Welsh Government releases Building Regulations Part L and F review

The consultation seeks to improve the energy performance of new build homes, by introducing a considerable uplift to existing standards in 2020. This will provide a stop gap towards Welsh Government’s Part L 2025 standard which will see 75-80% less carbon dioxide emissions produced in comparison to homes built to the 2014 requirements.

Build Test Solutions are also pleased to see that Welsh Government are seeking views on introducing the Pulse Air Permeability Test as an approved testing method for air tightness testing methodology. This follows the considerations made within the Future Homes Standard consultation.

What is Pulse?

Originally developed by a team of researchers at the University of Nottingham, Pulse is a portable compressed air based system which is used to measure the air leakage of a building or enclosure at a near ambient pressure level. The Pulse test is performed at a pressure differential of 4 Pa (4 pascals) as opposed to 50 Pa; this provides a better representation of normal inhabited conditions, helping to improve understanding of energy performance and true building ventilation needs.

Luke Smith, Managing Director of Build Test Solutions comments:

It is great to see Welsh Government recognising our Pulse technology as a viable Airtightness testing method within their review of Part L. We are all eager to see the response to this consultation from wider industry. We firmly believe that Pulse delivers a pioneering approach to fabric air permeability measurement, providing a quicker and easier air testing method for qualified testers and consultants.

Build Test Solution will be responding to the consultation in due course, with responses due before the deadline on the 12th March 2020.