Energy conservation requirements regularly increased
Changes affect other types of domestic insulation
Broken sealed units can be replaced ‘like
for like’
The Kyoto Protocol signed at the earth summit in Japan resulted
in the British government, among many others, signing up
to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to pre-1990 levels. The
British government is committed to achieving this by 2010
and to continue to reduce emissions which cause global warming.
One of the ways in which to achieve these targets is by
insulating homes to reduce their energy requirements.
It is estimated that domestic properties use about 25% of
the energy consumed in the UK. In recent years the building
regulations have had a new section called Section L or Document
L covering the conservation of fuel and power. Every few
years Document L is reviewed and the conservation requirements
are increased.
The impact on housing is significant. A few years ago building
regulations required all houses to be built with double glazing
and limited the window areas. Anyone wanting large windows
had to take appropriate measures such as fitting Pilkington
K into them. As the Document L screw is tightened, a whole
series of changes affecting cavity wall insulation, loft
space insulation and floor insulation are being introduced.
Exceptions to new Doc L
Conservatories are exempt provided they are separated
from the rest of the building (for example by doors) or
they are
unheated
Historic buildings are merely expected to ‘achieve
the best they can’ although any improvement in
thermal efficiency is welcomed
Broken sealed units can be replaced ‘like for like’ (the
regulations apply to the entire window replacement)
Energy Saving Recommended Scheme
Currently manufacturers/organisations voluntarily submit
their windows for energy-efficiency accreditation. This is
now very important to the organisations as consumers are
more aware of energy saving products and this is continuously
increasing with many people so much more conscious of the
financial and environmental benefits.
The Energy Saving Trust supports the British Fenestration
Rating Council’s (BFRC) domestic window energy rating
scheme (WER) by accrediting any window rated ‘band-C’ or
above, helping consumers to readily compare the energy efficiency
of competing products using a recognisable mark/grade for
everyone to understand.
The BFRC’s WER scheme is based on the whole window.
The higher the BFRC rating indicates a more thermally efficient
window. The window is given a rating of A-G BFRC bands of
the window energy label. It is this band that provides the
basis for energy saving recommended certification. So it’s
very important for organisations to ensure their products
are assessed and manufactured to the highest grade.
Currently manufacturers/organisations voluntarily submit
their windows for energy-efficiency accreditation. This is
now very important to the organisations as consumers are
more aware of energy saving products and this is continuously
increasing with many people so much more conscious of the
financial and environmental benefits. 
