By Andrew Cooper – Managing Director, Smartlouvre

Cop a load of the new Building Regulations to stop buildings overheating

BY Andrew Cooper – Managing Director, Smartlouvre

Climate change (or global warming) was first recognised as an issue more than 100 years ago. We can berate ourselves for the irresponsible damage we have caused the planet, or we can focus on what we can do now.

The impact human activity has on the environment is now a big part of our children’s’ education, our day-to-day lives and is a global concern. In an overpopulated world where resources are exploited, the planet has no time to regenerate so we are finally changing our ways.

The construction industry was identified as one of the worst culprits many years ago, and the spotlight has been upon it ever since. The problem is that we’re constantly

being bombarded with new building regulations, new rules and new guidance that we very quickly need to adopt in order to keep moving forward towards the (moving) targets for new homes, net zero etc.

The latest update to building regs, specifically focused on the residential sector is Approved Document O: Overheating. The goals of this new regulation are to stop us overheating when trying to rest and sleep indoors as the planet heats up, and to stop us burning up energy with fans and air conditioning which draw us further away from net zero.

So, what does the new regulation say? And why should we in the hospitality industry be aware of it? Fundamentally, it restricts the areas of glass you’re allowed to have unless important criteria are met to ensure all buildings are protecting themselves from solar gains. It currently applies to what are classified as ‘dwellings’, including all residential properties, student accommodation, hospitals, care homes etc, anywhere you would stay overnight. Hotels and overnight stay accommodation have, so far, escaped, but it’s only a matter of time before an update is announced which includes more types of building.

Shutters, external blinds, overhangs, awnings and of course, solar control

glass are the suggested solutions, but they are in the most, designed to block natural, unfiltered daylight and in some cases, our vision out.

Under Part O shading also has to be ‘Fixed’ and ‘Passive’, so no moving or so-called dynamic systems are allowed. This is a no-brainer in terms of sustainability since dynamic systems need energy to or human intervention to operate and are therefore under a limited life cycle before maintenance or replacement is required. Furthermore, when they’re down they block your vision out and if it’s even vaguely windy they have to retract.

So, these fixed, passive shading options won’t damage the environment once in place, but we should still, as responsible constructors, consider the ‘cost’ of manufacturing them? What is the number one solution when it comes to keeping buildings cool, whilst limiting the impact on the environment? What we are comparing in terms of Part O compliant shading products simply comes down to the materials they’re constructed from: metal, plastic, acrylic, vinyl or glass.

Metal is the stand-out winner, and of the metals, copper is the most sustainable and environmentally friendly. It’s also handily thermally conductive, so if we’re using it to protect us from the sun’s heat, it’s doing half the job for us.

Copper is one of the most sustainable materials available. Its durability offers long service with little maintenance. Its antimicrobial properties destroy pathogenic microorganisms that cause disease. And its high scrap value and ability to be continuously recycled without any loss in performance ensure its responsible management as a valuable resource.

And all this before we add the element of design, engineering and physics to products we can create using copper.

Now Google ‘copper solar shading’. Or go straight to smartlouvre.co.uk

www.smartlouvre.com/applications/

WHY RE-ROOF? WHEN YOU CAN

OVER-ROOF.

Filon Over-Roofing – the proven, cost-effective solution with multiple advantages:

• Very lightweight – minimal extra load on roof structure • Suitable for all kinds of profiled roofs • Fast, easy installation with minimal disruption • Upgrade insulation values with glass fibre quilt • No asbestos handling or disposal problems • Maximum daylight levels maintaind – with accurately matched rooflight openings

daylight diary

New regulations, new initiatives...

The new Building Regulations Approved Document L: Conservation of Fuel and Power, comes into force in June 2022, including a number of amendments which will affect rooflight specification.

In response to this, our Technical Committee is currently in the process of updating many of the technical guidance documents published on our website. It’s a painstaking process requiring collaboration and committment, to ensure that these much-referenced documents maintain their integrity and value to specifiers. We will announce the publication of updated documents as they become available. As always, representatives from NARM have also recently contributed or will be contributing to various meetings, committees and working groups, including the ongoing CPA Construction Product Competencies Working Group; BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) Skylights ETIM Working Group in May; and the Eurolux General Assembly in Brussels in June – as well as regular attendance at UK standards committees. Our Marketing & Communication team has been hard at work on a number of new initiatives, including our new social media channels and new internal communications bringing greater engagement for our growing membership, as well as maintaining our ongoing editorial and advertising programmes. This month, we are also delighted to welcome Howells Patent Glazing as a new NARM member. We look forward to working together! For further information, visit:

www.narm.org.uk

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NARM BECOME A NARM MEMBER NARM CPD MATERIALS

SUMMER 2022