Part L – the story so far….

Part L, or to give its official name, Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power, comprises two volumes that cover both residential dwellings and commercial buildings (buildings other than dwellings). The growing need to reduce the environmental impact of the construction process as well as the operational energy costs and carbon emissions from individual properties led to new stricter U-value targets being introduced in June 2022. A transition period to cover buildings that had already been started was permitted but in June 2023, that transition period ended.

New lower U-value targets had been anticipated by many in advance of the changes to Part L being implemented and in terms of building products, many of our insulation manufacturing partners had solutions available to limit heat loss from the building fabric further. However, it’s not always quite as simple as just swapping from one product to another which is why here at CCF we work closely with our partners to better understand the real challenges that our customers face at both the design and construction stages.

The bigger picture

We recently conducted an informal opinion poll on our LinkedIn page to get a better idea of how our customers feel about last year’s uplift to Part L. The question was simple enough but as expected, the answer proves that more clarity on how to achieve compliance is needed across the board.

We asked how confident people were in choosing insulation products to meet the stricter Part L targets. A staggering 80 per cent of those asked said they weren’t confident, with only 20 per cent claiming to have a clear idea of what was needed.

Of course this is just a small snapshot but it shows that there is still plenty of work to be done. Our role as a building products distributor puts us at the heart of the supply chain and we are committed to being part of the solution that makes Part L compliance less challenging and helps save energy in more ways than one. Here are just a few of the ways we can help.

We can offer more than one solution

As our recent social media poll illustrates, one of the most frequently asked questions from our customers is about product selection – what type of insulation should I choose?

Insulation is one of the most effective ways to reduce heat loss and carbon emissions from a building but there is no ‘one size fits all’ as every project, and budget, requires an individual approach. Using thicker insulation will help reduce heat loss but this can also have an impact on costs or may require structural elements such as cavity walls to be widened to accommodate it. An alternative option can be to use a higher performing but thinner insulation material and the use of reflective membranes can also make a difference. Thanks to CCF’s extensive product range, we can offer more than one option, working closely with our customers to identify the right package of products for their projects, and all at a competitive price. 

We are committed to improving competency

We work hard to maintain our levels of technical competency through training and close collaboration with our manufacturer partners so we are able to give the best advice and guidance possible. A key part of this is helping our customers understand which products are suited to each of their projects. We are impartial and will always put the needs of our customers first – so if you’re not sure if a specific product is right for you or you need help translating product data, we have you covered with technical expertise you can rely on.

We take sustainability seriously

Beyond Part L and other similar regulations, there is an increasing focus on the wider sustainability of the built environment.  So when our customers ask how they can better future proof their projects we are always keen to have that discussion. By working with such a broad range of market-leading manufacturers we are able to offer our customers the latest product innovations that can meet Part L but also consider the wider implications of embodied carbon. From improving efficiency across our delivery fleet to working on a new carbon reporting system that evaluates the carbon emissions relating to the delivery of products to site, we can offer a range of solutions. 

We’re with you every step of the way

Achieving compliance with Part L has to be supported by everyone in the supply chain and to ensure that budgets and timescales are also met, collaboration at the earliest possible stage is vital. We welcome enquiries from customers at the start of the process and this is where we can really help to identify value-added solutions and advise on insulation and other products that can meet current and anticipated future regulations. Talk to us today - contact the technical team via technicalteam@ccfltd.co.uk.