New guidance from DCLG: 2016 editions of Approved Document L and Domestic Building Services Compliance guide updated

You might not be aware that in April 2016 DCLG issued new editions of the Approved Document L series that cover the energy efficiency requirements of the building regulations as set out in Part L of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations and in a number of specific building regulations.

The technical guidance is contained in four Part L Approved Documents and two building services compliance guides covering new (L1A) and existing (L1B) dwellings and new (L2A) and existing (L2B) buildings other than dwellings.

The good news is that there were no technical changes, because the amended documents merely harmonised changes made to the Building Regulations 2010 together with a few grammatical changes and links to different websites.

The changes reflect the removal of Regulations 29 – 33 from the Building Regulations and their replacement with Regulation 7A of the Energy Performance of Buildings (England & Wales) Regulations 2012 introduced in its own 2016 amendment.

What is Regulation 7A?

Regulation 7A covers Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) on completion of construction. It requires any person carrying out the building work to:

• give an energy performance certificate for the building to the owner of the building
• give the local authority notice to that effect
• include in that notice the reference number under which the energy performance certificate has been registered in accordance with regulation 27(4) 

The energy performance certificate and notice must also be given not later than five days after the building work has been completed.

In October DCLG published a new 2018 amendment edition to the 2013 ‘domestic building services compliance guide’ which complements the suite of guidance. This will come into effect on 6th April 2018.

The principal changes within this document have been to introduce revised standards for gas or oil fired boilers installed or replaced in existing dwellings.

One key change is a requirement to specify boiler thermal efficiency using the methodology set out in the Ecodesign of Energy Related Products Directive 2009/125/EC rather than the more familiar SEDBUK efficiency rating.

If a building regulation application is deposited or a contract for installation agreed before 6 April and work is started before 1 October 2018 then the 2013 guidance continues to apply.

So look out for the ErP rating:

Further information

View the full suite of Approved Document L documents

Read the 2016 amendment to the Energy Performance of Buildings (England & Wales) Regulations

Please Note: Every care was taken to ensure the information was correct at the time of publication. Any written guidance provided does not replace the user’s professional judgement. It is the responsibility of the dutyholder or person carrying out the work to ensure compliance with relevant building regulations or applicable technical standards.