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Part L - rewrite in plain English that builders can follow


TRADA is disappointed that the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has 'fallen sadly short' in its goal of rewriting Part L to make it easier to follow by the man in the front line – the builder.
 
CLG has put out a consultation on minor changes to Part L for a revision later this year – not to be confused with the major revision which is under way for April 2010.
 
The three categories of revisions for 2008 include proposed stylistic changes, which TRADA welcomes. TRADA regulations consultant Rupert Scott said: "In our opinion, the style of Approved Documents definitely needs improving, but sadly the proposed changes fall well short of what could be achieved.
 
"Furthermore, changing the style alone is not enough to achieve what needs to be done. The goal must be to ensure that the Building Regulations and supporting documents are written in plain English that the person responsible for meeting the requirements – the builder – can easily read and understand. Each section needs a concise introduction to set the scene and it should be absolutely clear how to comply with every requirement.”
 
There are further areas for change, including how to determine the thermal performance of multi-foil insulation products. As things stand, CLG is proposing to recommend that hot-box testing is the accepted method of establishing the thermal performance of multi-foil insulation products. However, CLG is also aware that this view is not shared by multi-foil insulation manufacturers, who believe that comparative in-situ testing is a more meaningful measure of performance. As part of its Regulatory Impact Assessment, CLG is seeking views on whether their proposed change in guidance will significantly impact on specifiers' choice of insulation products.
 
The legislative changes which require amendments to Part L, plus corrections, affect:
  • commissioning of building services
  • self certification schemes for oil-fired combustion appliances
  • maximum heat output of solid fuel burning combustion appliances
  • and extension of the categories of work where notification to the local authority is not necessary.

To find out more visit www.trada.co.uk.


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