In the second instalment of Building Insights, Dr Gavin Dunn of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers speaks to the managing editor of Housebuilder & Developer, James Parker, about how the Future Homes Standard can be delivered.
The Future Homes Standard is probably the most far-reaching and onerous set of quality requirements which housebuilders have had to confront, certainly this century.
The aims are laudable, to shake up Building Regulations to improve the efficiency performance of all new homes, and help drive the UK towards our 2050 net zero carbon targets. The standard includes big efficiency improvements to meet an updated Part L (covering thermal performance), but also Part F (ventilation). But it’s not all about the 2025 deadline. With 20 per cent of our carbon emissions coming from new and existing homes, there’s an interim step too, which is now looming.
Currently CEO of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers, Dr Gavin Dunn trained as an architect, and after working as a director at the BRE for several years, including overseeing the BREEAM standard, he joined the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) at what was then the DCLG. In 2018 he moved to chair BRAC’s Future Homes Standard Working Group, and so was instrumental in developing the standard, and the consultation process with the industry. He is the ideal person to speak to on what housebuilders need to do to achieve compliance, and he duly provided some clear insights during our revealing chat.
Thanks to our sponsors WMS, Recticel, Epic Insulation, LG, Schock and Mitsubishi Electric.
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