Zero Carbon Achievement for New Homes from 2016 – Allowable Solutions

AIS do sterling work in UK and globally and are at the forefront of building regulations legislation. We like this document because it is keeping us all up to date with the latest developments and plenty of topics for some lively discussion.

What are your thoughts on these allowable solutions? Should they be allowed?

Currently the Building Act 1984 (Building Regulations 2010) limits the regulatory requirements to the specific building and within the site boundaries.

The principle of the Allowable Solutions is to permit Carbon offsetting or abatement at another location, which will require the extension of the provisions or boundaries of the Building Control assessment process.

The proposal is to include the amendment (of the Building Act) within the Infrastructure Bill which is currently progressing through Parliament.

Methods of delivery for Allowable solutions -Four options are possible:

1. On site solution – this will be the design of a zero rating (within SAP or SBEM) with onsite solutions. It will mean no further requirements will be applied.
2. DIY or direct resolution at another location – this means the developer directly providing solutions at some other building or site.
3. The developer contracts a third party to provide the abatement measures. The extent would be equivalent to that shortfall identified SAP or SBEM.
4. The payment to a new national fund of a calculated cost of the carbon impact of the shortfall over a 30 year life of the building.

These options will be the required route for demonstrating compliance within Building Control Legislation to meet the requirements of the zero carbon homes targets from 2016.

Geography – This amendment to the Building Act only applies to England. In respect of the location of the offsite delivery locations it is undecided if there will be a limitation such as district, national or wider.

Verification – there will be a National Register of Allowable Solutions to prevent double counting.

The Fund Option – This is a central national fund or Bank to collect, co-ordinate and re distribute the monies received. Building Control bodies will need to have a copy of a ‘certificate of purchase’ from the developer stating, for example, 1000 Kg / CO2 is the calculated shortfall to achieving the zero carbon target. The Developer will “buy” this certificate and the Allowable Solution Fund or Bank will manage the delivery of an abatement solution.

Application of Allowable Solutions to Non-Domestic Buildings – There are currently no proposals to commence Allowable Solutions for non-domestic assessments as this is not in the 2016 Governments agenda.

Timescales – The Governments agenda of achieving zero carbon for new homes from 2016 is driving the enabling legislation and it is proposed to have this system tested and working before the mandated European requirement.

Exemption – The introduction of a potential exclusion for small sites within the Queens’ Speech has not been fully explained. There will be further consultations in 3 areas:

1. Clarification of the Exemptions for small sites.
2. 2nd tier Allowable Solution legislation and guidance within the Building Regulations.
3. Setting of 2016 targets with the limits for on-site and Allowable Solution carbon boundaries (may only be 15% of the carbon assessment).

Source: www.approvedinspector.co.uk