The Future Buildings Standard

The Future Buildings Standard – What is it?

In December 2021 the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) published the outcome of the Future Buildings Standard consultation.

The second stage of the two-part review on changes to the Building Regulations to help decarbonise our building stock.

It followed the Future Homes Standard, which was consulted in 2020.

What is the Future Buildings Standard?

The Future Buildings Standard is a policy document that sets out proposed changes to Part L (conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (ventilation) of the Building Regulations.

It introduces a new requirement to tackle the risk of overheating in new residential buildings.

It focuses primarily on new non-domestic buildings, but also includes policy relating to existing non-domestic buildings and new and existing homes.

What does the Future Buildings Standard require?

From 2021 new non-domestic buildings will be required to produce 27% less CO2 emissions when compared to current buildings.

The Future Buildings Standard also introduces a new Approved Document – Part O – which aims to tackle overheating in new homes.

The standard also sets out the 2021 ‘uplift’ to the fabric energy efficiency standard for new homes.

The 2021 uplift will come into effect on 15 June 2022.