From 15th June, 2022, as many of you are aware, there have been some major changes to SAP Calculations, SBEM Calculations and also BRUKL Reports as the new Part L of the building regulations came into action You can read about how New Build Dwellings were affected in my earlier LinkedIn post or blog post.
Today I would like to focus on the main changes to SBEM Calculations (non-domestic Buildings)
Key date: 19th Jan 2021- Future Building Standards launched by DLUHC (Dept for levelling up housing -& Communities). Aim: Phase out fossil fuels in non-domestic buildings and move to low carbon heat sources/ renewable technologies.
Date it will really take affect: 2025
With that in mind, the government have updated the building regs with the aim of achieving this by rewarding the use of low carbon heat sources and encouraging the phasing out of fossil fuel technologies, as we now see in the changes introduced to Part L this week.
Key Date: June 15th, 2022- Interim Part L Building Regs came into play.
SBEM Calculations have now been adjusted for these interim changes. Basically, the takeaway point is that non domestic buildings will now need to meet targets that will be harder to comply than previously, specifically in three areas:
1/ CO2 Emissions Compliance
2/ Primary Energy Compliance
3/ Requirement to meet the minimum standards for building fabric and Building services
So what has changed in SBEM Calculations?
1/ Primary Energy Targets- Now included in the calculations is the energy used to produce a fuel, for example the energy needed to extract oil from the ground. This will now be displayed as BPER and TPER (Building and target Primary Emission rates)
2/ Updated Carbon factors- Electricity has moved from being viewed as a discouraged energy source to an encouraged one. This is due to the phase out of fossil fuels in electricity production and the use of renewable technology.
3. New Foundation Area measurements- Now includes conditioned (HVAC) areas in overall calculations to calculate the amount of PV used in the notional building (what the actual building is compared with). This will benefit buildings where entirely heated with a heat pump as the notional building wont add PV.
4/ Planning Classifications- removed and replaced with building types for more accurate modelling
5/ Shower Flow Rates now to be entered and will have an impact on water calculations.
6/ More details with rooflights- There is now an option to add u-values of roof windows set in a horizontal plane.
7/ District heating network- now included as an option in SBEM.
8/ New more common HVAC introduced- Chilled ceilings, passive chilled beams, VRF Split Systems are now selectable options.
9/ General construction database- More details and construction options following assessors feedback.
Overall, these changes will prove quite a challenge to begin with for all of us, clients, designers, architects and assessors alike. It will be more difficult than previously to achieve compliance. That’s where I come in. I want to work with you on your next project and help it through this stage. Why not call me to chat about your next project or I’m happy to help if you just want to bounce any questions you may have about a current project too.
Thanks for reading!
Justin
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