The Future Homes Standard 2020

With the Future Homes Standard 2020 the Government is hoping to change our approach to building homes.

The Government hopes to achieve this by:

· Reducing the amount of CO2 produced

· Ensuring homes are comfortable to live in

· Keeping fuel bills down by encouraging low energy systems

· Achieving all the above without seeing construction costs spiralling

MHCLG scope:

"As part of the journey to 2050 we have committed to introducing the Future Homes Standard in 2025.

We expect that an average home built to it will have 75%-80% less carbon emissions than one built to current energy requirements.

We expect this will be achieved through very high fabric standards and a low carbon heating system.

This means a new home built to the FHS might have a heat pump, triple glazing and standards for walls, floors and roods that significantly limit any less."

What do the new standards look like?

AD Lla 2020 Targets:

Target Primary Energy Rate (TPER)

The TPER will set a KWh target.

Primary Energy includes the energy used to create & supply fuel to the building.

This method has been the preferred approach across the EU but until now the UK has put focus on emissions.

Target Emission Rate (TER)

The TER sets the kg.CO2/m2 target.

England expected to reduce by 31% over ADL1a (2013)

Household Affordability

This will likely set maximum annual energy fuel costs for new builds.

Expectation is for a minimum EPC rating of B or C for all new builds.

Dwelling Emission Rate

The DER calculates how much CO2, CH4 and N2O is produced by a dwelling, based on typical occupancy with typical weather patterns.

Heating, hot water, lighting, ventilation, showers, cooling and renewables are considered.

AD L has a preset specification known as the Model Design which is used to calculate the Target Emission Rate.

To meet the compliance with this section the emission rate must equal or be less than the target.

Affordability

The Householder Affordability sets a fuel bill target.

This will be the first time new dwellings will be targeted based on running costs.

U Values

Limiting U Values may me made mandatory however it is not envisaged that these will see a big jump from the current standards.

Ventilation & Air Quality (AD F Proposals)

Air Quality - this is not currently a feature in any section of Building Regulations. It is proposed that if a dwelling is constructed in an area with known air quality issues, the developer will be forced to introduce MVHR ventilation & restrict window opening.

Ventilation & Air Tightness - Clarifications to be introduced linking air tightness with ventilation systems.

Pulse Testing - this be introduced as a more reflective of real-life performance of a dwelling under normal pressure.

Ventilation & Air Tightness

Part F 2020 will introduce the definition of highly airtight dwellings and less airtight dwellings. A highly airtight dwelling has an As Built permeability lower than 3. Natural ventilation should not be used in highly airtight dwellings without additional background ventilation.

Mechanical extract ventilation should not be used in less airtight dwellings.

Photo Evidence

Developers will submit photos of key details including insulation, ventilation, heating systems etc as part of the verification process.