buildings with low energy demand are taken to be buildings or parts of buildings, which are not
exempt from the energy efficiency requirements for reasons outlined in Section 0, where any of
the following apply.
a. Fixed building services for heating and/or cooling are not provided.
b. Fixed building services for heating and/or cooling are provided only to heat or cool a localised
area rather than the entire enclosed volume of the space concerned (e.g. localised radiant
heaters at a workstation in a generally unheated space).
c. Fixed building services are used to heat space in the building to temperatures that are
substantially lower than those normally provided for human comfort (e.g. to protect a
warehouse from frost).
2.28 A target primary energy rate, target emission rate, building primary energy rate and the building
emission rate should be calculated for non-exempt buildings with low energy demand. Zones
corresponding to the definitions in paragraph 2.27 should be modelled as outlined in the National
Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide paragraph 124 as ‘unconditioned’, i.e. not served by a
space heating or space cooling system.
2.29 For a building with low energy demand both of the following apply.
a. Every fixed building service that is installed should meet the energy efficiency standards set out
in Sections 5 and 6.
b. The building envelope should be insulated to a degree that is reasonable in the particular case. If
some general heating is provided, as in paragraph 2.27c, then no part of the opaque fabric should
have a U-value worse than 0.7W/(m2·K).
2.30 If part of a building with low energy demand is both:
a. partitioned off
b. heated normally
(for example, an office area in an unheated warehouse), then the separately heated area should be
treated as a separate building or zone and the normal procedures for demonstrating compliance
should be followed.
2.31 If a building with low energy demand subsequently changes to a building that no longer has a low
energy demand, consequential improvements may need to be made in some circumstances. See
Section 12.
2.32 If a building or part of a building with low energy demand was designed as a shell and core
building, and first fit-out work is carried out which results in it no longer being classed as low
energy demand (in line with paragraph 2.24), then normal procedures for demonstrating compliance
should be followed.

ONLINE VERSION
R25A ONLINE VERSION
Regulation 25A: Consideration of high-

efficiency alternative systems
This section deals with the requirements of regulation 25A of the Building Regulations 2010.
Regulation
Consideration of high-efficiency alternative systems for new buildings
25A. (1) B
efore construction of a new building starts, the person who is to carry out the work must analyse and
take into account the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of using high-efficiency alternative
systems (such as the following systems) in the construction, if available—
(a) decentralised energy supply systems based on energy from renewable sources;
(b) cogeneration;
(c) district or block heating or cooling, particularly where it is based entirely or partially on energy from
renewable sources; and
(d) heat pumps.
(2) The person carrying out the work must—
(a) not later than the beginning of the day before the day on which the work starts, give the local authority
a notice which states that the analysis referred to in paragraph (1)—
(i) has been undertaken;
(ii) is documented; and
(iii) the documentation is available to the authority for verification purposes; and
(b) ensure that a copy of the analysis is available for inspection at all reasonable times upon request by an
officer of the local authority.
(3) An authorised officer of the local authority may require production of the documentation in order to verify
that this regulation has been complied with.
(4) The analysis referred to in paragraph (1)—
(a) may be carried out for individual buildings or for groups of similar buildings or for common typologies
of buildings in the same area; and
(b) in so far as it relates to collective heating and cooling systems, may be carried out for all buildings
connected to the system in the same area.

ONLINE VERSION
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R25A
(5) In this regulation—
(a) “cogeneration” means simultaneous generation in one process of thermal energy and one or both of the
following—
(i) electrical energy;
(ii) mechanical energy;
(b) “district or block heating or cooling” means the distribution of thermal energy in the form of steam, hot
water or chilled liquids, from a central source of production through a network of multiple buildings or
sites, for the use of space or process heating or cooling;
(c) “energy from renewable sources” means energy from renewable non-fossil sources, namely wind, solar,
aerothermal, geothermal, hydrothermal and ocean energy, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage
treatment plant gas and biogases; and
(d) “heat pump” means a machine, a device or installation that transfers heat from natural surroundings such
as air, water or ground to buildings or industrial applications by reversing the natural flow of heat such
that it flows from a lower to a higher temperature. (For reversible heat pumps, it may also move heat
from the building to the natural surroundings.)
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, regulation 25A is met in a new building by analysing the feasibility of
installing high-efficiency alternative systems, following Section 3.
The Building Regulations do not require that high-efficiency alternative systems or other low or zero
carbon systems are installed.

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R25A ONLINE VERSION
Section 3: Consideration of high-efficiency

alternative systems
3.1 Before building work starts on a new non-domestic building, the person undertaking the building
work must analyse the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of using high-efficiency
alternative systems in the building design. This analysis should be considered when designing the
building.
3.2 The building control body should be notified that the analysis of high-efficiency alternative
systems has been undertaken, that it is documented and is available to be verified. The document
should state whether high-efficiency alternative systems have been included in the building design.
The documented results of the analysis should be retained for the building control body to inspect
upon request.
3.3 The analysis may be carried out for individual buildings, groups of similar buildings, or for common
types of buildings in the same area. Where a number of buildings are connected to a district heat
network or community heating system, a single analysis may be made for all buildings connected to
the network or system.
3.4 When a building undergoes a major renovation, the technical, environmental and economic
feasibility of installing high-efficiency alternative systems should be considered.

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L1(a)
Requirement L1(a): Limiting heat gains
and losses
This section deals with the requirements of Part L1(a) of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010.
Requirement
Schedule 1 – Part L Conservation of fuel and power
L1. Reasonable provision shall be made for the
conservation of fuel and power in buildings by—
(a) limiting heat gains and losses—
(i) through thermal elements and other parts
of the building fabric; and
(ii) from pipes, ducts and vessels used for
space heating, space cooling and hot water
services;
(b) providing fixed building services which—
(i) are energy efficient to a reasonable standard;
(ii) have effective controls; and
(iii) are commissioned by testing and adjusting
as necessary to ensure they use no more
fuel and power than is reasonable in the
circumstances.
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, requirement L1(a) is met in a new building by achieving both of the
following.
a. Unwanted heat losses from the building are limited by meeting the standards for all of the
following.
i. The building fabric, including walls, floors, roof, windows and openings – paragraphs 4.1 to
4.6 and paragraphs 4.9 to 4.14.
ii. Airtightness – the required air permeability from Table 4.1.
iii. The pipework and services – paragraphs 4.19 to 4.25.
b. Unwanted heat gains to the building, throughout the year, through any of the routes listed
in (a) above, are limited as set out in Section 4 and specifically for new buildings – paragraphs
4.16 to 4.18.

ONLINE VERSION
L1(a) ONLINE VERSION
In the Secretary of State’s view, requirement L1(a) is met for the work being done to an existing
building by achieving both of the following, where relevant to the work being done.
a. Unwanted heat losses from the building are limited by meeting the standards for all of the
following.
i. Any building fabric to which building work is being done, including walls, floors, roof,
windows and openings – paragraphs 4.1 to 4.14. Further guidance is given in the following
sections.
• For new elements, replacement elements and extensions – Section 10.
• For renovated elements, retained elements, a change to energy status and a material
change of use – Section 11.
ii. Any work that may result in making airtightness worse – paragraph 4.15.
iii. Any pipework and services to which building work is being done – paragraphs 4.19 to 4.25.
b. Unwanted heat gains to the building, throughout the year, through any of the routes listed in
point (a) are limited as set out in Section 4.
NOTE: If work includes an extension to an existing building, initial provision of fixed building
services, or an increase in the installed capacity of fixed building services, consequential
improvements may be required – Section 12.

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ONLINE VERSION
L1(a)
Section 4: Limiting heat gains and losses
U-values
4.1 U-values should be assessed using the methods and conventions set out in the Building Research
Establishment’s BR 443. U-values should be assessed for the whole thermal element (e.g. in the case
of a window, the combined performance of the glazing and the frame).
4.2 The U-value of a window should be assessed using one of the following methods.
a. Calculated using the actual size and configuration of the window.
b. For windows in buildings similar to dwellings, calculated for a standard window 1.23m (±25%)
wide × 1.48m (–25%) high and the actual configuration of the window.
c. For windows in buildings similar to dwellings, calculated for a standard window 1.23m (±25%)
wide × 1.48m (–25%) high and one of the following standard configurations. Standard
configurations should not be used for commercial windows.
i. For a casement window, a central vertical divider with one opening light and one fixed light.
ii. For a vertical sliding sash window, a central horizontal divider with two opening lights.
iii. For a roof window, no divider.
d. Measured using the hot-box method as set out in BS EN ISO 12567-1 for windows and
BS EN ISO 12567-2 for roof windows.
NOTE: For domestic-type window construction, to be used in buildings similar to dwellings (see
Table 4.1), the default value from the Standard Assessment Procedure (Table 6e) may be used if
there are no test data or calculated performance values.
4.3 The U-value of a door should be assessed using one of the following methods.
a. Calculated using the actual size and configuration of the door.
b. Calculated using one of the following standard sizes.
i. 1.23m (±25%) wide × 2.18m (±25%) high, for doors ≤ 3.6 m².
ii. 2.00m (±25%) wide × 2.18m (±25%) high, for doors > 3.6 m².
NOTE: When a single U-value is calculated for a product range of doors, the configuration of the
door chosen for the calculation should be the worst performing in the product range.
c. Measured using the hot-box method as set out in BS EN ISO 12567-1.
4.4 To correctly assess whether an element meets the limiting U-value, the U-value must be calculated
for the element in the appropriate plane – either horizontal or vertical. For windows and roof
windows, U-values should be calculated based on a vertical position. For rooflights, U-values should be
calculated based on a horizontal position. If the data available for the element is in the incorrect plane,
it should be adjusted according to the guidance in the Building Research Establishment’s BR 443.
NOTE: These orientations should only be used when calculating U-values to check that they meet
the limiting standards outlined in paragraphs 4.5 to 4.8 below. They should not be used in the
energy calculations in Sections 1 and 2, where the U-value of each element is calculated based on
the plane in which it is constructed or installed.

ONLINE VERSION
Limiting standards for new or replacement elements

4.5 New fabric elements should meet the limiting standards in Table 4.1. This includes all of the following.
a. Elements in new buildings.
b. New elements in extensions to existing buildings.
c. New or replacement elements in existing buildings.
Guidance on when a new or replacement element in an existing building must meet the requirements
in this table is given in Section 10.
4.6 If windows or fully glazed pedestrian doors cannot meet the requirements of Table 4.1 in an
existing building because of the need to maintain the character of the building, either of the
following should be met.
a. These fittings should not exceed a centre pane U-value of 1.2W/(m2·K).
b. Single glazing should be supplemented with low-emissivity secondary glazing.

ONLINE VERSION
ONLINE VERSION
L1(a)
Table 4.1 Limiting U-values for new or replacement elements in new and existing buildings
and air permeability in new buildings
Element type Maximum U-value(1) W/(m2·K) or air permeability
Roof (flat roof)(2) 0.18
Roof (pitched roof) (2)
0.16
Wall(2)(3) 0.26
Floor(4)(5) 0.18
Swimming pool basin (6)
0.25
Windows in buildings similar to dwellings(7)(8) 1.6 or Window Energy Rating(9) Band B
All other windows,(8)(10)(11) roof windows, curtain walling 1.6
Rooflights(12)(13) 2.2
Pedestrian doors (including glazed doors)(14) 1.6
Vehicle access and similar large doors 1.3
High-usage entrance doors 3.0
Roof ventilators (including smoke vents) 3.0
Air permeability (for new buildings) 8.0m3/(h·m2) @ 50Pa
NOTES:
1. Area-weighted average values, except for new windows, rooflights and doors in existing buildings.
2. For dormer windows, ‘roof’ includes the roof parts of the windows and ‘wall’ includes the wall parts (cheeks).
3. If meeting such a standard in an existing building would reduce by more than 5% the internal floor area of the
room bounded by the wall, a lesser provision may be appropriate.
4. The U-value of the floor of an extension may be calculated using the exposed perimeter and floor area of either
the whole enlarged building or the extension alone.
5. If meeting such a standard in an existing building, would create significant problems in relation to adjoining floor
levels, a lesser provision may be appropriate.
6. The U-value of a swimming pool basin (walls and floor) calculated according to BS EN ISO 13370.
7. For example, student accommodation, care homes and similar uses where the occupancy levels and internal heat
gains are essentially domestic in character.
8. If other performance (e.g. wind load, safety, security or acoustic attenuation) requires thicker glass to be used, an
equivalent window unit with standard thickness glazing should be shown to meet the required standard.
9. The methods for calculating Window Energy Rating are set out in the Glass and Glazing Federation’s
Glazing Manual Data Sheet 2.3, Guide to the Calculation of Energy Ratings for Windows, Roof Windows and
Doors.
10. No maximum U-value is set for display windows and similar glazing. There are no limits on the design of display
windows and similar glazing, but for new buildings their impact must be taken into account in the calculation of
primary energy and CO2 emissions.
11. In buildings with high internal heat gains, the average U-value for windows can be relaxed from the values given
above if this can be shown to be an appropriate way of reducing overall CO2 emissions and primary energy.
However, values should be no higher than 2.7W/(m2·K).
12. U-values for rooflights or rooflight-and-kerb assemblies should be based on the developed surface area of the
rooflight (Ud values), which is often greater than the area of the roof opening. Further guidance on Ud-values is
given in the Building Research Establishment’s BR 443 and the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers’
Technical Document NTD02.
13. The limiting value for rooflights also applies to kerbs that are supplied as part of a single rooflight-and-kerb
assembly sourced from the same supplier and for which the supplier can provide a combined Ud-value for the
assembly. An upstand built on site should have a maximum U-value of 0.35W/m2·K.
14. For external fire doorsets, as defined in Appendix A of Approved Document B, Volume 2, in new and existing non-
domestic buildings, a maximum U-value of 1.8W/(m2·K) is permissible.

ONLINE VERSION
Limiting standards for renovated and retained elements

4.7 Existing elements that are being renovated should meet the limiting standards in Table 4.2.
Guidance on when an existing element should meet the standards in Table 4.2 is given in Section 11.
Elements that should meet the standards include both of the following.
a. Thermal elements being renovated in existing buildings. Renovated elements should achieve the
U-values in Table 4.2, column (b).
b. Elements being retained in existing buildings, for example following a material change of use or
change to energy status (see Section 11). Retained elements with a U-value that is higher than the
threshold value in Table 4.2, column (a), should be upgraded to achieve the U-values in Table 4.2,
column (b).
4.8 If achieving the U-value in Table 4.2, column (b) either:
a. is not technically or functionally feasible or
b. would not achieve a simple payback of 15 years or less
then the element should be upgraded to the lowest U-value that both:
a. is technically and functionally feasible and
b. can achieve a simple payback not exceeding 15 years.
Generally, a thermal element once upgraded should not have a U-value greater than 0.7W/(m2·K). A
lesser standard for the thermal element may be acceptable where work complies with Part C of the
Building Regulations on protection from the harmful effects of interstitial and surface condensation.

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ONLINE VERSION
L1(a)
Table 4.2 Limiting U-values for existing elements in existing buildings
Element U-value(1) W/(m2·K)
(a) Threshold (b) Improved
Pitched roof – insulation at ceiling level(2) 0.35 0.16
Pitched roof – insulation at rafter level(2)(3) 0.35 0.18
Flat roof or roof with integral insulation (2)(4)
0.35 0.18
Wall – cavity insulation(2)(5) 0.70 0.55
Wall – external or internal insulation (2)(6)
0.70 0.30
Floors(7)(8) 0.70 0.25
NOTES:
1. Area-weighted average values.
2. For dormer windows, ‘roof’ includes the roof parts of the window and ‘wall’ includes the wall parts (cheeks).
3. If meeting such a standard would limit head room, a lesser standard may be appropriate. In such cases, both of
the following should be achieved.
a. The depth of the insulation plus any required air gap should be at least to the depth of the rafters.
b. The insulant should be chosen to achieve the lowest practicable U-value.
4. If there are problems with the load-bearing capacity of the frame or height of the upstand, for a flat roof or roof
with integral insulation, a lesser standard may be appropriate.
5. This applies only to a wall suitable for cavity insulation. Where this is not the case, it should be treated as ‘wall –
external or internal insulation’.
6. If meeting such a standard would reduce the internal floor area of the room bounded by the wall by more than 5%,
a lesser standard may be appropriate.
7. The U-value of the floor of an extension may be calculated using the exposed perimeter and floor area of either
the whole enlarged building or the extension alone.
8. If meeting such a standard would create significant problems in relation to adjoining floor levels, a lesser standard
may be appropriate.
Continuity of insulation
4.9 In new and existing buildings both of the following should apply.
a. The insulation should be reasonably continuous across newly built elements.
b. Thermal bridging, including at the party wall, should be reasonably limited.
NOTE: Any solution to edge sealing or thermal bridging in new buildings should take particular
account of Part E of the Building Regulations.
4.10 To avoid air movement within thermal elements in new and existing buildings, either of the
following measures should be implemented.
a. The insulation layer should abut the air barrier at all points across newly built elements.
b. The space between the air barrier and the insulation layer should be filled with solid material.

ONLINE VERSION
4.11 Thermal bridging should be addressed in the design and construction of a building by either of the
following means.
a. Using construction joint details calculated by a person with suitable expertise and experience,
which can then be used in the building primary energy rate and building emission rate
calculations. Construction joint details should be calculated using both of the following.
i. The guidance set out in the Building Research Establishment’s BR 497.
ii. A process flow sequence that has been provided to the building control body indicating the
way in which the detail should be constructed.
NOTE: Evidence of suitable expertise and experience for calculating linear thermal transmittance
would be to demonstrate that the person has been trained in the software used to carry out
the calculation, has applied that model to the example calculations in the Building Research
Establishment’s BR 497 and has achieved results within the stated tolerances.
b. Using construction joints with no specific quantification of the thermal bridge values. In such
cases, the generic linear thermal bridge values given in the Building Research Establishment’s
Information Paper 1/06 and increased by 0.04W/(m·K) or 50%, whichever is greater, should be
used in the building primary energy rate and building emission rate calculation.
4.12 To calculate linear thermal transmittances and temperature factors in support of the approaches
in paragraph 4.11a, follow the guidance in the Building Research Establishment’s BR 497. Specified
construction details should achieve a temperature factor that is no worse than the performance set
out in the Building Research Establishment’s Information Paper 1/06.
4.13 To support the approaches in paragraph 4.11a, it should be demonstrated to the building control
body that an appropriate system of site inspection is in place to give confidence that the
construction procedures achieve the required standards.
4.14 When thermal elements are replaced or renovated, a report should be produced, signed by a
suitably qualified person, which confirms all of the following.
a. Appropriate design details and building techniques have been specified.
b. The specified details, as constructed, provide adequate protection against surface condensation
using the guidance in the Building Research Establishment’s Information Paper 1/06 and BR 497.
Airtightness in existing buildings

4.15 When carrying out work in existing buildings, care should be taken to reduce unwanted heat loss
through air infiltration by doing all of the following.
a. When installing pipework or services, taping and sealing around openings and service
penetrations.
b. When installing or renovating thermal elements, the element being installed should be draught-
proofed and air-leakage gaps should be filled.
c. When installing controlled fittings, the controlled fitting should be well fitted and reasonably
draught-proof.
NOTE: Particular attention should be paid to guidance in Approved Document F and Approved
Document J when making an existing building more airtight.

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L1(a)
Limiting the effects of solar gains in summer
4.16 In new residential buildings, as defined in Table 0.1 of Approved Document O, solar gains should be
limited in summer in accordance with the guidance in Approved Document O.
4.17 The guidance in paragraph 4.18 applies to all other buildings not covered in paragraph 4.16,
irrespective of whether they are air-conditioned.
The intention is to limit solar gains during the summer, in order to either:
a. reduce the need for air-conditioning
b. reduce the capacity of any air-conditioning system that is installed.
4.18 For each space in the building that is occupied or mechanically cooled, the solar gains through
the glazing – aggregated from April to September inclusive – should be no greater than would
occur through the relevant reference glazing systems in Table 4.3 with a defined total solar energy
transmittance (g-value) calculated according to BS EN 410. In this context, an occupied space means
a space that is intended to be occupied by the same person for a substantial part of the day. This
excludes circulation spaces and other areas of transient occupancy, such as toilets.
Table 4.3 Reference glazing systems for solar gain calculation
Type of space (as Average zone Glazing location Glazing area for Framing Glazing
defined in the height for reference reference space factor for g-value for
National Calculation space reference reference
Methodology) space space
Side-lit Any East-facing Full-width to a 10% 0.48
façade height of 1000mm
Top-lit ≤6m Roof 10% of roof area(1) 25% 0.48
>6m Roof 10% of roof area(1) 15% 0.42
NOTE:
1. ‘Roof area’ determined from the inside of the space looking out.
Limiting heat losses and gains from building services

Direct hot water and heating pipework
4.19 Hot water pipework should be insulated in all areas inside and outside the building unless it can be
demonstrated that the heat is ‘always useful’.
4.20 Insulation should be designed so that the permissible heat losses in BS 5422 for hot water services
in non-domestic buildings are not exceeded. Meeting the standards in Table 4.4 is one way of
demonstrating that this has been achieved for low temperature systems.
4.21 Insulation thickness should be calculated in accordance with BS EN ISO 12241.
NOTE: in most cases, manufacturers will be able to supply information and thicknesses for their
specific products. However, Tables 4.4 and 4.5 give indicative thicknesses for typical applications.

ONLINE VERSION
Table 4.4 Minimum thickness of pipework insulation for low temperature hot water space
heating applications in non-domestic buildings
Nominal internal pipe Minimum insulation thickness (mm) for low temperature
diameter (mm) hot water systems(1)(2)(3)
Thermal conductivity (λ) = Thermal conductivity (λ) =
0.025W/m·K 0.04W/m·K
Less than or equal to 10 15 30
NOTES:
1. Thicknesses apply for low-emissivity faced insulation.
2. Insulation thicknesses designed to achieve permissible heat losses from BS 5422 for heating systems ≤95°C.
3. For other circumstances refer to BS 5422.
Table 4.5 Minimum thickness of pipework insulation for domestic hot water services in
non-domestic buildings
Nominal internal pipe Minimum insulation thickness (mm) for domestic
diameter (mm) hot water services(1)(2)(3)
Thermal conductivity (λ) = Thermal conductivity (λ) =
0.025W/m·K 0.04W/m·K
NOTES:
1. Insulation thicknesses designed to achieve permissible heat losses from BS 5422 for hot water services at 60°C.
2. Thicknesses for low-emissivity faced insulation.
3. For other circumstances refer to BS 5422.

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L1(a)
Cooling pipework
4.22 Cooling pipework should be insulated along its whole length. Control should be maximised and heat
gain to uninsulated pipes should only be permitted where the proportion of the cooling load relating
to distribution pipework is less than 1% of the total load.
4.23 Insulation should be designed so that the maximum permissible heat gains in Table 10 of BS 5422 are
not exceeded.
4.24 Provision should also be made for control of condensation by following the Thermal Insulation
Manufacturers and Suppliers Association’s HVAC Guidance for Achieving Compliance with Part L of
the Building Regulations.
Insulating ductwork
4.25 Ductwork that carries warm or cold air should be insulated throughout its whole length to achieve
heat transfer no greater than that given in Table 4.6. Table 4.6 also gives indicative insulation
thicknesses, which offers one way of demonstrating that the heat transfer value has not been
exceeded.
Condensation should also be controlled by following the Thermal Insulation Manufacturers and
Suppliers Association’s HVAC Guidance for Achieving Compliance with Part L of the Building
Regulations.
Table 4.6 Maximum heat losses and gains for ducts delivering air for heating and/or
cooling
Heating duct(1a) Cooling or dual-purpose duct(1b)
Heat transfer (W/m2) 16.34 –6.45
Indicative insulation thickness (mm)(2) 21 36
NOTES:
1. Insulation thicknesses should be calculated according to BS EN ISO 12241 using the following standardised
assumptions.
a. Horizontal duct at 35°C, with 600mm vertical sidewall in still air at 15°C.
b. Horizontal duct at 13°C, with 600mm vertical sidewall in still air at 25°C.
2. Thicknesses apply for low-emissivity faced insulation with a thermal conductivity of 0.025W/(m·K) or better.
Otherwise consult BS 5422.
Domestic hot water

4.26 Domestic hot water storage vessels should meet either of the following.
a. Maximum heat losses in Table 4.7.
b. Maintenance consumption values in BS EN 89.

ONLINE VERSION
Table 4.7 Maximum heat losses from domestic hot water storage vessels(1)(2)
Nominal volume (litres) Heat loss (kWh/24h) Nominal volume (litres) Heat loss (kWh/24h)
200 2.1 900 4.5
300 2.6 1000 4.7
400 3.1 1100 4.8
500 3.5 1200 4.9
600 3.8 1300 5.0
700 4.1 1500 5.1
800 4.3 2000 5.2
NOTES:
1. For maximum heat losses from vessels with a storage volume less than 200 litres, see BS EN 15450.
2. The heat loss from electrically-heated cylinders (volume V litres) should not exceed either of the following.
a. Point-of-use: 1.28 × (0.2 + 0.051V2/3).
b. Local: 1.28 × (0.051V2/3).

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ONLINE VERSION
L1(b), L2
Requirements L1(b)(i), (ii) and L2: Fixed building
services energy efficiency and controls and
on-site generation of electricity
This section deals with the requirements of Part L1(b)(i), (ii) and L2 of Schedule 1 to the Building
Regulations 2010.
Requirement
(i) through thermal elements and other parts of
the building fabric; and
services;
(i) are energy efficient to a reasonable
standard;
circumstances.
On-site generation of electricity
L2. Where a system for on-site electricity generation is
installed—
(a) reasonable provision must be made to ensure
that—
(i) the system and its electrical output are
appropriately sized for the site and available
infrastructure;
(ii) the system has effective controls; and
(b) it must be commissioned by testing and
adjusting as necessary to ensure that it produces
the maximum electricity that is reasonable in
the circumstances.

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L1(b), L2 ONLINE VERSION
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, requirements L1(b)(i), (ii) and L2 are met in a new building by achieving
all of the following.
a. Fixed building service that meet the minimum efficiencies in Section 6 are provided.
b. Controls to fixed building services are provided that both:
i. meet the general controls for heating systems in paragraphs 5.11, 5.12 and 5.14 to 5.16
ii. meet the system specific controls in Section 6.
c. Any on-site electricity generation is both appropriately sized and has controls.
In the Secretary of State’s view, requirements L1(b)(i), (ii) and L2 are met in existing buildings by
achieving all of the following.
a. Any fixed building services installed meet the minimum efficiencies in Section 6 and the criteria
in paragraph 5.4.
b. Any fixed building services installed have controls that both:
i. meet the standards for general controls for heating systems in paragraphs 5.6, 5.11, 5.12 and
5.14 to 5.16
ii. meet the standards for system specific controls in Section 6.
c. Any on-site electricity generation is both appropriately sized and has controls.

ONLINE VERSION
ONLINE VERSION
L1(b), L2
Section 5: Minimum building services
efficiencies and controls – general guidance
New building services

5.1 For each new fixed building service in a new or existing building, the efficiency of the service
should be no lower than the value set out in Section 6. If a proposed service is not covered in
Section 6, the service should be shown to be no less efficient than a comparable service that is
covered.
5.2 Both of the following apply to the efficiency claimed for a fixed building service.
a. The efficiency should be based on the appropriate test standard set out in Section 5 or Section 6.
b. The test data should be certified by a notified body.
5.3 For heating and cooling systems, paragraphs 5.9 to 5.17 should be followed, in addition to system
specific advice in Section 6.
Replacement building services in existing buildings

5.4 A replacement fixed building service should be at least as efficient as the value set out in Section 6
and should comply with either of the following.
a. Use the same fuel as the service being replaced and have an efficiency that is not worse than
that of the service being replaced.
b. Use a different fuel than the service being replaced. The system should both:
i. not produce more CO2 emissions per kWh of heat than the appliance being replaced
ii. not have a higher primary energy demand per kWh of heat than the appliance being replaced.
Worked example
Replacing an old oil-fired boiler with emissions of 0.298kgCO2/kWh and primary energy of
1.180kWhPE/kWh at 85% efficiency with an LPG boiler with emissions of 0.241kgCO2/kWh and primary
energy of 1.141kWhPE/kWh at 93% efficiency.
CO2 emissions
Oil-fired boiler: 0.298/0.85 = 0.35kgCO2/kWh
LPG boiler: 0.241/0.93 = 0.26kgCO2/kWh
Primary energy
Oil-fired boiler: 1.180/0.85= 1.39kWhPE/kWh
LPG boiler: 1.141/0.93 = 1.23kWhPE/kWh
The new LPG boiler has both lower CO2 emissions and primary energy than the oil-fired boiler being
replaced, and therefore complies. It is also at least as efficient as the minimum efficiency as set out in
Section 6 of this guidance.

ONLINE VERSION
NOTE: For grid-supplied electricity, a CO2 emission factor of 0.136kgCO2/kWh and primary energy
factor of 1.501kWhPE/kWh should be used. All other CO2 emission factors and primary energy
factors should be taken from Table 29 (or Table 32 for district heat networks) of the National
Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide.
NOTE: Where the efficiency of the appliance being replaced is unknown, this should be established
in line with the hierarchy outlined in Appendix E.
5.5 If renewable technology such as a wind turbine or photovoltaic array is being replaced, the new
system should have an electrical output that is at least the same as that of the original installation.
5.6 When installing a new heating appliance in an existing building, the heating system after the work is
complete should have the following controls.
a. Timing.
b. Temperature.
c. Where appropriate and technically feasible, weather compensation.
5.7 For heating systems that are being replaced, paragraphs 5.9 to 5.12 should be followed in addition
to system specific guidance in Section 6. Facilitating future connection to any local district heat
networks should be considered (e.g. providing capped off connections in pipework to allow later
connection to a district heat network).
5.8 If work involves providing or extending fixed building services, energy meters should be installed
following paragraph 5.17, and consequential improvements may apply (see Section 12).
Sizing new and replacement space heating systems

5.9 The specification of space heating systems should be based on an appropriate heat loss calculation
for the building, based on BS EN 12831-1 and CIBSE’s Guide B1. Systems should not be significantly
oversized.
5.10 Where a wet heating system is either:
a. newly installed
b. fully replaced in an existing building, including the heating appliance, emitters and associated
pipework
all parts of the system, including pipework and emitters, should be sized to allow the space heating
system to operate effectively, and in a manner that meets the heating needs of the building, at a
maximum flow temperature of 55°C or lower. To maximise the efficiency of these systems, it would be
preferable to design to a lower flow temperature than 55°C.
Where it is not feasible to install a space heating system that can operate at this temperature (e.g.
where there is insufficient space for larger radiators, or the existing distribution system is provided
with higher temperature heat from a low carbon district heat network), the space heating system
should be designed to the lowest design temperature possible that will still meet the heating needs
of the building.

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ONLINE VERSION
L1(b), L2
Controls and zoning for new and replacement space heating
systems
5.11 Heating systems should have all the following controls.
a. The systems should be subdivided into separate control zones for areas of the building in which
any of the following are significantly different.
i. Solar exposure.
ii. Pattern of use.
iii. Type of use.
b. For each control zone it should be possible to control both of the following independently of
other control zones.
i. Timing.
ii. Temperature.
c. The service should be appropriate to the requirements of the space. If both heating and cooling
are provided, the controls should prevent them operating simultaneously.
d. Central plant should operate only when the zone systems require it. The default condition
should be off.
e. Where appropriate and technically feasible, heating systems should have weather compensation.
5.12 System controls should be wired so that when there is no demand for space heating, the heating
appliance and pump are switched off.
System treatment for hot water systems for space and

domestic hot water heating
5.13 Before a new heating appliance is installed, all central heating and primary hot water circuits
should be thoroughly cleaned and flushed out. A suitable chemical inhibitor should be added to
the primary heating circuit to protect against scale and corrosion. In hard water areas, suitable
measures should be taken to treat the feed water to water heaters and the hot water circuit of
combination boilers to reduce limescale accumulation.
Thermostatic room controls

5.14 For heating and cooling systems in a new non-domestic building, or when a heat generator such
as a boiler is replaced in an existing non-domestic building, each room should be provided with
thermostatic room controls. These should be capable of being used to separately adapt the heating
or cooling output in each room served by the heating or cooling appliance. Where justified in
accordance with paragraph 5.15, heating and cooling may be controlled for each heating zone rather
than individual rooms.
NOTE: There is no need to install thermostatic room controls in rooms/zones without heating or
cooling in new and existing non-domestic buildings.
NOTE: Installing thermostatic room controls may not be technically feasible in some cases. These
may include the following.
a. Buildings with very low heat demand (e.g. less than 10W/m2).
b. Buildings with buffer zones for heat absorption or dissipation with high thermal mass.

ONLINE VERSION
5.15 It may be justified to control a heating zone rather than individual rooms in either of the following
cases.
a. In open-plan spaces in which heating demand and patterns of use are similar across the whole
space, sub-zoning of temperature control might not be appropriate. In such cases, the space
should be considered as a single heating zone.
b. Where two adjacent rooms have a similar function and heating or cooling requirements (e.g.
kitchen and utility room). In such cases, the adjacent rooms should be considered as a single
heating zone.
NOTE: Exhaust air heat pump systems, which extract heat from the exhaust air of a building, may
not need to provide independent thermostatic control to individual rooms. Providing room/
zone control on this type of system is unlikely to be economically and/or technically viable.
However, other space heating systems also in use in the same building should be controlled using
thermostatic room controls as described above.
5.16 The standards in paragraphs 5.14 and 5.15 may be satisfied by providing any of the following.
a. Both of the following.
i. A thermostat in a room that the heating or cooling circuit serves.
ii. An individual thermostatic room control for each emitter, such as a thermostatic radiator
valve, on all emitters outside the room that contains the thermostat. Thermostatic radiator
valves should not be used in the same room as the thermostat.
b. An individual room/heating zone thermostat or fan coil thermostat for each room or heating
zone.
c. An individual networked heating or cooling emitter control for each emitter.
Energy submeters
5.17 Energy submetering systems should be installed in new buildings, or when fixed building services
are provided or extended in an existing building, and should meet all of the following requirements.
a. The various end-use categories, such as heating, lighting and cooling, should be submetered in
such a way that at least 90% of the annual energy consumption of each fuel can be assigned to
an end-use. Detailed guidance on how to achieve this is given in CIBSE’s TM39.
b. Metering should enable the comparison of forecast energy use and in-performance energy and
facilitate energy reporting. This can be demonstrated by basing the submetering strategy on a
design-stage energy forecast for the building, using one of the methodologies in paragraph 9.4.
c. Metering should allow the energy use of different tenants within the building to be separately
monitored.
d. The outputs of any renewable systems should be separately monitored.
e. In buildings with a total useful floor area greater than 1000m2, automatic meter reading and data
collection facilities should be installed.

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Section 6: System specific guidance
NOTE: This section sets out minimum Building Regulations standards for fixed building services and
other systems. Best practice is to achieve higher efficiencies than these minimum standards.
NOTE: The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 set the efficiencies and
standards that must be met when introducing new energy-using products to the market. This
approved document sets standards that should be met when installing fixed building services or
on-site electricity generation. In cases where the Energy-Related Products Regulations and the
Building Regulations both apply, both standards should be met.
6.1 This section sets out minimum standards for specific types of building services. The minimum
efficiencies set out are based on documented manufacturers’ test data. Note that test results will
always be based on the equipment’s operation under particular conditions. Equipment should be
designed, specified and installed with the aim of maximising its efficiency as-installed.
Boilers
NOTE: This subsection applies to wet central heating systems that use commercial boilers fired by
natural gas, liquid petroleum gas, oil or biomass. Steam boilers are not covered. Electric boilers are
dealt with in a separate subsection.
6.2 In addition to meeting the general requirements for heating systems in Section 5 and following
paragraphs 6.7 and 6.8, a boiler should meet either of the following.
a. For new buildings, the seasonal efficiencies in Table 6.1.
b. For boiler plant installed in existing buildings, the seasonal efficiencies, or the overall seasonal
efficiency for multiple-boiler systems using non-identical boilers, in Table 6.2.
Table 6.1 Minimum heat generator seasonal efficiency for boiler systems in new
buildings(1)
Fuel type System Boiler seasonal efficiency (gross calorific value)
Natural gas Single-boiler ≤2MW output 93%
Single-boiler >2MW output 88%
Multiple-boiler 88% for any individual boiler
93% for overall multi-boiler system
NOTE:
1. Seasonal efficiencies should be calculated in line with paragraphs 6.3 to 6.6.

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Table 6.2 Minimum heat generator seasonal efficiency for boiler systems in existing
buildings(1)(2)
Fuel type System Boiler seasonal efficiency (gross calorific value)
Natural gas Single-boiler ≤400kW output 91%
Single-boiler 401kW–2MW output 88%
LPG Single-boiler ≤2MW output 93%
Oil Single-boiler 93%
NOTES:
1. Seasonal efficiencies should be calculated in line with paragraphs 6.3 to 6.6.
2. Non-condensing boilers should be fitted with a flue condensing kit where feasible and where the boiler is likely
to be able to operate in condensing mode (e.g. variable temperature circuits).
Single-boiler systems and multiple-boiler systems with identical boilers

6.3 The seasonal efficiency of the boiler should be determined using equation 6.1.
boiler seasonal efficiency = 0.81η30% + 0.19η100%
equation 6.1
Where:
η30% is the gross boiler efficiency measured at 30% load
η100% is the gross boiler efficiency measured at 100% load.
NOTE: Efficiencies based on net calorific value should be converted to efficiencies based on gross
calorific value, using the appropriate conversion factor in the Standard Assessment Procedure
version 10 Table E4. Equation 6.1 assumes that the efficiency at 15% load is the same as that at 30%
load.
6.4 Equation 6.1 applies to both of the following.
a. Single-boiler systems that:
i. produce low temperature hot water
ii. have an output of less than or equal to 400kW.
b. Multiple-boiler systems that:
i. produce low temperature hot water
ii. comprise individual boilers with identical efficiencies
iii. have an output of less than or equal to 400kW.

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NOTE: For boilers with an output of more than 400kW, the manufacturer’s declared efficiencies
should be used.
Multiple-boiler systems in new buildings

6.5 For multiple boilers in new buildings, the four-step method described below should be used to
calculate the overall boiler seasonal efficiency.
a. Step 1: Determine the load on each boiler for each of the three system part load conditions of
15%, 30% and 100%.
NOTE: For example, if the total system output is made up of three equally sized boilers, at 15%
of system output the lead boiler will be operating at 45% of its rated output with the other two
boilers switched off.
b. Step 2: Determine the efficiency of each boiler for the above operating conditions.
NOTE: Linear interpolation should be used to determine efficiencies between manufacturers’
declared efficiencies at 30% and 100% load. If efficiencies at below 30% are required and
unavailable, the boiler efficiency may be taken as equal to that at 30% load.
c. Step 3: Calculate the overall operating efficiency at each system part load condition using
equation 6.2.
ηp = Qp/Σ(qb,p/ηb,p) equation 6.2
Where:
ηp is the system efficiency at part load condition p, i.e. 15%, 30% and 100% of system rated output
Qp is the system heat output at part load condition p
qb,p is the individual boiler heat output at system part load condition p
ηb,p is the individual boiler efficiency at system part load condition p.
d. Step 4: Calculate the overall boiler seasonal efficiency (ηOBSE) as the weighted average of the
efficiencies at the three load conditions, using equation 6.3.
ηOBSE = 0.36η15% + 0.45η30% + 0.19η100% equation 6.3
Multiple-boiler systems with non-identical boilers replacing existing systems

6.6 In existing systems, equation 6.4 should be used to calculate the overall boiler seasonal efficiency if
both of the following apply.
a. More than one boiler is installed on the same heating system.
b. The efficiencies of the boilers are not identical.
NOTE: All boilers should be used in the calculation, including any that are identical.
Σ(ηBSE × R)
ηOBSE = equation 6.4
ΣR
Where:
ηOBSE is the gross overall boiler seasonal efficiency – an average, weighted by boiler output, of the
individual seasonal boiler efficiencies
ηBSE is the gross boiler seasonal efficiency of each individual boiler calculated using equation 6.1
R is the rated output in kW of each individual boiler (at 80/60°C flow/return temperature).

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Boiler controls
6.7 Boiler systems with an output of more than 100kW should have both of the following.
a. Optimum start/stop control with either:
i. night setback
ii. frost protection outside occupied periods.
b. Either:
i. two-stage high/low firing facility in boiler
ii. multiple boilers with sequence control to provide efficient part-load performance.
6.8 Gas-fired boilers and multi-stage oil-fired boilers with an output of more than 500kW should have
fully modulating burner controls.
Biomass boilers
6.9 The efficiency of biomass boilers at their nominal load and tested to BS EN 12809 should be no lower
than the following.
a. For independent gravity-fed boilers of ‹20.5kW output: 65%.
b. For independent automatic pellet/woodchip boilers: 75%.
Gas and oil-fired warm air heaters

6.10 In addition to meeting the general requirements for heating systems in Section 5, warm air systems
in new and existing buildings should meet the heat generator seasonal efficiency in Table 6.3.
Table 6.3 Minimum heat generator seasonal efficiency for gas and oil-fired warm air
heaters
Warm air heater type Heat generator seasonal efficiency Product standard
(net calorific value/thermal efficiency)
Gas-fired forced convection to 91% BS EN 621 for unfanned appliances
assist transportation of combustion BS EN 1020 for fanned appliances
air and/or combustion products
Direct gas-fired forced convection(1) n/a BS EN 525
Oil-fired forced convection 91% BS EN 13842
NOTE:
1. For direct gas-fired forced convection air heaters, 100% of the net heat input is delivered to the space. Specific
ventilation requirements as defined in BS EN 525 should be met.
Gas and oil-fired radiant heaters

6.11 In addition to meeting the general requirements for heating systems in Section 5, radiant heaters in
new and existing buildings should meet the heat generator seasonal efficiency in Table 6.4.
6.12 For flued appliances, thermal efficiency should be measured to either of the following test
standards, as applicable:
a. BS EN 1020

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b. BS EN 13842.
The calculation of the thermal efficiency (net calorific value) should both:
a. exclude fans
b. take account of the radiant heater and associated flue pipe/tailpipe within the building
envelope.
Table 6.4 Minimum performance standards for radiant heaters

Appliance type Heat generator efficiency (net calorific value)
Thermal Radiant
Luminous radiant heater – unflued 86% 55%
Non-luminous radiant heater – unflued 86% 55%
Non-luminous radiant heater – flued 86% 55%
Multi-burner radiant heater 91% n/a
Electric space heating systems

NOTE: Electric resistance heating is assumed to be 100% efficient, therefore no minimum efficiency
is set for these types of system.
NOTE: This section of the guidance does not cover either of the following.
a. Electric heat pumps (guidance is provided in paragraphs 6.44 to 6.46).
b. Portable electric heating devices.
6.13 Electric space heating systems should meet the guidance in paragraphs 6.14 to 6.19, in addition to
the general requirements for heating systems in Section 5.
6.14 Electric boiler systems should comply with all of the following.
a. Systems should both:
i. have flow temperature control
ii. be capable of modulating the power input to the primary water depending on space
heating conditions.
b. Timing and temperature demand control should be provided.
c. If the building has a floor area greater than 150m2, heating should be split into different heating
zones and each zone should have separate controls for timing and temperature demand.
6.15 Electric warm air systems should comply with both of the following.
a. Have timing and temperature demand control provided.
b. If the building has a floor area greater than 150m2, heating should be split into different heating
zones and each zone should have separate controls for timing and temperature demand.
6.16 Electric radiant heaters should have automatic zone or occupancy control through presence
detection.
6.17 Electric panel or skirting heaters should have controls for timing and temperature demand.
6.18 The input charge for electric storage heaters should be adjusted automatically, based on the
internal air temperature. Manual control of heat release from the appliance should be possible.

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6.19 Electric fan convectors should have switching to control both of the following.
a. The local fan.
b. The temperature of individual fan convectors.
Combined heat and power

NOTE: This section of the guidance covers CHP systems that both:
a. have a total power capacity between 5kWe and 5MWe
b. are used in commercial applications.
For systems with a total power capacity less than 5kWe, follow the guidance in Approved
Document L, Volume 1: Dwellings.
6.20 CHP plant should, under annual operation, have both of the following.
a. A minimum CHPQA quality index (QI) of 105.
b. Power efficiency greater than 20%.
6.21 CHP plant should have a control system that, as a minimum, ensures that the CHP unit operates as
the lead heat generator. Metering should be provided that measures all of the following.
a. Hours run.
b. Electricity generated.
c. Fuel supplied to the CHP unit.
Dedicated domestic hot water heaters

6.22 The recommended minimum standards set out in this section apply only to dedicated water
heaters. Central heating boilers which provide space heating and domestic hot water should meet
the minimum standards in paragraphs 6.2 to 6.9. Heat pumps which provide domestic hot water
should meet the minimum standards in paragraphs 6.44 to 6.46.
6.23 In addition to meeting the general requirements for heating systems in Section 5, domestic hot
water systems in new and existing buildings should meet the minimum thermal efficiencies in
Table 6.5. Thermal efficiency should include the heat generator and any integral storage vessel, but
exclude the following, where present.
a. Secondary pipework.
b. Fans and pumps.
c. Diverter valves, solenoids, actuators.
d. Supplementary storage vessels.
6.24 Domestic hot water systems should be sized for the anticipated domestic hot water demand of the
building, based on BS EN 12831-3. Systems should not be significantly oversized.

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Table 6.5 Minimum thermal efficiencies for domestic hot water (DHW) systems
DHW system Fuel type Heat generator seasonal Product standard
type efficiency (gross calorific
value)
Direct-fired: Natural gas 91%(1) BS EN 15502-2 or
new and BS EN 89 or
existing LPG 92% (1)
buildings BS EN 26 as appropriate
Indirect- Natural gas 91% (boiler efficiency) Use equations (as appropriate) in paragraphs 6.3 to 6.6.
fired: new If primary return temperature ≤55°C, use equation
and existing LPG 91% (boiler efficiency)
6.1 (0.81η30% + 0.19η100%) to calculate boiler seasonal
buildings Oil 91% (boiler efficiency) efficiency.
If primary return temperature >55°C, use boiler full
load efficiency (1.0η100%) at 80/60°C flow/return
temperatures.
If boiler seasonal efficiency values are obtained as
net values, the factors in SAP 10 Table E4 should be
used to convert them to gross values.
Electrically- 100% assumed
heated: new
and existing
buildings
NOTE:
1. In exceptional circumstances, where a condensing boiler cannot feasibly be fitted in an existing building (for
example, where there is insufficient space for a replacement flue system), a boiler with the following minimum
seasonal efficiency may be used:
a. 80% for natural gas
b. 79% for LPG.
6.25 Where efficiency data is not readily available, efficiencies should be calculated using
manufacturers’ recovery rates and equations 6.5 and 6.6.
gross thermal efficiency = heater output / gross input equation 6.5
recovery rate specific heat

heater
= of heater in × capacity of × temperature rise equation 6.6
output of water
litres/second water

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Controls for combustion-heated domestic hot water systems

6.26 Domestic hot water systems should have both of the following.
a. Time control which is independent of space heating circuits.
b. Electronic temperature control.
6.27 Primary hot water circuits for domestic hot water or heating should have fully pumped circulation
where this is compatible with the heat generator.
6.28 Direct-fired circulator systems, direct-fired storage systems and indirect-fired circulator systems
should have automatic thermostatic control to do both of the following.
a. Shut off the burner/primary heat supply when the desired water temperature is reached.
b. Shut off primary flow if the system temperature is too high.
6.29 Direct-fired continuous flow systems should include both of the following.
a. A flow sensor to control the rate of flow through the heat exchanger. This should both:
i. control outlet temperatures
ii. if the sensor detects insufficient flow, shut off the burner/heat input.
b. A high limit thermostat to shut off the primary flow if the system temperature is too high.
Controls for electrically heated domestic hot water systems

6.30 Point-of-use, local and centralised electrically heated domestic hot water systems should have
automatic thermostatic control to interrupt the electrical supply when either of the following
occurs.
a. The setpoint storage temperature is reached.
b. The system temperature gets too high.
Manual reset should be possible if there is an over-temperature trip.
6.31 Local and centralised electrically heated domestic hot water systems should have both of the
following.
a. Seven-day time control.
b. The facility to boost the temperature by using an immersion heater in the cylinder.
6.32 Water heaters in instantaneous electrically heated domestic hot water systems should include both
of the following.
a. A flow sensor to control the rate of flow through the heat exchanger. If the sensor detects
insufficient flow, it should shut off the electrical input.
b. A high limit thermostat to shut off the primary flow if the system temperature is too high.

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Comfort cooling
NOTE: Evaporative cooling and desiccant cooling systems are not within the scope of this
guidance.
6.33 In addition to meeting the general requirements for cooling systems in Section 5, the seasonal
energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of each cooling unit should meet the minimum standards in Table 6.6.
6.34 The specification of comfort cooling systems should be based on an appropriate heat gain
calculation for the building, based on CIBSE’s Guide A. Systems should not be significantly
oversized. In most circumstances this means that the cooling appliance should not be sized for
more than 120% of the design cooling load.
Table 6.6 Minimum seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER)(1) for comfort cooling
Type Cooling unit SEER
Packaged air conditioners Single-duct type 3.0
Other types 3.0
Split and multi-split air conditioners >12kW 5.0
Split and multi-split air conditioners ≤12kW 5.0
Variable refrigerant flow/volume (VRF/VRV) systems(2) 5.0
Water-to-water chillers <400kW 5.0
Water-to-water chillers 400–1500kW 6.0
Water-to-water chillers ≥1500kW 6.5
Vapour compression cycle chillers, air-cooled <400kW 4.0
Vapour compression cycle chillers, air-cooled ≥400kW 4.5
Absorption cycle chillers(3) EER 0.7
Gas-engine-driven variable refrigerant flow 1.6
NOTES:
1. Seasonal space cooling energy efficiency as defined by the Ecodesign Commission Regulation No. 206/2012
Annex II, at average rating conditions where applicable.
2. For VRV/VRF systems, SEER is for the full system including indoor units.
3. For absorption chillers an EER (energy efficiency ratio) has been used instead. This should be determined
according to BS EN 14511-2.
Controls
6.35 Comfort cooling/air-conditioning systems should have all of the following controls.
a. The systems should be subdivided into separate control zones for areas of the building for which
i. Solar exposure.
ii. Pattern of use.
iii. Type of use.

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b. For each control zone and for each terminal unit, it should be possible to control both of the
following (independent of other control zones).
i. Timing.
ii. Temperature.
c. If both heating and cooling are provided in the same space, the controls should prevent them
operating simultaneously.
d. Multiple cooling units should be provided with controls that ensure that the combined plant
operates in its most efficient modes. Central plant should operate only when the zone systems
require it. The default condition should be off.
e. Controls for comfort cooling systems should meet BS EN 15232 Band C.
f. Controls should meet the requirements for thermostatic room controls in paragraphs 5.14 to 5.16.
Calculating the seasonal energy efficiency ratio

6.36 The value of the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) and the seasonal coefficient of
performance (SCOP) should be determined using BS EN 14825 with average climate data; in
conjunction with the Ecodesign Commission Regulation No. 2016/2281. The SEER of the cooling
unit is given by equation 6.7.
SEER = a(EER100%) + b(EER75%) + c(EER50%) + d(EER25%) equation 6.7
Where:
EERx is the EER measured at the load conditions of 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% at the operating
conditions detailed for the part load energy efficiency ratio.
a, b, c and d are the load profile weighting factors relevant to the proposed application. The load
profile weighting factors can be taken from either of the following.
a. Table 6.7, if appropriate.
b. A detailed simulation or prediction of the load profile of the building. The calculation should
include the desired indoor condition as well as the ambient loads in which the system will work.
Table 6.7 Standard cooling load factors for office accommodation

a b c d
0.03 0.33 0.41 0.23
6.37 For cooling units for which there is no part load data, the SEER is the full load EER.
For applications where the load profile is not known but there is some data on chiller part load EER,
the following apply.
a. For chillers where the full and half load (50%) EERs are known: the SEER is the average of the full
load and half load EERs.
b. For chillers with four points of part load EER: the SEER is calculated using equation 6.7 with each
EER weighted equally.
c. If the chiller used does not have data for four steps of load: the weights are apportioned
appropriately.

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6.38 For plants with multiple chillers, a plant seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) should be
calculated based on the sum of the energy consumption of all the operating chillers. All the
following factors should be included.
a. Degree of oversizing of the total installed capacity.
b. Sizes of individual chillers.
c. EERs of individual chillers in operating conditions.
d. Control mode used, e.g. parallel, sequential, dedicated low load unit.
e. Load profile of the proposed building.
f. Building location (which determines ambient conditions).
6.39 For systems that have the ability to use free cooling or heat recovery, the SEER should be derived
for the specific application, including free cooling or heat recovery elements. For variable
refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, any calculations must include indoor and outdoor conditions, the
power input from controls, and indoor units.
6.40 For absorption chillers used in conjunction with on-site CHP or a district heat network or
community heating system, the CO2 emissions and primary energy should be calculated in the
same way as when using CHP for heating. The control system should ensure as far as possible that
heat from boilers is not used to supply the absorption chiller. The minimum full load EER of the
absorption chillers should be no worse than 0.7.
6.41 For district cooling schemes, the CO2 and primary energy content of the cooling energy supplied
should be calculated. This value should be used to calculate the building emission rate and primary
energy rate.
Heating and cooling system circulators and water pumps

6.42 On variable volume systems, variable speed glandless circulators should be used.
6.43 If a water pump is used on a closed loop circuit and the motor is rated at more than 750W, then
it should be fitted with or controlled by an appropriate variable speed controller on any variable
volume system.
Heat pumps
6.44 Air-to-air heat pumps with an output of 12kW or less should have either of the following.
a. A seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) rating for the median temperature range in
BS EN 14825 of at least D.
b. A coefficient of performance (COP) that is not less than the value in Table 6.8.

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Table 6.8 Minimum COP for heat pumps in new and existing buildings
Heat pump type Minimum COP (at rating conditions in BS EN 14511-2)
All types (except air-to-air with output ≤12kW, absorption 2.5
and gas-engine) for space heating(1)
All types (except absorption and gas-engine) for 2.0
domestic hot water heating
Absorption 0.5
Gas-engine 1.0
NOTE:
1. For air-to-air heat pumps with an output ≤12kW, follow paragraph 6.44.
6.45 In addition to the general guidance for zoning and controls in Section 5, any outdoor fans, including
those in cooling towers or dry coolers, should be controlled.
6.46 For heat pump installations in which there are other heat sources available to the same building,
each of these heat sources should be appropriately incorporated into a singular control system.
Mechanical ventilation
6.47 The specification of ventilation systems should be based on the ventilation needs of the building,
in accordance with Approved Document F, Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings.
6.48 Air handling systems should be capable of achieving a specific fan power (SFP) at 25% of design
flow rate no greater than the SFP achieved at 100% design flow rate.
6.49 Fans used for general air distribution that are rated at more than 1100W should be fitted with
variable speed drives.
6.50 Ventilation ductwork should be made and assembled so as to be reasonably airtight. Ductwork
should comply with the specifications in either of the following.
a. BESA’s DW/144.
b. BS EN 1507, BS EN 12237 and BS EN 13403.
6.51 Air handling units should be made and assembled so as to be reasonably airtight. Air handling units
should comply with Class L2 air leakage given in BS EN 1886.
6.52 The specific fan power of air distribution systems at the design air flow rate should be no greater
than in Table 6.9, as adjusted by the appropriate factors within this table.
Specific fan power should be calculated in accordance with BS EN 16798-3 at the full design load. For
fan coil units, use BS 8850.

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Table 6.9 Maximum specific fan power (SFP) in air distribution systems in new and existing
buildings
System type(1) SFP (W/(l·s))(2)(3)
New buildings Existing buildings
Central balanced mechanical ventilation system with heating and cooling 2.0 2.6
Central balanced mechanical ventilation system with heating only 1.9 2.2
All other central balanced mechanical ventilation systems 1.5 2.0
Zonal supply system where fan is remote from zone, such as ceiling 1.1 1.4
void or roof-mounted units
Zonal extract system where fan is remote from zone 0.5 0.5
Zonal balanced supply and extract ventilation units, such as ceiling 2.3 2.3
void or roof units
Local balanced supply and extract ventilation system, such as wall/ 2.0 2.0
roof units
Local supply or extract ventilation units, such as window/wall/roof 0.3 0.4
units (e.g. toilet extract)
Other local ventilation supply or extract units 0.5 0.5
Fan assisted terminal variable air volume (VAV) unit 0.5 0.5
Fan coil unit (rating weighted average(4)) 0.4 0.4
Kitchen extract, fan remote from zone with grease filter 1.0 1.0
NOTES:
1. A central system is one which serves the whole or major areas of the building. A zonal system is one which serves a
group of rooms or areas in part of the building and requires ducting. A local system or unit is one which serves a single
room or area and does not require ducting.
2. For balanced supply and extract systems, the maximum SFP includes an allowance for heat recovery and return filter.
3. Where any of the following components are included in the installation, the maximum SFP may be increased.
a. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter: add 1.0W/(l·s).
b. Humidifier/dehumidifier: add 0.1W/(l·s).
c. Active chilled beams: add 0.3W/(l·s).
d. Transpired solar collector: add 0.3W/(l·s).
For example, a central balanced mechanical ventilation system with heating and cooling, HEPA filter and
humidifier, installed in a new building.
SFP = 2.0 + 1.0 + 0.1
= 3.1W/(l·s)
4. The rating weighted average is calculated using the following formula:
[(Pmains,1 � SFP1) + (Pmains,2 � SFP2) + (Pmains,3 � SFP3) + ...]
(Pmains,1 + Pmains,2 + Pmains,3+...)
where Pmains is useful power supplied from the mains in W.

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Controls
6.53 Mechanical ventilation systems should have all of the following.
a. The systems should be subdivided into separate control zones for areas of the building for which
i. Solar exposure.
ii. Pattern of use.
iii. Type of use.
b. For each control zone it should be possible to control all of the following (independent of other
control zones).
i. Timing
ii. Where appropriate, temperature.
iii. Where appropriate, ventilation rate.
iv. Where appropriate, air recirculation rate.
c. Central plant should operate only when the zone systems require it. The default condition
should be off.
6.54 System controls should be wired so that when there is no demand for space heating or hot water,
the heating appliance, if appropriate, and pump are switched off.
6.55 Central mechanical ventilation systems should have both of the following.
a. Time control at room level.
b. On/off time control at air handler level.
6.56 Heat exchangers should have both of the following.
a. Defrost control to protect the heat exchanger.
b. Control to ensure that heat recovery can be stopped, modulated or bypassed during periods
when heat recovery is undesirable.
Supply temperature control should be provided via a variable set point with outdoor temperature
compensation.
6.57 Local and zonal systems should have on/off air flow control at room level.
Heat recovery
6.58 Ventilation systems that provide supply and extract ventilation should be fitted with a heat
recovery system where technically feasible.
Lighting
6.59 Any fixed lighting should achieve levels of illumination appropriate to the activity in the space.
Spaces should not be over-illuminated. Lighting should be designed based on CIBSE’s SLL Lighting
Handbook or an equivalent design guide.
NOTE: For smaller spaces where total lighting power is likely to be low (toilets, store rooms etc.)
there is no expectation that lighting calculations should be produced.

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6.60 Lighting should observe the following.
a. If it is general lighting, either:
i. have an average luminaire efficacy of 95 luminaire lumens per circuit-watt
ii. the Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (LENI) method, following Appendix B.
b. If it is display lighting, any of the following:
i. have an average light source efficacy of 80 light source lumens per circuit-watt
ii. have a rated power usage no greater than 0.3W/m2 in each space
iii. the LENI method, following Appendix B.
c. For high excitation purity light sources, an average light source efficacy of 65 light source lumens
per circuit-watt.
NOTE: This approved document does not include minimum standards for specialist lighting, such as
theatrical spotlights, stage lighting, gobo projectors or wall-washers.
6.61 General lighting and display lighting should be metered by one of the following methods.
a. Dedicated lighting circuits with a kWh meter for each circuit.
b. Local power meter coupled to or integrated in the lighting controllers of a lighting management
system.
c. A lighting management system that can both:
i. calculate the consumed energy
ii. make this information available to a building management system.
Lighting controls
6.62 Lighting controls in new and existing buildings should follow the guidance in the Building Research
Establishment’s Digest 498.
6.63 Unoccupied spaces should have automatic controls to turn the general lighting off when the space
is not in use (e.g. through presence detection). Occupied spaces should have automatic controls
where suitable for the use of the space.
6.64 General lighting in occupied spaces should have daylight controls (e.g. photo-switching and
dimming) for parts of the space which are likely to receive high levels of natural light.
6.65 Display lighting should be controlled on dedicated circuits that can be switched separately from
those for lighting provided for general illuminance.
Building automation and control systems

6.66 If a new building has a space heating or air-conditioning system with an effective rated output
greater than 180kW, a building automation and control system should be installed.
6.67 If an existing building has a space heating or air-conditioning system with an effective rated output
greater than 180kW, a building automation and control system being replaced or installed should
follow paragraphs 6.72 and 6.73.
NOTE: The requirements in paragraphs 6.66 and 6.67 also apply to buildings containing heating and
air-conditioning systems which are combined with ventilation systems.

ONLINE VERSION
6.68 For building systems that do not satisfy paragraph 6.66 or 6.67, consideration should be given
to providing centralised controls to allow the facilities manager to switch off appliances when
they are not needed. Where appropriate, these should be automated (with manual override) so
that energy savings are maximised. Consideration should be given to the power requirements of
essential (e.g. life safety) systems.
Determining the effective rated output

6.69 The effective rated output of a space heating or air conditioning system is the combined output of
the equipment in the building which is provided for heating or cooling the internal space in normal
operation, for the comfort of occupants.
For air-conditioning systems, the effective rated output should include the combined maximum
output of both of the following, as specified by the manufacturer.
a. Air-conditioning systems.
b. Air-conditioning systems combined with or as part of a ventilation system.
For heating systems, the effective rated output should include the combined maximum output of all
the following, as specified by the manufacturer.
a. Primary space heating systems.
b. Space heating systems combined with or as part of a ventilation system.
c. Secondary space heating systems.
It does not include any of the following.
d. Heating or cooling equipment only intended for emergency or occasional backup use.
e. Heating equipment for frost protection.
f. Heating for domestic hot water.
g. Heating or cooling for industrial processes.
6.70 If the building is heated through a district heat network or community heating system, the effective
rated output should be based on the capacity of the equipment installed in the building, making
reasonable assumptions for the operation of the district heat network or community heating
system, including flow temperatures.
6.71 The effective rated output should be assessed based on the final installed capacity of the heating
or air-conditioning system. When estimating the effective rated output at the design stage,
designers should make allowances for the final installed capacity, including potential oversizing and
equipment substitution.
Building automation and control system specification

6.72 A building automation and control system installed in a new or existing building, where the building
meets the space heating or cooling criteria in paragraphs 6.66 and 6.67, should be capable of
carrying out all of the following functions.
a. Fully complies with BS EN ISO 16484.
b. Continuously monitors, logs, analyses and allows for adjusting energy use.

ONLINE VERSION
ONLINE VERSION
L1(b), L2
c. Benchmarks the building’s energy efficiency, detects losses in efficiency of heating, ventilation
and air conditioning systems, and informs the person responsible for the facilities or building
management about opportunities for energy efficiency improvement.
d. Allows communication with connected fixed building services and other appliances inside the
building and is interoperable with fixed building services across different types of proprietary
technologies, devices and manufacturers.
NOTE: A BS EN 15232 Class A rated type system would meet these requirements.
6.73 Where a building automation and control system is installed, its control capabilities should be
appropriate for the building, its expected usage and the building services specification.
On-site electricity generation and storage

6.74 Where on-site electricity generation and storage is installed, such as photovoltaic panels or battery
storage, systems should be an appropriate size for the site, available infrastructure and on-site
energy demand.
6.75 The system should be specified and installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure
the overall performance of the system meets a reasonable standard.
6.76 When replacing an existing system, the installed generation capacity of the new system should be
no less than that of the existing system, except where a smaller system can be demonstrated to
be more appropriate or effective (e.g. replacing an existing system with a system which is better
matched to the building’s energy demand).
6.77 On-site electricity generation should be provided with automated controls that support the design
of the system and the intended use. This is particularly the case where electricity generation and
storage systems are used, such as batteries.
District heat networks and community heating

6.78 The central heat source for community heating systems should comply with the relevant minimum
standards outlined throughout Section 6 of this approved document.
6.79 A district heat network that is being connected to a new building should not have either of the
following.
a. A CO2 emission factor for delivered heat to the building greater than 0.350kgCO2/kWh.
b. A primary energy factor for delivered heat to the building greater than 1.450kWhPE/kWh.
NOTE: The same CO2 emission factors and primary energy factors used to calculate the building
emission rate and building primary energy rate described in paragraph 2.7 of this approved
document should be used to check against the minimum performance standards described in
paragraph 6.79.

ONLINE VERSION
R43 ONLINE VERSION
Regulation 43: Pressure testing
This section deals with the requirements of regulation 43 of the Building Regulations 2010.
Regulation
Pressure testing
43. (1) This regulation applies to the erection of a building in relation to which paragraph L1(a)(i) of Schedule 1
imposes a requirement.
(2) Where this regulation applies, the person carrying out the work shall, for the purpose of ensuring compliance
with regulation 26 and regulation 26A and paragraph L1(a)(i) of Schedule 1—
(a) ensure that—
(i) pressure testing is carried out in such circumstances as are approved by the Secretary of State; and
(ii) the testing is carried out in accordance with a procedure approved by the Secretary of State; and
(b) subject to paragraph (5), give notice of the results of the testing to the local authority.
(3) The notice referred to in paragraph (2)(b) shall—
(a) record the results and the data upon which they are based in a manner approved by the Secretary of
State; and
(b) be given to the local authority not later than seven days after the final test is carried out.
(4) A local authority are authorised to accept, as evidence that the requirements of paragraph (2)(a)(ii) have been
satisfied, a certificate to that effect by a person who is registered by Elmhurst Energy Systems Limited or
the Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association in respect of pressure testing for the air tightness of
buildings.
(5) Where such a certificate contains the information required by paragraph (3)(a), paragraph (2)(b) does not
apply.
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, the requirements of regulation 43 are met, when a building is erected,
by carrying out pressure testing in accordance with paragraphs 7.2 to 7.5 and 7.9.
In the Secretary of State’s view, results from a pressure test must be used to show that work complies
with both of the following.
a. Regulation 26 and 26A of the Building Regulations, in accordance with paragraphs 7.6 to 7.8.
b. The requirements of Part L1(a)(i) of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations, in accordance with
paragraphs 7.1 and 7.6.

ONLINE VERSION
ONLINE VERSION
R43
Section 7: Air permeability and pressure
testing
7.1 The minimum standard for air permeability of a new building is given in Table 4.1 of Section 4.
7.2 The building control body should be provided with evidence that test equipment has been
calibrated using a UKAS-accredited facility or by the original manufacturer within either of the
following periods.
a. The previous 12 months.
b. A period in accordance with manufacturer’s guidance.
Calibration should be carried out in accordance with CIBSE’s TM23. It is recommended that test
equipment is recalibrated at least every 24 months.
7.3 Building control bodies may accept a pressure test certificate as evidence that the building
complies with regulation 43 of the Building Regulations.
The building control body should be provided with evidence that the person who pressure-tested
the building meets both of the following.
a. Has received appropriate training.
b. Is registered to test the specific class of building.
7.4 Buildings that are not dwellings, including extensions that are being treated as new buildings to
comply with Part L, must be pressure tested except those types listed in paragraph 7.5.
7.5 The following buildings do not need to undergo pressure testing.
a. Buildings with less than 500m2 total useful floor area. In this case the developer may avoid a
pressure test, provided that the air permeability used to calculate the building primary energy
rate and building emission rate is taken as 15m3/(h·m2) at 50Pa.
b. A factory-made modular building that meets the following criteria:
i. the floor area is less than 500m2
ii. the building has a planned service life of more than two years, where the intended time of
use in a single location is less than two years
iii. no site assembly work is needed other than linking standard modules using standard link
details.
If the building as installed conforms to a standard configuration of modules and link details
for which the installer has pressure test data, this test data may be used to estimate the air
permeability. Test data must be from a minimum of five in-situ measurements of the same
module types and link details as used in the actual building. Air permeability should be in m3/
(h·m2) at 50Pa. When calculating the building primary energy rate and building emission rate for
a factory-made modular building as described above, the value that should be used for design air
permeability is the average air permeability test result at 50Pa plus 1.0m3/(h·m2).

ONLINE VERSION
R43 ONLINE VERSION
c. Large extensions. If the building control body agrees that sealing off and testing the extension
separately from the existing building is impractical, the extension should be treated as a large,
complex building – see paragraph 7.5d.
d. Large complex buildings. If pressure testing is impractical due to the size or complexity of the
building, the developer may produce both of the following.
i. A detailed justification of why pressure testing is impractical.
ii. A detailed strategy to give confidence that a continuous air barrier will be achieved.
It is reasonable for the building control body to accept this strategy in place of a pressure test to
assess compliance.
The developer should seek expert advice to confirm the justification and strategy in paragraph
7.5d. Any justification and strategy should be in line with the approved airtightness testing
methodology, CIBSE’s TM23. It would not be reasonable to claim that air permeability better than
5.0m3/(h.m2) at 50Pa had been achieved.
e. Compartmentalised buildings. If buildings are compartmentalised into self-contained units with
no internal connections, it is reasonable for the building control body to accept a pressure test
carried out on a representative area of the building as evidence of the building’s air permeability.
If the area of the building fails the test, the criteria in paragraphs 7.1 and 7.6 apply, but the
developer should also carry out a further test on another representative area to confirm that all
parts of the building achieve the expected standard.
Showing compliance and reporting pressure test results

7.6 The building primary energy rate and building emission rate calculated using the measured air
permeability must not be higher than the target primary energy rate and target emission rate,
respectively.
7.7 If the criteria in paragraphs 7.1 and 7.6 are not achieved, the building air permeability should be
improved. New tests should be carried out until the building achieves the criteria in paragraphs 7.1
and 7.6.
7.8 The results of all pressure tests on buildings, including any test failures, should be reported to the
building control body.
Air pressure testing procedure

7.9 Air pressure tests should be performed following the guidance in the approved airtightness
testing methodology, CIBSE’s TM23. The procedures in that document have been approved by the
Secretary of State.

ONLINE VERSION
R44, R44ZA, L1(b), L2(b)
ONLINE VERSION
Regulations 44 and 44ZA and requirements

L1(b)(iii) and L2(b): Commissioning
This section deals with the requirements of regulations 44 and 44ZA and Part L1(b)(iii) and L2(b) of
Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010.
Regulation
Commissioning
44. (1) This regulation applies to building work in relation to which paragraph F1(2) of Schedule 1 imposes
a requirement, but does not apply to the provision or extension of any fixed system for mechanical
ventilation or any associated controls where testing and adjustment is not possible.
(2) This regulation applies to building work in relation to which paragraph L1(b) of Schedule 1 imposes
a requirement, but does not apply to the provision or extension of any fixed building service where
testing and adjustment is not possible or would not affect the energy efficiency of that fixed building
service.
(3) Where this regulation applies the person carrying out the work shall, for the purpose of ensuring
compliance with paragraph F1(2) or L1(b) of Schedule 1, give to the local authority a notice confirming
that the fixed building services have been commissioned in accordance with a procedure approved by
the Secretary of State.
(4) The notice shall be given to the local authority—
(a) not later than the date on which the notice required by regulation 16(4) is required to be given; or
(b) where that regulation does not apply, not more than 30 days after completion of the work.
Commissioning in respect of a system for on-site electricity generation

44ZA. (1) This regulation applies to building work in respect of a building in relation to which paragraph L2 of
Schedule 1 imposes a requirement, but does not apply to the provision or extension of any system for
on-site electricity generation where testing and adjustment is not possible.
(2) Where this regulation applies the person carrying out the work must, for the purpose of ensuring
compliance with paragraph L2 of Schedule 1, give to the local authority a notice confirming that the
system for on-site electricity generation has been commissioned.
(3) The notice must be given to the local authority—
(a) not later than the date on which the notice required by regulation 16(4) is required to be given; or
(b) where that regulation does not apply, not more than 30 days after completion of the work.

ONLINE VERSION
R44, R44ZA, L1(b), L2(b) ONLINE VERSION
Requirement
(a) limiting heat gains and loses—
(i) through thermal elements and other parts of
the building fabric; and
services;
circumstances.
L2. Where a system for on-site electricity generation is
installed—
(a) reasonable provision must be made to ensure
that—
(i) the system and its electrical output are
appropriately sized for the site and available
infrastructure;
(ii) the system has effective controls; and
(b) it must be commissioned by testing and
adjusting as necessary to ensure that it
produces the maximum electricity that is
reasonable in the circumstances.
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, requirements L1(b)(iii) and L2(b) and the requirements of regulations
44 and 44ZA are met by commissioning fixed building services and on-site electricity generation in
accordance with Section 8.

ONLINE VERSION
R44, R44ZA, L1(b), L2(b)
ONLINE VERSION
Section 8: Commissioning
8.1 Fixed building services must be commissioned to ensure that they use no more fuel and power than
is reasonable in the circumstances. On-site electricity generation systems must be commissioned
to ensure that they produce as much electricity as is reasonable in the circumstances. The
commissioning process should involve testing and adjusting the fixed building services and on-site
electricity generation as necessary and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8.2 Fixed building services should be commissioned with the aim of optimising their in-use
performance, with reference to Section 5 and Section 6 of this approved document, which provide
further guidance on minimum efficiencies, controls and other relevant standards.
8.3 For large or complex projects, a commissioning manager should be appointed. In all other cases,
the appointment of a commissioning manager should be considered on a case-by-case basis. The
competence of the commissioning manager should meet the list of knowledge and skills set out in
CIBSE’s Commissioning Code M.
8.4 When installing a fixed building service, or on-site electricity generation that is subject to the
energy efficiency requirements, a commissioning plan should be prepared that identifies all of the
following.
a. The systems to test.
b. The tests to complete.
c. Schedule of commissioning.
d. Roles and responsibilities.
e. Documentation requirements.
The building control body should be given all of the following.
a. The commissioning plan.
b. The design-stage target primary energy rate and building primary energy rate calculation.
c. The design-stage target emission rate and building emission rate calculation.
The building control body can then check that commissioning is being done as the work proceeds.
8.5 If the only controls for a fixed building service or on-site electricity generation are ‘on’ and ‘off’
switches, this particular service does not need to be commissioned.
8.6 Any commissioning should be carried out in accordance with all of the following procedures.
a. CIBSE’s Commissioning Code M.
b. Any of the following.
i. The specific CIBSE Commissioning Codes relevant to each service being commissioned.
ii. The specific BSRIA Commissioning Guides relevant to each service being commissioned.
iii. A combination of (i) and (ii).
c. The procedures for air leakage testing of ductwork given in paragraphs 8.10 to 8.13.

ONLINE VERSION
R44, R44ZA, L1(b), L2(b) ONLINE VERSION
Notice of completion
8.7 A commissioning notice must be given to the relevant building control body and the building
owner confirming that commissioning has been carried out for the installed fixed building services
and on-site electricity generation according to the procedures in this section. The notice should
confirm all of the following.
a. That the commissioning plan has been followed.
b. That all systems have been inspected in an appropriate sequence and to a reasonable standard.
c. That test results confirm that the performance of the system is reasonably in accordance with
the actual building design, including written commentary on any areas where building services
do not perform as well as intended.
8.8 The notice of completion of commissioning should be given as follows.
a. If a building notice or full plans have been given to a local authority building control body, the
notice should be given within five days of the commissioning work being completed.
b. If the building control body is an approved inspector, the notice should generally be given to the
approved inspector within five days of the work being completed.
c. In other cases – for example, if the work is carried out by a person registered with a competent
person scheme – the notice must be given to the building control body within 30 days of the
work being completed.
8.9 Where fixed building services and on-site electricity generation that require commissioning are
installed by a person registered with a competent person scheme, that person may give the notice
of completion of commissioning.
Air leakage testing of ductwork

8.10 For ducted systems that are served by fans with a design flow rate greater than 1m3/s, ductwork
leakage tests should be carried out. Tests should follow the procedures in the Building and
Engineering Services Association (BESA) documents DW/143 and DW/144.
8.11 For low-pressure ductwork, if at least 10% of the ductwork is tested at random and achieves the
low-pressure standard as defined by DW/143, a calculated improvement in both the building
primary energy rate and building emission rate may be claimed. Details are given in the National
Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide.
8.12 Membership of the BESA Specialist Ductwork Group or the Association of Ductwork Contractors
and Allied Services (ADCAS) is one way of demonstrating suitable competency for ductwork
pressure testing work.
8.13 Air leakage rates are given in Table 8.1. If a ductwork system fails to meet the air leakage limit in
Table 8.1, both of the following apply.
a. Remedial work should be carried out to achieve satisfactory performance in retests.
b. Further ductwork sections should be tested as set out in DW/143.

ONLINE VERSION
R44, R44ZA, L1(b), L2(b)
ONLINE VERSION
Table 8.1 Ductwork pressure classes
Ductwork pressure class Design static pressure (Pa) Maximum air Air leakage limit (l/(s·m2)
velocity (m/s) of duct surface area)(1)
Maximum positive Maximum negative
Low pressure (class A) 500 500 10 0.027 ∆p0.65
Medium pressure (class B) 1000 750 20 0.009 ∆p0.65
High pressure (class C) 2000 750 40 0.003 ∆p0.65
High pressure (class D) 2000 750 40 0.001 ∆p0.65
NOTE:
1. ∆p is the differential pressure in pascals.

ONLINE VERSION
R40, R40A ONLINE VERSION
Regulations 40 and 40A: Providing

information
This section deals with the requirements of regulations 40 and 40A of the Building Regulations 2010.
Regulations
Information about use of fuel and power
40. (1) This regulation applies where paragraph L1 of Schedule 1 imposes a requirement in relation to building
work.
(2) The person carrying out the work shall not later than five days after the work has been completed provide
to the owner sufficient information about the building, the fixed building services and their maintenance
requirements so that the building can be operated in such a manner as to use no more fuel and power
than is reasonable in the circumstances.
Information about systems for on-site generation of electricity

40A. (1) This regulation applies to building work in respect of a building in relation to which paragraph L2 of
Schedule 1 applies.
(2) The person carrying out the work must, not later than five days after the work has been completed,
provide to the owner sufficient information about the system for on-site electricity generation in respect
to its operation and maintenance requirements so that the system may be operated and maintained in
such a manner as to produce the maximum electricity that is reasonable in the circumstances and delivers
this electricity to the optimal place for use.
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, when a new building is erected, the requirements of regulations 40
and 40A are met by providing the owner with information about all of the following.
a. Operating and maintenance instructions for fixed building services and on-site electricity
generation, in accordance with paragraphs 9.1 to 9.3.
b. Other important documentation, as given in paragraphs 9.4 to 9.6.
In the Secretary of State’s view, the requirements of regulations 40 and 40A are met when work is
carried out on an existing building by providing the owner with both of the following.
a. Operating and maintenance instructions for the work on fixed building services and on-site
electricity generation that has been carried out in accordance with paragraphs 9.1 and 9.3.
b. Relevant information for work on existing systems, as detailed in paragraphs 9.7 to 9.12.

ONLINE VERSION
ONLINE VERSION
R40, R40A
Section 9: Providing information
Operating and maintenance instructions

9.1 For a new building and for work to an existing building, operating and maintenance instructions
should be given to the owner of the building in a building log book. The log book should follow
the guidance in CIBSE’s TM31.
9.2 Information in the log book should be presented in templates the same as or similar to those in
CIBSE’s TM31.
NOTE: Information in the log book may draw on or refer to information available as part of other
documentation, such as the operation and maintenance manuals or the health and safety file.
Further advice is provided in BSRIA’s BG 26/2011.
9.3 For new buildings and for work that has been carried out on existing buildings, the information
provided should contain all of the following.
a. Information so that the building can be operated in an energy efficient manner, including
information about:
i. the building
ii. the fixed building services and on-site electricity generation
iii. the maintenance requirements of the fixed building services and on-site electricity
generation.
b. A copy of the completed commissioning records.
Additional information for new buildings

9.4 For new buildings with a total useful floor area over 1000m2, the information to be handed over to
the building owner should include a forecast of the actual energy use of the building in kWh/year
broken down by fuel type. The energy forecast should include all metered energy uses, including
unregulated loads. This may be determined using any of the following methods, and should be
recorded in the building log book:
a. design calculations
b. energy benchmarks
c. an energy forecasting methodology such as CIBSE’s TM54
d. other building modelling or spreadsheet tools
e. any combination of (a) to (d).
NOTE: The compliance outputs of SBEM or other Building Regulations compliance tools are not
suitable for direct use as energy forecasting estimates for any size of building.

ONLINE VERSION
R40, R40A ONLINE VERSION
9.5 For new buildings, information provided in the log book should also include all of the following.
a. Data on the inputs used in the calculations of target primary energy rate, target emission rate,
building primary energy rate and building emission rate.
b. The recommendations report generated with the ‘on-construction’ energy performance
certificate.
9.6 Where building automation and control systems are installed in a new building, information about
the energy performance of the building automation and control systems should also be given to
the building owner.
Additional information for work in existing buildings

9.7 For existing buildings, information added to a new or existing log book should satisfy paragraphs
9.1 to 9.3. This applies only in relation to the work that has actually been carried out. Information
provided should also include all of the following, where relevant.
a. Any new, renovated or upgraded thermal elements.
b. Any new or renovated windows, roof windows, rooflights or doors (controlled fittings).
c. Any newly installed energy meters.
9.8 For existing buildings, when any building work is carried out for which Section 5 and/or Section 6
of this approved document sets a standard, the energy performance of the fixed building services
and on-site electricity generation affected by the work should be assessed and documented.
9.9 For existing buildings, when installing a complete new or replacement system (e.g. replacing
a heating system including the heating appliance, pipework and heat emitters), the energy
performance of the whole system should be assessed, and the results documented and handed
over to the building owner with the manufacturer’s supporting literature. The record of energy
performance results may be any of the following.
a. A documented assessment using an approved methodology, such as a new energy performance
certificate.
b. A documented assessment of the installed system produced in accordance with Ecodesign and
associated energy labelling requirements.
c. A documented assessment of a reasonably representative complete system produced by the
product manufacturer.
d. Another equivalent assessment carried out by a suitably qualified person.
9.10 When carrying out work on an existing system, such as installing or replacing components (e.g.
replacing a boiler but retaining the pipework and heat emitters), the energy performance of the
new components should be assessed. The results should be recorded and given to the building
owner. The record of energy performance results may be any of the following.
a. Product data sheets from the product manufacturer.
b. Other documented results of energy assessment of the product carried out in accordance with
relevant test standards.

ONLINE VERSION
ONLINE VERSION
R40, R40A
9.11 If carrying out work on an existing system fundamentally alters the energy performance or CO2
emissions performance of the system then the complete altered system should be assessed and
the guidance for new or replacement systems in paragraph 9.9 should be followed. Such work may
include the following.
a. A change in heating fuel for a space heating or domestic hot water system.
b. Extending or expanding the capacity of a space heating, comfort cooling or ventilation system
by over 25% of its previous capacity.
9.12 Where building work is carried out on first fit-out (for example, shell and core buildings or partially
occupied buildings) the building log-book should be updated, following paragraphs 9.7 to 9.11, and
provided to the building owner.

ONLINE VERSION
R23(2), L1(a) ONLINE VERSION
Regulation 23(2) and requirement L1(a):

Replacement of thermal elements and limiting
heat gains and losses
This section deals with the requirements of regulation 23(2) and Part L1(a) of Schedule 1 to the
Building Regulations 2010.
Regulation
Requirements for the renovation or replacement of thermal elements
23. (2) Where the whole or any part of an individual thermal element is proposed to be replaced and the
replacement—
(a) constitutes a major renovation; or
(b) (in the case of part replacement) amounts to the replacement of more than 50% of the thermal
element’s surface area;
the whole of the thermal element must be replaced so as to ensure that it complies with paragraph L1(a)(i)
of Schedule 1, in so far as that is technically, functionally and economically feasible.
Requirement
conservation of fuel and power in buildings by:
services;
circumstances.

ONLINE VERSION
ONLINE VERSION
R23(2), L1(a)
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, the requirements of regulation 23(2) and requirement L1(a) are met for
new or replacement elements in existing buildings by following the standards in Section 10.

ONLINE VERSION
Section 10: New elements in existing buildings,

including extensions
General
10.1 This section provides guidance for new elements in existing buildings, including all the following
types of work.
a. Providing a new thermal element in an existing building – follow paragraph 10.2.
b. Providing a replacement thermal element in an existing building – follow paragraph 10.2.
c. Replacing windows, doors or rooflights (controlled fittings) in an existing building – follow
paragraphs 10.3 to 10.5.
d. Extending an existing building – follow paragraphs 10.6 to 10.11.
e. Adding a conservatory or porch to an existing building – follow paragraphs 10.12 and 10.13.
NOTE: Guidance for renovating or retaining elements in existing buildings is given in Section 11.
New and replacement thermal elements

10.2 The minimum standards in paragraphs 4.5 and 4.6 and Table 4.1 should be met for both of the
following.
a. New thermal elements installed in an existing building.
b. Thermal elements constructed to replace existing thermal elements.
New and replacement windows, roof windows, rooflights

and doors (controlled fittings)
10.3 If the entire unit of windows, roof windows, rooflights or doors is replaced, all the following apply.
a. Units should be draught-proofed.
b. Units should meet the minimum standards in Table 4.1.
c. Insulated cavity closers should be installed where appropriate.
10.4 For windows used in buildings similar to dwellings, building control bodies may accept, as evidence
of compliance with the standards given in Table 4.1, a Window Energy Rating from a certification
scheme that provides a quality assured process and supporting audit trail from calculating the
performance of the window through to the window being installed.

ONLINE VERSION
ONLINE VERSION
R23(2), L1(a)
10.5 If a window, pedestrian door or rooflight is enlarged or a new one created, either of the following
should be met.
a. The area of windows, roof windows, rooflights and pedestrian doors should not exceed the
relevant percentage from Table 10.1.
b. If the area of windows, roof windows, rooflights and pedestrian doors exceeds the relevant
percentage from Table 10.1, compensating measures should be taken to improve the energy
efficiency of the building.
Extension of buildings other than dwellings

10.6 Constructing an extension in buildings with a total useful floor area greater than 1000m2 triggers
the requirement for consequential improvements. Section 12 should be followed.
10.7 An extension should be regarded as a new building, and guidance in Sections 1 to 9 should be
followed, if the proposed extension has a total useful floor area that is both of the following.
a. Greater than 100m2.
b. Greater than 25% of the total useful floor area of the existing building.
If the proposed extension does not meet criteria (a) or (b) above, the guidance in paragraphs 10.8 to
10.11 should be met.
10.8 When a building is extended, any fixed building services or on-site electricity generation that are
provided or extended should comply with the guidance in Sections 5 and 6.
10.9 When a building is extended, elements should satisfy all of the following.
a. New thermal elements should meet the standards in Table 4.1.
b. Replacement thermal elements should meet the standards in Table 4.1.
c. New windows, roof windows, rooflights and doors (controlled fittings) should meet the
standards in Table 4.1.
d. Existing fabric elements that will become thermal elements should meet the limiting standards
in Table 4.2 by following the guidance in paragraphs 11.2 to 11.4.
In addition, the area of openings in the extension should not exceed that given in Table 10.1, if either
of the following areas are greater than that of the existing building.
a. Window and pedestrian doors as a percentage of exposed wall.
b. Rooflights as a percentage of area of roof.

ONLINE VERSION
Table 10.1 Maximum area of openings in the extension

Building type Windows and pedestrian doors Rooflights as % of area of roof
as % of exposed wall
Residential buildings where people 30 20
temporarily or permanently reside
Places of assembly, offices and shops 40 20
Industrial and storage buildings 15 20
NOTE: Vehicle access doors, display windows and similar glazing and smoke vents can be as large
an area of wall or roof as required for the purpose.
10.10 As an alternative approach to paragraph 10.9, the area-weighted U-value of all thermal elements in
the extension should be shown to not exceed the area-weighted U-value of an extension of the
same size and shape that complies with paragraph 10.9. This includes the opening area standards in
Table 10.1.
The area-weighted U-value is given by the following expression.
[(U1 × A1) + (U2 × A2) + (U3 × A3) + …]

(A1 + A2 + A3 + …)
Where:
U1 = the U-value of element type 1
A1 = the area of element type 1
and so on.
10.11 As an alternative approach to paragraphs 10.9 or 10.10, an approved calculation tool may be used to
demonstrate that the building primary energy rate and the building emission rate for the building
and proposed extension do not exceed those for the building plus a notional extension. The
notional extension should be the same size and shape as the proposed extension and comply with
paragraph 10.9.
All calculations should include all consequential improvements that may apply.

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R23(2), L1(a)
Conservatories and porches
10.12 A conservatory or porch must have thermal separation from the existing building. If the thermal
separation is removed or the existing building’s heating system is extended into the conservatory
or porch, the conservatory or porch should be treated as an extension and paragraphs 10.6 to 10.11
should be followed.
10.13 If the conservatory or porch has thermal separation from the existing building, and the existing
building’s heating system does not extend into it, and is not exempt from the energy efficiency
requirements because of its size or another reason outlined in paragraph 0.18, all the following
elements should meet the minimum standards in Table 4.1.
a. New thermal elements.
b. Replacement thermal elements.
c. New windows, roof windows, rooflights and doors. The limitations on area of windows, doors
and rooflights in paragraph 10.9 do not apply.
In addition, both of the following should apply.
a. Any walls, doors and windows should be insulated and draught-proofed to at least the same
extent as in the existing building.
b. Fixed building services and/or on-site electricity generation within the conservatory or porch
should both:
i. meet the standards in Sections 5 and 6
ii. have independent temperature and on/off controls.

ONLINE VERSION
Regulation 23(1) and requirement L1(a):

Renovating elements and limiting heat gains
and losses
This section deals with the requirements of regulation 23(1) and Part L1(a) of Schedule 1 to the Building
Regulations 2010.
Regulation
Requirements for the renovation or replacement of thermal elements
23. (1) Where the renovation of an individual thermal element—
(a) constitutes a major renovation; or
(b) amounts to the renovation of more than 50% of the element’s surface area;
the renovation must be carried out so as to ensure that the whole of the element complies with paragraph
L1(a)(i) of Schedule 1, in so far as that is technically, functionally and economically feasible.
Requirement
conservation of fuel and power in buildings by:
services;
circumstances.
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, the requirements of regulation 23(1) and requirement L1(a) are met for
work to elements in existing buildings by renovating a thermal element to the standards in Section 11.

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ONLINE VERSION
R6, R22
Regulations 6 and 22: Material change of use
and change to energy status
This section deals with the requirements of regulations 6 and 22 of the Building Regulations 2010.
Regulation
Requirements relating to material change of use
6. (1) Where there is a material change of use of the whole of a building, such work, if any, shall be carried out
as is necessary to ensure that the building complies with the applicable requirements of the following
paragraphs of Schedule 1—
(a) in all cases, B1 (means of warning and escape)
B2 (internal fire spread—linings)
B3 (internal fire spread—structure)
B4(2) (external fire spread—roofs)
B5 (access and facilities for the fire service)
C2(c) (interstitial and surface condensation)
F1 (ventilation)
G1 (cold water supply)
G3(1) to (3) (hot water supply and systems)
G4 (sanitary conveniences and washing facilities)
G5 (bathrooms)
G6 (kitchens and food preparation areas)
H1 (foul water drainage)
H6 (solid waste storage)
J1 to J4 (combustion appliances)
L1 (conservation of fuel and power)
P1 (electrical safety);
S2 (infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles);
(b) in the case of a material change of use described in regulation 5(c), (d), (e) or (f), A1 to A3 (structure);
(c) in the case of a building exceeding fifteen metres in height, B4(1) (external fire spread—walls);
(d) in the case of a material change of use described in regulation 5(a), (b), (c), (d), (g), (h), (i) or, where the
material change provides new residential accommodation, (f), C1(2) (resistance to contaminants);
(e) in the case of a material change of use described in regulation 5(a), C2 (resistance to moisture);
(f) in the case of a material change of use described in regulation 5(a), (b), (c), (g), (h) or (i), E1 to E3
(resistance to the passage of sound);
(g) in the case of a material change of use described in regulation 5(e), where the public building consists of
or contains a school, E4 (acoustic conditions in schools);
(h) in the case of a material change of use described in regulation 5(a) or (b), G2 (water efficiency) and G3(4)
(hot water supply and systems: hot water supply to fixed baths);
(i) in the case of a material change of use described in regulation 5(c), (d), (e) or (j), M1 (access to and use of
buildings other than dwellings);
(j) in the case of a material change of use described in regulation 5(a), (b) or (g), Q1 (security).

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R6, R22 ONLINE VERSION
(2) Where there is a material change of use of part only of a building, such work, if any, shall be carried out as
is necessary to ensure that—
(a) that part complies in all cases with any applicable requirements referred to in paragraph (1)(a);
(b) in a case in which sub-paragraphs (b), (e), (f), (g) or (h) of paragraph (1) apply, that part complies with the
requirements referred to in the relevant sub-paragraph;
(c) in a case to which sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph (1) applies, the whole building complies with the
requirement referred to in that sub-paragraph;
(d) in a case to which sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (1) applies—
(i) that part and any sanitary conveniences provided in or in connection with that part comply with the
requirements referred to in that sub-paragraph; and
(ii) the building complies with requirement M1(a) of Schedule 1 to the extent that reasonable provision
is made to provide either suitable independent access to that part or suitable access through the
building to that part;
(e) in a case to which subparagraph (j) applies in respect of a material change of use described in regulation
5(b) or (g), that part complies with the requirement referred to in that subparagraph.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4), where there is a material change of use described in regulation 5(k), such work, if
any, shall be carried out as is necessary to ensure that any external wall, or specified attachment, of the
building only contains materials of European Classification A2-s1, d0 or A1, classified in accordance with
BS EN 13501-1:2007+A1:2009 entitled “Fire classification of construction products and building elements.
Classification using test data from reaction to fire tests” (ISBN 978 0 580 59861 6) published by the British
Standards Institution on 30th March 2007 and amended in November 2009.
(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply to the items listed in regulation 7(3).
Requirements relating to a change to energy status

22. Where there is a change to a building’s energy status, such work, if any, shall be carried out as is necessary to
ensure that the building complies with the applicable requirements of Part L of Schedule 1.
Intention
Regulations 6 and 22 of the Building Regulations set requirements for buildings to comply
with Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations when a material change of use or a change to energy
status occurs.
In the Secretary of State’s view, the requirements of regulations 6 and 22 are met by following the
guidance in Section 11.

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R6, R22, R23(1), L1(a)
ONLINE VERSION
Section 11: Work to fabric elements in existing

buildings
General
11.1 This section provides guidance for work to fabric elements in existing buildings, including all of the
following types of work.
a. Renovating an existing thermal element in an existing building – follow paragraphs 11.2 to 11.4.
b. Making a material change of use to a building – follow paragraphs 11.5 to 11.8.
c. Making a change to a building that constitutes a change to energy status – follow paragraphs 11.6
to 11.8.
NOTE: For new and replacement elements in existing buildings, the guidance in Section 10 should
be followed.
Renovating thermal elements

11.2 Renovation of a thermal element means one of the following.
a. Providing a new layer through cladding or rendering the external surface of the thermal element.
b. Providing a new layer through dry-lining the internal surface of a thermal element.
c. Replacing an existing layer through stripping down the element to expose basic structural
components (e.g. bricks, blocks, rafters, joists, frame) and then rebuilding.
d. Replacing the waterproof membrane on a flat roof.
e. Providing cavity wall insulation.
11.3 If a thermal element is renovated and one of the following applies, then the whole of the thermal
element should be improved to achieve at least the U-value in Table 4.2 column (b).
a. More than 50% of the surface of the individual thermal element is renovated (see paragraph 11.4).
b. The work constitutes a major renovation. A major renovation is when more than 25% of the
surface area of the external building envelope is renovated.
11.4 When assessing the percentage area that will be renovated of an individual thermal element,
consider whether the element is being renovated from the outside or inside, following Diagram 11.1
and Diagram 11.2, respectively.

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R6, R22 ONLINE VERSION
For example, if external render is being removed from the outer side of a wall, the area of the thermal element is the area of
the elevation in which that wall sits.
Area of the thermal

element being renovated
Total area of the

thermal element
Diagram 11.1 Renovation of a thermal element from the outside
For example, if plaster is being removed from the inner side of a wall, the area of the thermal element is the area of external wall
as viewed from inside the room.
Area of the thermal

element being renovated
Total area of the

thermal element
Diagram 11.2 Renovation of a thermal element from the inside

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R6, R22, R23(1), L1(a)
ONLINE VERSION
Material change of use and change to energy status

11.5 A material change of use, in relation to buildings other than dwellings, is when a building satisfies
any of the following:
a. is used as a hotel or a boarding house, where previously it was not
b. is used as an institution, where previously it was not
c. is used as a public building, where previously it was not
d. is not described in classes 1 to 6 in Schedule 2, where previously it was
e. contains a room for residential purposes, where previously it did not
f. contains at least one room for residential purposes, having previously had a greater or lesser
number of rooms for residential purposes
g. is used as a shop where previously it was not.
11.6 A change to energy status is when a building was previously exempt from the energy efficiency
requirements but now is not. The change to energy status applies to the building as a whole or to
parts of the building that have been designed or altered to be used separately. For example, when a
previously unheated space becomes part of the heated building.
NOTE: A material change of use may result in a change to energy status.
11.7 If there is a material change of use and/or a change to energy status, elements should satisfy all of
the following.
a. Existing thermal elements should meet the standards as outlined in paragraphs 4.7 to 4.8.
b. If both of the following apply to existing windows, roof windows, rooflights and doors
(controlled fittings), they should be replaced to meet the limiting standards in Table 4.1.
NOTE: This does not apply to display windows or high-usage entrance doors.
i. They separate a conditioned space from an unconditioned space or the external
environment.
ii. They have a U-value higher than either of the following.
• For windows, roof windows and doors – 3.30W/(m2·K).
• For rooflights – 3.80W/(m2·K), calculated by following paragraph 4.4.
In addition, all of the following should be met.
a. New or replaced thermal elements should meet the standards in Table 4.1.
b. New or replaced windows, roof windows, rooflights and doors (controlled fittings) should meet
the standards in Table 4.1.
c. The area of openings in the newly created building should not be more than 25% of the total
floor area. A larger area of openings may be achieved by following paragraph 11.8.
d. Any fixed building services including building automation and control systems and/or on-site
electricity generation that are provided or extended should meet the standards in Sections 5
and 6.
NOTE: Consequential improvements may be required when there is a material change of use or
change to energy status and Section 12 should be followed.

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11.8 As an alternative to paragraph 11.7, an approved calculation tool may be used to demonstrate that
the building primary energy rate and building emission rate from the building after the material
change of use would be no greater than if the building had been improved following the guidance
in paragraph 11.7.

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R28
Regulation 28: Consequential improvements
to energy performance
This section deals with the requirements of regulation 28 of the Building Regulations 2010.
Regulation
Consequential improvements to energy performance
28. (1) Paragraph (2) applies to an existing building with a total useful floor area over 1,000m2 where the proposed
building work consists of or includes—
(a) an extension;
(b) the initial provision of any fixed building services; or
(c) an increase to the installed capacity of any fixed building services.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where this paragraph applies, such work, if any, shall be carried out as is necessary
to ensure that the building complies with the requirements of Part L of Schedule 1.
(3) Nothing in paragraph (2) requires work to be carried out if it is not technically, functionally or economically
feasible.
Intention
In the Secretary of State’s view, where regulation 28 applies, the requirements of this regulation are
met for existing buildings with a total useful floor area over 1000m2 by carrying out consequential
improvements that are technically, functionally and economically feasible, by following the guidance
in Section 12.

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R28 ONLINE VERSION
Section 12: Consequential improvements
12.1 For an existing building with a total useful floor area of over 1000m2, additional work may be
required to improve the overall energy efficiency of the building if proposed work consists of or
includes any of the following.
a. An extension.
b. Providing any fixed building service in the building for the first time.
c. Increasing the capacity of any fixed building service (which does not include doing so on
account of renewable technology).
Consequential improvements should be carried out to ensure that the entire building complies
with Part L of the Building Regulations to the extent that they are technically, functionally and
economically feasible.
NOTE: If the building already complies with the current requirements of Part L of the Building
Regulations, consequential improvements are not required.
12.2 Where work other than the items listed in paragraph 12.1 is planned as part of the principal works, if
they improve the energy performance of the building, these are consequential improvements. Work
carried out to compensate for the poorer standard of an extension using the alternative approach
to demonstrating compliance described in paragraph 10.11 does not count as a consequential
improvement.
Consequential improvements which apply when extending

a building
NOTE: A new free-standing building constructed on an existing site is a new building, not an
extension.
12.3 When an existing building with a total useful floor area of over 1000m2 is being extended or the
habitable area is being increased, consequential improvements should be installed. The measures
listed in Appendix D, Table D1, may be considered technically, functionally and economically
feasible in normal circumstances.
12.4 For an extension or increase in habitable area, the value of the principal works is used to determine
the minimum value of the consequential improvement works. The value of the consequential
improvement works should not be less than 10% of the value of the principal works.
12.5 As part of the initial notice or deposit of plans, a chartered quantity surveyor or other suitably
qualified person should produce a signed report that establishes the value of the principal works
and the value of the consequential improvements using prices current at the date when the
building control body is informed of the proposals.

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R28
Consequential improvements on installing or extending the
capacity of fixed building services
NOTE: Increasing the size of central boiler plant to serve a new extension would not generally
increase the installed capacity of a fixed building service per unit area, unless the heating provision
in the existing building was also increased at the same time. In these circumstances, paragraph 12.6
would not apply, but paragraphs 12.3 to 12.5 would continue to apply as a result of the extension.
12.6 If it is proposed to install a fixed building service in an existing building with a total useful
floor area of over 1000m2, either as a first installation or as an installation that increases the
installed capacity of a fixed building service per unit area, then both of the following should be
implemented as consequential improvements.
a. Make energy efficiency improvements to the fixed building services to meet the requirements of
Part L, where this is practical and technically, functionally and economically feasible.
i. When installing or extending the capacity of fixed building services, the value of the
principal works is used to determine the minimum value of the energy efficiency
improvements made to fixed building services as consequential improvements. The value of
these consequential improvements should not be less than 10% of the value of the principal
works, excluding the value of any work to improve other energy efficiency aspects of the
building served by the services in meeting paragraph 12.6b.
ii. The measures listed in Appendix D, Table D1, relate to this requirement, and may be
considered technically, functionally and economically feasible in normal circumstances.
iii. As part of the initial notice or deposit of plans, a chartered quantity surveyor or other
suitably qualified person should produce a signed report that establishes the value of the
principal works and the value of the consequential improvements using prices current at the
date when the building control body is informed of the proposals.
b. Improve other energy efficiency aspects of those parts of the building served by the fixed
building service to meet the requirements of Part L, where this is technically, functionally and
economically feasible.
i. All technically, functionally and economically feasible measures to improve the fabric of the
building served by the service should be implemented. The extent of the improvements to
the fabric should not be determined by the value of the principal works.
ii. The measures in Appendix D, Table D2 relate to this requirement and may be considered
technically, functionally and economically feasible in normal circumstances.

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A ONLINE VERSION
Appendix A: Key terms
NOTE: Except for the items marked * (which Building primary energy rate Expressed as kWhPE/
are from the Building Regulations 2010), these (m2.year) and determined using the approved
definitions apply only to Approved Document L, methodology.
Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings. Centralised electrically heated A domestic hot
Air permeability The measure of airtightness of water system in which the water is supplied to
the building fabric. It is defined as the air leakage the draw-off points from a device in which water
rate per hour per m2 of envelope area at the test is heated by an electric element or elements
reference pressure differential of 50Pa. immersed in the stored water. The water heater
• The limiting air permeability is the worst is situated centrally with a distribution system
allowable air permeability. to supply water to the draw-off points and has a
capacity greater than 300 litres.
• The design air permeability is the target value
set at the design stage. Centre pane U-value The U-value determined
in the central area of the glazing unit, making no
• The assessed air permeability is the value used allowance for edge spacers or the window frame.
in establishing the building emission rate and
the building primary energy rate. The assessed *Change to energy status Defined in regulation
air permeability is based on a measurement of 2(1) as any change which results in a building
the air permeability of the building concerned. becoming a building to which the energy efficiency
requirements of these Regulations apply, where
Airtightness The resistance of the building previously it was not.
envelope to infiltration when ventilators are
closed. The greater the airtightness at a given CHPQA quality index An indicator of the energy
pressure difference across the envelope, the lower efficiency and environmental performance of a
the infiltration. Building automation and control CHP scheme, certified by the Combined Heat and
system. Power Quality Assurance scheme.
Building automation and control system A system Circuit-watt Refers to the power consumed in
comprising all products, software and engineering lighting circuits by lamps and, where applicable,
services that can support energy efficient, their associated control gear (including
economical and safe operation of heating, transformers and drivers) and power factor
ventilation and air conditioning systems through correction equipment.
automatic controls and by facilitating the manual Coefficient of performance (COP) A measure
management of those building systems. of the efficiency of a heat pump at specified
Building control body A local authority building source and sink temperatures, measured using the
control department or an approved inspector. procedures in BS EN 14511-2.
Building emission rate The building’s CO2 emission • Heating COP = heat output / power input
rate expressed as kgCO2/(m2.year). • % COP (COP � 100) is the heat generator
*Building envelope (in relation to a building) efficiency.
Defined in regulation 35 as the walls, floor, roof,
windows, doors, roof windows and rooflights.

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A
Commissioning When, after all or part of a fixed Direct-fired circulator A domestic hot water
building service or on-site electricity generation system in which the water is supplied to the draw-
system has been installed, replaced or altered, the off points from a hot water vessel in which water is
system is taken from a state of static completion heated by combustion gases from a primary energy
to working order. Testing and adjusting are carried source. The unit has no storage volume, as water is
out for fixed building services, as necessary, to stored in a supplementary storage vessel.
ensure that the whole system uses no more fuel Direct-fired continuous flow A domestic hot
and power than is reasonable in the circumstances. water system in which the water is supplied to the
Testing and adjusting are carried out for on-site draw-off points from a device in which cold water
electricity generation systems, as necessary, is heated by combustion gases from a primary
to ensure that the whole system produces the energy source as it flows through the water
maximum amount of electricity that is reasonable heater. The water heater is close to the draw-off
in the circumstances. points. The unit has no storage volume, as water
For each system, commissioning includes all of the is instantaneously heated as it flows through the
following. device.
• Setting to work. Direct-fired storage A domestic hot water system
• Regulation (that is, testing and adjusting in which the water is supplied to the draw-off
repetitively) to achieve the specified points from an integral hot water vessel in which
performance. water is heated by combustion gases from a
primary energy source.
• Calibration.
Display lighting Lighting to highlight displays of
• Setting up and testing the associated automatic exhibits or merchandise, or lighting used in spaces
control systems. for public leisure and entertainment, such as dance
• Recording the system settings and the halls, auditoria, conference halls, restaurants and
performance test results that have been cinemas.
accepted as satisfactory. Display window An area of glazing, including
Community heating system A system that supplies glazed doors, to display products or services on
heat from a central source within a single building, offer to the public within a building, positioned as
for example to both dwellings and non-dwellings in all of the following.
in a mixed-use building. • At the external perimeter of the building.
Consequential improvements Those energy • At an access level.
efficiency improvements required by regulation 28.
• Immediately adjacent to a pedestrian
Control zone Refers to the independent control thoroughfare.
of rooms or areas within buildings that need to be
heated to different temperatures at different times. If there is a permanent workspace within one
glazing height of the window, this cannot be
Controlled service or fitting Defined in regulation considered to be a display window. Glazing more
2(1) as a service or fitting in relation to which than 3m above an access level should not be
Part G [sanitation, hot water safety and water considered part of a display window, except where
efficiency], H [drainage and waste disposal], J either of the following applies.
[combustion appliances and fuel storage systems],
L [conservation of fuel and power] or P [electrical • The products on display require a greater height
safety] of Schedule 1 imposes a requirement. of glazing.

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• Building work involves changes to the façade a. in the case of a certificate entered on the
and glazing that require planning consent, and register before 9th January 2013 complied
planning requirements mean that a greater with the requirements of regulation 11(1) of the
height of glazing is necessary, e.g. to fit with Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates
surrounding buildings or to match the character and Inspections) (England and Wales)
of the existing façade. Regulations 2007;
District heat networks Supply heat from a b. in the case of a certificate entered on the
central source to consumers, via a network of register on or after 9th January 2013 complies
underground pipes carrying hot water. Heat with the requirements of regulation 9(1) of
networks can cover a large area or even an entire these Regulations; or
city, or can be relatively local, supplying a small c. complies with the requirements of regulation
cluster of buildings. 29 of the Building Regulations 2010.
Dwelling A self-contained unit designed to Envelope area (the measured part of the building)
accommodate a single household, including a The total area of all floors, walls and ceilings
dwellinghouse and a flat. bordering the internal volume that is the subject
Economically feasible The capital cost of a of a pressure test. This includes walls and floors
measure will be recouped in energy savings below external ground level. Overall internal
within a reasonable time. For the purposes of this dimensions are used to calculate this envelope
document, economically feasible means that the area, and no subtractions are made for the area of
measure would achieve a simple payback after one the junctions of internal walls, floors and ceilings
of the following. with exterior walls, floors and ceilings.
• 7 years, for the installation of thermostatic Existing district heat network A district heat
controls. network that is either in operation or is under
• 7 years, for the extension of on-site low and construction on 15 June 2022. For these purposes,
zero carbon energy-generating systems which under construction means any of the following.
are required as consequential improvements (see • The building to house the energy centre has
Appendix D, Table D1). been constructed.
• 15 years, for any other measure. • There is a heat offtake agreement signed
Emergency escape lighting The emergency lighting between the heat network and a third party.
that illuminates an area for the safety of people • Excavation for pipework has been completed.
leaving that area or for people attempting to stop Fit-out work The work to complete the
a dangerous process before leaving that area. partitioning and building services within the
Energy efficiency ratio (EER) In chillers, this is external fabric of the building (the shell) to meet
calculated by dividing the cooling energy delivered the specific needs of incoming occupiers. Fit-out
into the cooling system by the energy input to the work can be carried out either:
chiller. • during the same project and time frame as the
*Energy efficiency requirements Defined in construction of the building shell
regulation 2(1) as the requirements of regulations • at a later date, after the shell has been completed.
23, 25A, 25B, 26, 26A, 26C, 28, 40 and 43 and Part L
of Schedule 1. *Fixed building services Defined in regulation 2(1)
as any part of, or any controls associated with:
Energy performance certificate Defined in the
Energy Performance of Buildings (England and a. fixed internal or external lighting systems (but
Wales) Regulation 2012 as a certificate which: not including emergency escape lighting or
specialist process lighting);
b. fixed systems for heating, hot water, air
conditioning or mechanical ventilation; or

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A
c. any combination of systems of the kinds High-usage entrance door A door to an entrance
referred to in paragraph (a) or (b). primarily for people, through which many
people are expected to move. Robustness and/
Fixed external lighting Lighting fixed to an external
or powered operation are the main performance
surface of the building and supplied from the
requirements. A high-usage entrance door will have
occupier’s electrical system. It excludes lighting
automatic closers and, except where operational
in common areas of blocks of flats and in other
requirements preclude it, be protected by a lobby.
communal accessways.
Indirect-fired circulator A domestic hot water system
g-value A total solar energy transmittance.
in which the water is supplied to the draw-off points
Hard water Water which has a high mineral from a device in which water is heated by an element
content. For the purposes of this approved through which the heating medium is circulated so as
document, hard water is water that has a total not to mix with the hot water supply. In practice, the
water hardness of greater than 200ppm of CaCO3. heat source is likely to be a boiler dedicated to the
Heat generator seasonal efficiency The estimated supply of domestic hot water.
seasonal heat output from the heat generator Installed capacity of a fixed building service per
divided by the energy input. unit area The design output of the distribution
Heating appliance or heat generator The part of system output devices (the terminal units) serving
a heating system that generates useful heat using the space in question, divided by the total useful
one or more of the following processes. floor area of that space.
• The combustion of fuels in, for example, a Instantaneous electrically heated A domestic hot
boiler. water system in which the water is supplied to the
draw-off points from a device in which cold water
• The Joule effect, taking place in the heating is heated by an electric element or elements as it
elements of an electric resistance heating flows through the water heater. The water heater
system. is close to the draw-off points. The unit has no
• Capturing heat from ambient air, ventilation storage volume, as water is instantaneously heated
exhaust air, or a water or ground heat source as it flows through the device.
using a heat pump. Light source lumens The sum of the average initial
Heating zone A conditioned area of a building (100 hour) lumen output of all the light sources
which is on a single floor and has the same in a luminaire. Does not include any losses or
thermal characteristics and temperature control inefficiencies of the luminaire.
requirements throughout. Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (LENI) A
High excitation purity light sources Colour- measure of the performance of lighting in terms
tuneable light sources that can be set to at least of energy per square metre per year (kWh/m2 per
the colours listed in Table A1 and which have for year). See Appendix B.
each of these colours, measured at the dominant Local electrically heated A domestic hot water
wavelength, the minimum excitation purity shown. system in which the water is supplied to the draw-
Intended for use in applications requiring high- off points from a device in which water is heated
quality coloured light. by an electric element or elements immersed in
the stored water. The water heater is near the
Table A1 High excitation purity light sources draw-off points and has a storage capacity of
between 100 and 300 litres.
Colour Dominant Minimum excitation
wavelength (nm) of purity (%)
Blue 440–490 90
Green 520–570 65
Red 610–670 95

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Luminaire lumens Equal to (light source lumens Modulating burner control A type of boiler
� light output ratio) and represents the output of control that provides a continuously variable firing
the luminaire. Light output ratio (LOR) is the ratio rate that is altered to match the boiler load over
of the output of the luminaire at stated practical the whole turndown ratio.
conditions to that of the lamp(s) contained in the Optimum start A control system or algorithm that
luminaire under reference conditions. starts plant operating at the latest time possible
*Major renovation Defined in regulation 35 as to achieve specified conditions at the start of the
the renovation of a building where more than occupancy period.
25% of the surface area of the building envelope Optimum stop A control system or algorithm that
undergoes renovation. stops plant operating at the earliest time possible
*Material change of use Defined in regulation 5 as: so that internal conditions will not deteriorate
Where there is a change in the purposes for which beyond present limits by the end of the occupancy
or the circumstances in which a building is used, so period.
that after that change: Part load energy efficiency ratio A ratio calculated
a. the building is used as a dwelling, where by dividing the cooling energy delivered into
previously it was not; the cooling system by the energy input to the
b. the building contains a flat, where previously it cooling plant. Part load performance for individual
did not; chillers is determined assuming that chilled water
is provided at 7°C out and 12°C in (at 100% load),
c. the building is used as an hotel or a boarding under the conditions detailed in Table A2.
house, where previously it was not;
d. the building is used as an institution, where Table A2 Partial load efficiency ratio
previously it was not;
Percentage part load 25% 50% 75% 100%
e. the building is used as a public building, where
previously it was not; Air-cooled chiller’s 20 25 30 35
ambient air temperature
f. the building is not a building described in (°C)
classes 1 to 6 in Schedule 2, where previously it Water-cooled chiller’s 18 22 26 30
was; entering cooling water
temperature (°C)
g. the building, which contains at least one
dwelling, contains a greater or lesser number of
dwellings than it did previously; Point-of-use electrically heated A domestic hot
water system in which the water is supplied to
h. the building contains a room for residential the draw-off points from a device in which water
purposes, where previously it did not; is heated by an electric element or elements
i. the building, which contains at least one room immersed in the stored water. The water heater
for residential purposes, contains a greater is close to the draw-off points and has a storage
or lesser number of such rooms than it did capacity no greater than 100 litres.
previously; Power efficiency The total annual power output of
j. the building is used as a shop, where it a CHP unit divided by its total annual fuel input.
previously was not; or Primary energy Energy, from renewable and non-
k. the building is a building described in regulation renewable sources, that has not undergone any
7(4)(a), where previously it was not. conversion or transformation process.

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Principal works The work necessary to achieve the • The marginal additional cost is the additional
client’s purposes in extending the building and/ cost (materials and labour) of incorporating, for
or increasing the installed capacity of any fixed example, additional insulation – not the whole
building services. The value of the principal works cost of the work.
is the basis for determining a reasonable provision • The cost of implementing the measure should
for some consequential improvements. be based on prices current at the date when
Renewable technology Technology that uses the application is made to the building control
renewable resources, which are naturally body and be confirmed in a report signed by a
replenished on a human timescale, to produce suitably qualified person.
electricity. Resources include wind, wave, marine, • The annual energy savings should be estimated
hydro, biomass and solar. using the National Calculation Methodology
Rooflight A glazed unit installed out of plane with Modelling Guide.
the surface of the roof on a kerb or upstand. Also • The energy prices that are current when the
sometimes referred to as a skylight. application is made to the building control body
Roof window A window installed in the same should be used when evaluating energy savings.
orientation as, and in plane with, the surrounding Current prices are given on the BEIS website, at:
roof. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/
*Room for residential purposes Defined in quarterly-energy-prices.
regulation 2(1) as a room, or a suite of rooms, Simplified building energy model One of the
which is not a dwelling-house or a flat and which current approved procedures for assessing the
is used by one or more persons to live and sleep performance of a building, in line with this
and includes a room in a hostel, an hotel, a document.
boarding house, a hall of residence or a residential Specialist process lighting Lighting to illuminate
home, but does not include a room in a hospital, specialist tasks within a space rather than the
or other similar establishment, used for patient space itself. Specialist process lighting includes
accommodation. theatre spotlights, projection equipment,
Seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) A lighting in TV and photographic studios, medical
measure of the efficiency of a heat pump over the lighting in operating theatres and doctors’ and
designated heating season, measured using the dentists’ surgeries, illuminated signs, coloured or
procedures in BS EN 14825. stroboscopic lighting, and art objects with integral
Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) The total lighting, such as sculptures, decorative fountains
amount of cooling energy provided by a single and chandeliers.
cooling unit over a year, divided by the total Standard Assessment Procedure The current
energy input to that single cooling unit over the approved procedure for assessing the performance
same year. of dwellings in line with Approved Document L,
Sequence control Enables two or more heating Volume 1: Dwellings. The Standard Assessment
boilers to be switched on or off in sequence when Procedure is detailed in The Government’s
the heating load changes. Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating
of Dwellings version 10.
Simple payback The amount of time it will take
to recover the initial investment through energy Target emission rate The maximum CO2 emission
savings, calculated by dividing the marginal rate for the building, expressed as kgCO2/(m2.year).
additional cost of implementing an energy Target primary energy rate The maximum primary
efficiency measure by the value of the annual energy use for the building in a year, expressed as
energy savings achieved by that measure, taking no kWhPE/(m2.year).
account of VAT. The following guidance should be
used.

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Thermal bridging Occurs when part of a thermal Thermostatic room controls A device or system
element has significantly higher heat transfer than that automatically controls the output of
the materials surrounding it. heating and/or cooling emitters to control the
*Thermal element Defined in regulation 2(3) and 2(4) temperature in each room (or, where justified, a
as follows. heating zone) independently where heating and/or
cooling is provided by a fixed building service.
2(3) In these Regulations “thermal element”
means a wall, floor or roof (but does not include Total useful floor area The total area of all
windows, doors, roof windows or roof-lights) enclosed spaces, measured to the internal face of
which separates a thermally conditioned part of the external walls. When calculating total useful
the building (“the conditioned space”) from— floor area, both of the following should be taken
into account.
a. the external environment (including the
ground); or • The area of sloping surfaces such as staircases,
galleries, raked auditoria and tiered terraces
b. in the case of floors and walls, another part of should be taken as their area on plan.
the building which is—
• Areas that are not enclosed, such as open
i. unconditioned; floors, covered ways and balconies, should be
ii. an extension falling within class 7 of excluded.
Schedule 2; or NOTE: This area is the gross internal floor area
iii. where this paragraph applies, conditioned as measured in accordance with the Code of
to a different temperature, Measuring Practice by the Royal Institution of
Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
and includes all parts of the element between the
surface bounding the conditioned space and the U-value A measure of the ability of a building
external environment or other part of the building element or component to conduct heat from a
as the case may be. warmer environment to a cooler environment.
It is expressed as the quantity of heat (in watts)
2(4) Paragraph 2(3)(b)(iii) only applies to a building that will flow through 1m2 of area divided by the
which is not a dwelling, where the other part of difference in temperature (in degrees K) between
the building is used for a purpose which is not the internal and external environment. The unit is
similar or identical to the purpose for which the W/(m2·K).
conditioned space is used.
Weather compensation A system which enables
Thermal envelope The combination of thermal the operating flow temperature of a heating system
elements of a building that enclose a particular to be varied. An external sensor communicates
conditioned indoor space or groups of indoor spaces. with one inside the boiler. The temperature is
Thermal separation Occurs where a building and a varied by either of the following.
conservatory or porch are divided by walls, floors, • Modulating the heat generator output (direct
windows and doors to which one of the following acting).
applies.
• Using a mixing valve to adjust the flow
• The U-values are similar to, or in the case of a temperature to the heat emitters.
newly constructed conservatory or porch not
exceeding, the U-values of the corresponding Wet heating system When a heating appliance
exposed elements elsewhere in the building. (usually a boiler) produces hot water which is
distributed around the building to heat emitters.
• In the case of a newly constructed conservatory
or porch, windows and doors have similar
draught-proofing provisions as the exposed
windows and doors elsewhere in the building.

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B
Appendix B: Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator
(LENI)
B1 The Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator (LENI) method is an alternative approach for complying with
the standards for lighting given in Section 6 of this approved document.
B2 The LENI should not exceed the lighting energy limit specified in Table B1 for a given illuminance
and number of hours run.
Step 1: Determine the lighting energy limit from Table B1.
If display lighting is used, the lighting energy limit may be increased by the value given for normal
display lighting for the area of the room where display lighting is used.
Step 2: Calculate the parasitic energy use (Ep). If the parasitic energy use is unknown, an allowance
of 0.3W/m2 should be made for any control system. If no lighting control system is used, then Ep = 0.
Step 3: Determine the total power of lighting (Pl).
Step 4: Determine the occupancy factor (Fo). If no automatic control is used, then Fo = 1. If controls
turn off the lights within 20 minutes of the room being empty, then Fo = 0.8.
Step 5: Determine the factor for daylight (Fd). If no daylight-linked dimming system is used, then Fd
= 1. If the electric lighting dims in response to daylight being available, then in areas with adequate
daylight Fd = 0.8. This may be taken as all areas within 6m of a window wall or in areas where 10%
or more of the roof is translucent or made up of rooflights.
Step 6: Determine the constant illuminance factor (Fc). Systems that control the lighting in this
way have Fc = 0.9, and those that do not have Fc = 1.
Step 7: Calculate the daytime energy use (Ed).
The daytime energy use is:
Pl× Fo× Fd× Fc× Td

Ed(%) =
1000
Step 8: Calculate the night-time energy use (En).
The night-time energy use is:
Pl× Fo× Fc× Tn

En(%) =
1000

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Step 9: Calculate total energy (kWh) per square metre per year (LENI).
The total energy per square metre per year is the sum of the daytime, night-time and parasitic
energy uses per year divided by the area (A), as set out in the formula below.
Ep+ Ed+ En
LENI (%) =
A
Table B1 Recommended maximum LENI (kWh per square metre per year) in new and
existing buildings
Hours Illuminance (lux) Display lighting

Total Day Night 50 100 150 200 300 500 750 1000 Normal Shop
window
1000 821 179 0.69 0.68 2.57 3.00 3.96 5.93 8.83 12.59 2.50
1500 1277 223 1.04 0.98 3.05 3.68 5.10 8.00 12.33 17.98 3.75
2000 1726 274 1.39 1.28 3.54 4.37 6.26 10.10 15.85 23.40 5.00
2500 2164 336 1.73 1.60 4.04 5.07 7.43 12.23 19.41 28.85 6.25
3000 2585 415 2.08 1.93 4.56 5.81 8.64 14.41 23.04 34.36 7.50
3700 3133 567 2.56 2.42 5.34 6.90 10.42 17.59 28.27 42.22 9.25
4400 3621 779 3.05 2.97 6.20 8.08 12.33 20.95 33.73 50.27 11.00 24.20
5400 4184 1216 3.74 3.87 7.58 9.98 15.32 26.16 42.02 62.24 13.50
6400 4547 1853 4.44 4.94 9.22 12.19 18.73 31.99 51.06 74.87 16.00
8760 4380 4380 6.07 8.36 14.33 18.99 28.89 48.85 76.21 108.14 21.90 48.18

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C
Appendix C: Reporting evidence of compliance
BRUKL report
C1 The Building Regulations UK Part L (BRUKL) report should be provided to the building control
body and to the building owner to show that building work complies with the energy efficiency
requirements.
C2 The Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM) will produce the BRUKL report for the building as a
standard output option.
C3 Two versions of the BRUKL report should be produced, using the approved software.
a. The first, the design stage BRUKL report, before works begin, to include all of the following.
i. The target primary energy rate and building primary energy rate.
ii. The target emission rate and building emission rate.
iii. A supporting list of specifications.
b. The second, the as-built BRUKL report, to include all of the following.
i. The target primary energy rate and as-built building primary energy rate.
ii. The target emission rate and as-built building emission rate.
iii. A supporting list of specifications and any changes to the list of specifications that was
provided at design stage.
The building control body can then use these reports to help check that what was designed has been
built. The software includes a facility to compare the design stage and as-built data input files and
automatically produces a schedule of changes.
C4 The as-built BRUKL report should be signed by the energy assessor to confirm that the as-built
calculations are accurate.
C5 The as-built BRUKL report must be signed by the client (usually the developer or housebuilder) to
confirm that the building has been constructed or completed according to the specifications in the
report.

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Appendix D: Measures for consequential

improvements
D1 For an existing building with a total useful floor area of over 1000m2, additional work may be
required to improve the overall energy efficiency of the building if proposed work consists of or
includes any of the following.
a. An extension.
b. Providing any fixed building service in the building for the first time.
c. Increasing the capacity of any fixed building service (which does not include doing so on
account of renewable technology).
D2 Additional works to improve energy efficiency as required in these circumstances are known as
consequential improvements and are described in detail in Section 12.
Measures usually to be installed whenever consequential improvements are

required
D3 Energy efficiency improvements to the building are required whenever consequential improvements
apply. All technically, functionally and economically feasible measures should be implemented, with
the requirement for consequential improvements being met based on the value of the principal
works in some circumstances. This is outlined in Section 12.
D4 The energy efficiency improvements in Table D1 can be considered technically, functionally and
economically feasible in normal circumstances. As such, these measures should usually be installed
when consequential improvements are required. These should be installed at least to the extent
outlined in Table D1, based on the value of the principal works, as outlined in Section 12.

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Table D1 Energy efficiency measures which should usually be installed whenever
consequential improvements are required
These measures are considered technically, functionally and economically feasible in
normal circumstances.
These measures should be installed at least to the extent outlined to meet the
reasonable provision criterion, based on the value of the principal works, as outlined
in Section 12.
Item Improvement measure

1 Upgrading heating systems that are more than 15 years old by providing new plant or improved controls.
2 Upgrading cooling systems that are more than 15 years old by providing new plant or improved controls.
3 Upgrading air-handling systems that are more than 15 years old by providing new plant or improved controls.
4 Upgrading general lighting systems that have an average lamp efficacy of less than 60 light source lumens
per circuit-watt and that serve areas greater than 100m2 by providing new luminaires and/or controls
following the guidance in Section 6.
5 Installing energy metering following the guidance given in CIBSE’s TM39.
6 Upgrading thermal elements that have U-values higher than those in Table 4.2, column (a), following the
guidance in paragraphs 4.7 and 4.8.
7 Replacing existing windows, roof windows or rooflights (but excluding display windows) or doors (but
excluding high-usage entrance doors) that have a U-value higher than the following.
a. For windows, roof windows and doors – 3.30W/(m2·K)
b. For rooflights – 3.80W/(m2·K), calculated by following paragraph 4.4.
8 If existing on-site low and zero carbon energy-generating systems provide less than 10% of on-site energy
demand: increasing the capacity of on-site systems, provided the increase will achieve a simple payback of 7
years or less.
9 Measures specified in the recommendations report that accompanies a valid energy performance certificate
which will achieve a simple payback of 15 years or less.
NOTE:
Items 1 to 7 usually meet the economic feasibility criterion of a simple payback of 15 years. A shorter simple payback
period of 7 years is given for item 8 because such measures are likely to be more capital intensive or more risky than
the others.
Additional measures usually to be installed when consequential improvements

are required following changes to fixed building service provision
D5 When consequential improvements apply as a result of providing a fixed building service in the
building for the first time or increasing the capacity of an existing fixed building service, additional
energy efficiency improvements to those parts of the building served by the service should be
made. The extent of these measures should not be based on the value of the principal works, as
outlined in Section 12. All technically, functionally and economically feasible measures to improve
the parts of the building served by the service to meet the requirements of Part L should be
implemented.
D6 The measures in Table D2 improve the energy efficiency of those parts of the building served by
the service, and can be considered technically, functionally and economically feasible in normal
circumstances whenever these additional measures are required.

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Table D2 Additional energy efficiency measures which should usually be installed

whenever consequential improvements apply as a result of:
• the provision of a fixed building service in the building for the first time, or
• increasing the capacity of any fixed building service
These measures are considered technically, functionally and economically feasible in
normal circumstances.
The extent of these measures should not be based on the value of the principal
works, as outlined in Section 12, and should be installed in so far as they are
technically, functionally and economically feasible.
Item Improvement measure

1 If the installed capacity per unit area of a heating system is increased, both of the following apply.
a. Thermal elements within the area served that have U-values higher than those in Table 4.2, column (a),
should be replaced or renovated following the guidance in Section 10 or Section 11 of this approved
document.
b. Existing windows, roof windows or rooflights (but excluding display windows) or doors (but excluding
high-usage entrance doors) within the area served should be replaced in line with the guidance in
Section 10 if they have U-values higher than:
• for windows, roof windows and doors – 3.30W/(m2·K)
• for rooflights – 3.80W/(m2·K), calculated by following paragraph 4.4.
2 If the area-weighted installed capacity of a cooling system will be increased, both of the following apply.
a. Thermal elements within heated areas served that have U-values higher than those set out in Table 4.2,
column (a), should be replaced or renovated following the guidance in Section 10 or Section 11 of this
approved document.
b. The solar control provisions should be upgraded if either of the following criteria is met.
i. The area of windows and roof windows (but excluding display windows) within the area served
exceeds 40% of the façade area.
ii. Both:
• the area of rooflights exceeds 20% of the area of the roof, and
• the design solar load exceeds 25W/m2.
The upgraded system should meet at least one of the following four criteria.
iii. The solar gain per unit floor area averaged over the period 06:30 to 16:30 GMT, and when the building
is subject to solar irradiances for July as given in the table of design irradiancies in CIBSE’s Guide A,
should not be greater than 25W/m2.
iv. The design solar load should be reduced by at least 20%.
v. The effective g-value should be no worse than 0.3.
vi. The zone or zones should satisfy the solar gain check in paragraphs 4.16 to 4.18.
3 Any general lighting system within the area served by the relevant fixed building service that has an average
efficacy of less than 60 light source lumens per circuit-watt should be upgraded with new luminaires and/or
controls following the guidance in Section 6.

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Appendix E: Hierarchy for establishing
seasonal efficiencies of existing boilers
E1 When a heating system is being replaced in an existing building, paragraph 5.4 should be followed.
The seasonal efficiency of the appliance being replaced, if unknown, should be established by
following the hierarchy set out below. This is based upon the Non Domestic EPC Conventions for
England & Wales Issue 7.1.
1. Use Energy Technology List (ETL) product list part load values at 30% and 100% load.
2. Use current Product Characteristics Database (PCDB) values where available.
3. Use either manufacturer’s information or ‘boiler plate’ information or information from a
manufacturer’s technical helpdesk. Where a gross efficiency value is established for a non-
condensing boiler then a deduction of 0.05 (i.e. 5%) should be made to convert it to an
appropriate seasonal efficiency.
4. Use SAP 10 tables (up to 70kW output).
5. Use suitable SBEM defaults.

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Appendix F: Standards referred to
BS 5422 Method for specifying thermal insulating BS EN 12809 Residential independent boilers fired
materials for pipes, tanks, vessels, ductwork and by solid fuel. Nominal heat output up to 50 kW.
equipment operating within the temperature range Requirements and test methods [2001 + A1: 2004]
-40°C to +700°C [2009] BS EN 12831 Energy performance of buildings
BS 8850 Fan coil unit performance. Determination BS EN 12831-1 Method for calculation of
of specific fan power. Test method [2020] the design heat load. Space heating load,
BS EN 26 Gas-fired instantaneous water heaters for Module M3-3 [2017]
the production of domestic hot water [2015] BS EN 12831-3 Method for calculation of
BS EN 89 Gas-fired storage water heaters for the the design heat load – Domestic hot water
production of domestic hot water [2015] systems heat load and characterisation of
BS EN 308 Heat exchangers. Test procedures for needs, Module M8-2, M8-3. [2017]
establishing the performance of air to air and flue BS EN 13403 Ventilation for buildings. Non metallic
gases heat recovery devices [1997] ducts. Ductwork made from insulation ductboards
BS EN 410 Glass in building. Determination of [2003]
luminous and solar characteristics of glazing [2011] BS EN 13842 Oil fired forced convection air heaters.
BS EN 525 Non-domestic direct gas-fired forced Stationary and transportable for space heating
convection air heaters for space heating not [2004]
exceeding a net heat input of 300 kW [2009] BS EN 14351-1 Windows and doors. Product standard,
BS EN 621 Non-domestic gas-fired forced performance characteristics. Windows and external
convection air heaters for space heating not pedestrian doorsets without resistance to fire and/
exceeding a net heat input of 300 kW, without a fan or smoke leakage characteristics [2006 + AMD 1:
to assist transportation of combustion air and/or 2010]
combustion products [2009] BS EN 14511-2 Air conditioners, liquid chilling
BS EN 1020 Non-domestic forced convection gas- packages and heat pumps for space heating and
fired air heaters for space heating not exceeding cooling and process chillers, with electrically
a net heat input of 300 kW incorporating a fan driven compressors. Test conditions [2018]
to assist transportation of combustion air or BS EN 14825 Air conditioners, liquid chilling
combustion products [2009] packages and heat pumps, with electrically driven
BS EN 1507 Ventilation for buildings. Sheet metal air compressors, for space heating and cooling. Testing
ducts with rectangular section. Requirements for and rating at part load conditions and calculation of
strength and leakage [2006] seasonal performance [2018]
BS EN 1886 Ventilation for buildings. Air handling BS EN 15232 Energy performance of buildings.
units. Mechanical performance [2007] Impact of Building Automation, Controls and
Building Management [2017]
BS EN 12237 Ventilation for buildings. Ductwork.
Strength and leakage of circular sheet metal ducts BS EN 15450 Heating systems in buildings. Design of
[2003] heat pump heating systems [2007]

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FA
BS EN 15502-2-1 Gas-fired central heating boilers.
Specific standard for type C appliances and type B2,
B3 and B5 appliances of a nominal heat input not
exceeding 1 000 kW [2012 + A1: 2016]
BS EN 15502-2-2 Gas-fired central heating boilers.
Specific standard for type B1 appliances [2014]
BS EN 16798-3 Energy performance of buildings.
Ventilation for buildings. For non-residential
buildings. Performance requirements for ventilation
and room-conditioning systems [2017]
BS EN ISO 12241 Thermal insulation for building
equipment and industrial Installations. Calculation
rules [2008]
BS EN ISO 12567 Thermal performance of windows
and doors. Determination of thermal transmittance
by the hot-box method
BS EN ISO 12567-1 Complete windows and
doors [2010]
BS EN ISO 12567-2 Roof windows and other
projecting windows [2005]
BS EN ISO 13370 Thermal performance of buildings.
Heat transfer via the ground. Calculation methods
[2007 incorporating corrigendum March 2009]
BS EN ISO 16484 Building automation and
control systems (BACS) [2017 + A1: 2020]

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Appendix G: Documents referred to
Legislation Documents
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act Building and Engineering Services Association
1979, c. 46 (BESA)
Building (Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations (www.thebesa.com)
2010, SI 2010/2215
DW/143 A Practical Guide to Ductwork Leakage
Building Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2214 Testing [2013]
Ecodesign Commission Regulation No. 206/2012 DW/144 Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork
Ecodesign Commission Regulation No. 2016/2281 [2016]
Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations Building Research Establishment (BRE)
2010, SI 2010/2617
(www.bre.co.uk)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas)
BR 443 Conventions for U-value Calculations [2019]
Act 1990, c. 9
BR 497 Conventions for Calculating Linear Thermal
Transmittance and Temperature Factors. Second
Edition [2016]
Digest 498 Selecting Lighting Controls [2014]
Information Paper 1/06 Assessing the Effects of
Thermal Bridging at Junctions and Around Openings
in the External Elements of Buildings [2006]
National Calculation Methodology (NCM)
Modelling Guide (for buildings other than dwellings
in England) [2013] Available at www.ncm.bre.co.uk
National Calculation Methodology activity
database. Available at www.uk-ncm.org.uk
Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM)
User manual and software. Available at
www.ncm.bre.co.uk

ONLINE VERSION
ONLINE VERSION
F
A
G
Building Services Research and Information Department for Business, Energy and Industrial
Association (BSRIA) Strategy (BEIS)
(www.bsria.com) (www.gov.uk/beis)
BG 26/2011 Building Manuals and Building User The Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure
Guides – Guidance and worked examples [2011] for Energy Rating of Dwellings, SAP 10. Available at
BSRIA Commissioning Guides as follows: www.bregroup.com/sap/sap10/
• BG 2/2010 Commissioning Water Systems [2010] Current Energy Prices. Available at www.gov.uk/
government/organisations/department-of-energy-
• BG 29/2021 Pre-Commission Cleaning of climate-change/about/statistics#energy-price-
Pipework Systems. Sixth Edition [2021] statistics
• BG 49/2015 Commissioning Air Systems [2015] Energy Technology List. Availale at www.gov.uk/
Chartered Institution of Building Services guidance/energy-technology-list
Engineers (CIBSE) Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and
(www.cibse.org) Communities
CIBSE Commissioning Codes as follows: (www.gov.uk/dluhc)
• Commissioning Code A Air Distribution Systems Approved software for the production of non-
[2006] domestic Energy Performance Certificates (www.
gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-
• Commissioning Code B Boilers [2002] communities-and-local-government-approved-
• Commissioning Code C Automatic Controls software-for-the-production-of-non-domestic-
[2001] energy-performance-certificates-epc)
• Commissioning Code L Lighting [2018] National Calculation Methodology Modelling
• Commissioning Code M Management [2003] Guide (for buildings other than dwellings in
England) [2021]. Available at: https://www.uk-ncm.
• Commissioning Code R Refrigeration [2002] org.uk/
• Commissioning Code W Water Distribution Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF)
Systems [2010]
(ggf.org.uk)
Guide A Environmental Design [2015]
Glazing Manual Data Sheet 2.3, Guide to the
Guide B1 Heating [2016]
Calculation of Energy Ratings for Windows, Roof
Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) Lighting Windows and Doors [2016]
Handbook [2018]
Historic England
TM23 Testing Buildings for Air Leakage [2022]
(historicengland.org.uk)
TM31 Building Log Book Toolkit [2006]
Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings: Application
TM39 Building Energy Metering [2009] of Part L of the Building Regulations to Historic and
TM54 Evaluating Operational Energy Use at the Traditionally Constructed Buildings [2017]
Design Stage [2022]
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government (MHCLG)
Manual to the Building Regulations: A Code of
Practice for Use in England [2020]

ONLINE VERSION
G
AF ONLINE VERSION
National Association of Rooflight

Manufacturers (NARM)
(www.narm.org.uk)
Technical Document NTD02 Assessment of
Thermal Performance of Out-of-plane rooflights
[2010]
Non-Domestic Energy Performance Certificate
(NDEPC) Conventions Group
Non Domestic EPC Conventions for England &
Wales Issue 7.1.
Thermal Insulation Manufacturers and Suppliers
Association (TIMSA)
(timsa.org.uk)
HVAC Guidance for Achieving Compliance with
Part L of the Building Regulations [2006]

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List of Approved Documents

The following documents have been published to give guidance on how to meet the Building
Regulations. You can find the date of the edition approved by the Secretary of State at www.gov.uk.
Approved Document A Approved Document L
Structure Conservation of fuel and power
Approved Document B Volume 1: Dwellings
Fire safety Approved Document L
Volume 1: Dwellings Conservation of fuel and power
Approved Document B Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings
Fire safety Approved Document M
Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings Access to and use of buildings
Approved Document C Volume 1: Dwellings
Site preparation and resistance to Approved Document M
contaminants and moisture Access to and use of buildings
Approved Document D Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings
Toxic substances Approved Document O
Approved Document E Overheating
Resistance to the passage of sound Approved Document P
Approved Document F Electrical safety – Dwellings
Ventilation Approved Document Q
Volume 1: Dwellings Security – Dwellings
Approved Document F Approved Document R
Ventilation Physical infrastructure for high-speed
Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings electronic communications networks
Approved Document G Approved Document S
Sanitation, hot water safety and water Infrastructure for the charging of
efficiency electric vehicles
Approved Document H Approved Document 7
Drainage and waste disposal Materials and workmanship
Approved Document J
Combustion appliances and fuel storage
systems
Approved Document K
Protection from falling, collision and impact
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The Building Regulations 2010, Approved Documents are available from:
RIBA Books
Online: www.architecture.com/ribabooks
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7496 8383
Email: [email protected]
ISBN 978 1 914124 79 2
© Crown Copyright 2021

The content of this publication, excluding logos, may be If you require this publication in an alternative format,
reproduced free of charge in any format or medium for please email: [email protected].
research, private study or for internal circulation within
Copyright in the typographical arrangement, excluding
an organisation. This is subject to it being reproduced
logos, of the cover and internal page layouts of this
accurately and not used in a misleading context. The
publication rests with the Publisher.
material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and
the title and edition of the publication specified. This
document/publication is value added. You may re-use the
content (not including logos) free of charge in any format
or medium, under the terms of the Open Government
Licence. To view this licence, visit:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-
government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy
Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or
e-mail: [email protected].
9 781914 124792
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ONLINE VERSION

The Building Regulations 2010

Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings

2021 edition – for use in England

What is an approved document?

How is construction regulated in England?

How do you comply with the Building Regulations?

Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition i

What do the Building Regulations cover?

When must a building control body be notified?

ii Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition Building Regulations 2010

How to use this approved document

Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition iii

➊ The law: extract from the Building Regulations 2010.

Where to get further help

iv Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition Building Regulations 2010

Regulation 25A: Consideration of high-efficiency alternative systems 18

Section 3: Consideration of high-efficiency alternative systems 20

Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition v

Section 4: Limiting heat gains and losses 23

Section 5: Minimum building services efficiencies and controls – general

Section 6: System specific guidance 39

vi Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition Building Regulations 2010

Regulation 43: Pressure testing 56

Section 7: Air permeability and pressure testing 57

Regulations 44 and 44ZA and requirements L1(b)(iii) and L2(b): Commissioning 59

Regulations 40 and 40A: Providing information 64

Section 9: Providing information 65

Regulation 23(2) and requirement L1(a): Replacement of thermal elements

Section 10: New elements in existing buildings, including extensions 70

Regulation 23(1) and requirement L1(a): Renovating elements and limiting

Section 11: Work to fabric elements in existing buildings 77

Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition vii

Regulation 28: Consequential improvements to energy performance 81

Section 12: Consequential improvements 82

Appendix A: Key terms 84

Appendix D: Measures for consequential improvements 94

viii Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition Building Regulations 2010

0.2 This approved document contains the following sections:

Approved document section Related Building Regulations requirements

Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition 1

Common areas in buildings that contain multiple dwellings

2 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition Building Regulations 2010

Extensions to and work on existing buildings

Exemptions for listed buildings, buildings in conservation areas and scheduled

Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition 3

Historic and traditional buildings

Exemptions for conservatories and porches

Exemptions for covered areas

4 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition Building Regulations 2010

Selected key interactions with other parts of the Building

Interaction with Part C

Interaction with Part E

Interaction with Part F

Interaction with Part J

Interaction with Part K and Part M

Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition 5

Regulations 24, 25, 25B, 26, 26C, 27 and 27C:

Minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings

Nearly zero-energy requirements for new buildings

Table 4.3 Reference glazing systems for solar gain calculation

Table 6.4 Minimum performance standards for radiant heaters