Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:40:15 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276047#Comment_276047 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276047#Comment_276047 Wed, 09 Oct 2019 18:07:27 +0100 djh
Research into ventilation and indoor air quality in new homes
Research into overheating in new homes

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-homes-standard-changes-to-part-l-and-part-f-of-the-building-regulations-for-new-dwellings]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276049#Comment_276049 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276049#Comment_276049 Wed, 09 Oct 2019 19:16:28 +0100 DamonHD
Rgds

Damon]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276108#Comment_276108 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276108#Comment_276108 Sat, 12 Oct 2019 07:21:50 +0100 cjard
Table 3.1 - Minimum standards for fabric performance

External walls 0.26 W/m2.K
Party walls 0.20 W/m2.K
Floor 0.18 W/m2.K
Roof 0.16 W/m2.K
Windows 1.6 W/m2.K
Roof-lights1 2.2 W/m2.K
Door 1.6 W/m2.K
Air permeability 8m3/m2.K at 50Pa

The proposed walls value could be better but that air permeability is nearly as much of a joke as the existing standard, no?

Also the doc says elsewhere that sone of the backlash from big building is that there aren't enough people available to install heat pumps - surely this is BS, as you need fewer certifications to install a monobloc ASHP than you do a gas boiler (no corgi, just a g3 for pressurised systems, itself not needed if an open vent TS is used but how many gas boiler installers don't have a g3

What we actually probably need is training courses for Joe Public on "how to live in a low energy home" to get them out of the "get home and blast the 28kw boiler at full tilt for 3 hours" mindset]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276110#Comment_276110 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276110#Comment_276110 Sat, 12 Oct 2019 09:27:14 +0100 djh Posted By: cjardAlso the doc says elsewhere that sone of the backlash from big building is that there aren't enough people available to install heat pumps - surely this is BS, as you need fewer certifications to install a monobloc ASHP than you do a gas boiler (no corgi, just a g3 for pressurised systems, itself not needed if an open vent TS is used but how many gas boiler installers don't have a g3
I expect they're talking about F gas certification.

Agree with the rest of your post though.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276115#Comment_276115 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276115#Comment_276115 Sat, 12 Oct 2019 20:54:02 +0100 tony
For me walls, floors and ceilings less than 0.1, party wall can be 0.2 air tightness ONE]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276116#Comment_276116 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276116#Comment_276116 Sat, 12 Oct 2019 22:49:49 +0100 djh
I think a max U-value of 0.1 in every region is unduly strict for the building regs backstop. It might be necessary in some parts of the country, but not in sheltered southern locations. Specifically I wouldn't have been able to build my house with that limit. I'd prefer a whole building heat loss limit as calculated by PHPP, or at worst a more realistic limit such as 0.15, but unless windows and doors are tightned up even that doesn't make much sense.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276117#Comment_276117 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276117#Comment_276117 Sun, 13 Oct 2019 08:37:11 +0100 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276153#Comment_276153 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276153#Comment_276153 Tue, 15 Oct 2019 13:32:20 +0100 Sigaldry
The notional building fabric U-values (windows, doors, walls, roofs and floors)for the two options consulted upon, combined with tighter thermal bridging should result in overall improvements compared to current levels. The fabric in Option 1 is better, but Option 2 uses a PV requirement for target setting (not actually required, just sets the targets).

(See Appendix R of https://www.bregroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SAP-10.1-10-10-2019.pdf for notional packages used for target setting).]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276447#Comment_276447 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=276447#Comment_276447 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 23:16:05 +0000 cjard Posted By: djh
I expect they're talking about F gas certification.


F has only needed for split systems though and I'd wager the majority of installs these days are monobloc]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278043#Comment_278043 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278043#Comment_278043 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 09:47:43 +0000 TimSmall
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-homes-standard-changes-to-part-l-and-part-f-of-the-building-regulations-for-new-dwellings]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278044#Comment_278044 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278044#Comment_278044 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 10:46:05 +0000 tony
Tony]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278045#Comment_278045 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278045#Comment_278045 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 11:09:44 +0000 bhommels https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278046#Comment_278046 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278046#Comment_278046 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 12:44:28 +0000 tony https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278055#Comment_278055 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278055#Comment_278055 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 06:45:16 +0000 jms452 Posted By: bhommelsIt is sort of satisfying to reach the end of it though, having slagged off all their targets as not ambitious enough :-)

Inspired me - that was an ordeal - but at least prompted me to learn what pulse air leak tighness testing was.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278056#Comment_278056 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278056#Comment_278056 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 07:27:12 +0000 DarylP https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278058#Comment_278058 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278058#Comment_278058 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 11:23:04 +0000 Doubting_Thomas Posted By: DarylPa blind-alley waste of time...? '-)

DP Can you elaborate? I'm genuinely curious to know whether the pulse approach is complete bobbins...]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278059#Comment_278059 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278059#Comment_278059 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 11:25:44 +0000 DarylP ]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278060#Comment_278060 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278060#Comment_278060 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 11:27:56 +0000 DarylP ]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278061#Comment_278061 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278061#Comment_278061 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 12:30:15 +0000 djh
There's a pretty good explanation at https://www.ecodesignconsultants.co.uk/airtightness-testing/ (though you have turn off formatting if you have JS disabled. )

Advantages:
- it's quick and presumably cheaper, so should be able to be applied to all houses. It might be worth testing its limits though - minimum and maximum volumes of buildings, minimum and maximum airtightness.
- it tests all doors and windows, doesn't need to replace one

Disadvantages:
- as already stated, it gives very little opportunity to locate the leaks, so would need another visit with a blower door to remedy any failures. That should become less of a problem over time as people learn what they have to do
- it tests at a low pressure and positive pressure only, so won't test poorly adhered tapes or flap-type leaks that only open on negative pressure

So I guess it might be applicable for UK gov-mandated tests if they change the pressure requirements. Not valid for PH tests though because of the lack of negative pressure.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278062#Comment_278062 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278062#Comment_278062 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 12:59:44 +0000 Simon Still
"As part of the Pulse trial the team have each had their own homes tested, a Victorian terrace, a 1970’s and a 2014 mid-terrace new build. As you can imagine we thought the winners was assured, especially with a SAP certificate recording airtightness at 5.8m3/h/m2. The results for the new build came back 10.8m3/hm2 this means it fails building regulations and shows that the building industry still aren’t understanding the importance of making a home airtight and taking the time to achieve these low air leakage values. The results of the Victorian terrace 10.7m3/h/m2 and the 1970’s build 7.9m3/h/m2"

It's strikes me that they should have tested each of these with a blower door to see if it gave the same results. Frankly I'm amazed that the Victorian was so close to building regs (and 70's met it) unless a fair bit of work had been done to them. More worrying that a 2014 build was so far off the original SAP and that they didn't seek to find out why.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278073#Comment_278073 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278073#Comment_278073 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 16:06:33 +0000 djh Posted By: Simon StillIt's strikes me that they should have tested each of these with a blower door to see if it gave the same results.
That is a very good point!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278079#Comment_278079 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278079#Comment_278079 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 16:48:26 +0000 RobL
I'm halfway through the survey, it is getting a bit tedious trying to answer silly questions when the poor fabric insulation issue glaringly dominates.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278088#Comment_278088 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=16273&Focus=278088#Comment_278088 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 19:52:11 +0000 jms452 Posted By: Doubting_ThomasCan you elaborate? I'm genuinely curious to know whether the pulse approach is complete bobbins

Releasing extra air into a house and watching the pressure decay could give you information about the leakage if you know the internal volume, make some assumptions about the shape and leave all internal doors open. Accuracy will be challenge though.

Given I'd just said that every house should be tested I rated it as positive but commented that extensive equivalence with blower door would need to established.]]>