Feb/March 2020

Part L 2020
DRIVING CHANGE IN THE
GLAZING SUPPLY CHAIN
Phil Brown, European regulatory marketing manager at Pilkington
United Kingdom, outlines how a shake up in energy efficiency
regulations is set to impact the glass and glazing supply chain.
The UK government has announced an
ambitious net-zero target to help drive
down greenhouse gases by 2050. Making
homes more energy efficient will play a vital role in
ensuring the UK stays on track in meeting this goal.
The built environment accounts for around 40%
of the UK’s total carbon footprint. In October 2019
the government launched the first in a set of
consultations on current building regulations that
aim to tackle this issue.
The first focuses on Part L (conservation of fuel
and power) and Part F (ventilation) of the building
regulations for new dwellings in England. This will
be followed by consultations on existing dwellings,
as well as new and existing buildings other than
dwellings, including corresponding regulations in
Wales and Scotland. The outcome is expected in
the next few months and new regulations are due to
come into force by the end of 2020.
It’s clear that change is coming, but what impact
will it have on fabricators? Well, companies will
have to order in insulating glass units (IGUs)
that deliver specifications satisfying the new
requirements, as demand pivots to what is expected
to be more insulating building fabrics and, for some
applications, reductions in the risk of overheating.
Getting to grips with the consultation outcomes will
help fabricators with future planning and enable
them to take advantage of new opportunities.
Improving emissions in the
UK’s built environment
The government has proposed two options with the
first being described as the ‘Future Homes Fabric’.
This is expected to reduce carbon emissions by
20% compared to the current standard for an
“It’s clear that change
is coming, but what
impact will it have on
fabricators?”
average home. This would be delivered through
very high fabric standards, such as triple glazing,
resulting in minimal heat loss from the building
envelope. The opportunity that presents itself
here for fabricators is around supplying highperformance
IGUs.
Option two would have a 31% reduction in carbon
emissions compared to the current standard.
This would see the introduction of carbon-saving
technology such as photovoltaic panels and lowcarbon
heating, as well a more modest increase in
fabric standards, in comparison to option one.
A mixed opportunity
Option two is the government’s preferred choice
with it delivering more carbon savings. However,
with a focus on renewable energy there could be
a missed opportunity when it comes to the bigger
picture of ensuring homes are moving towards
the Zero Energy Building standard, as a fabric first
approach would help lock in energy savings. That
said, there’s likely to be demand down the line for
fabricators as the net zero targets edge closer in
new-build markets.
56 T F FEB/MAR 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN