FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

This is the most significant change to Part L regulations since the 2013 publication and is designed to get our industry building better houses.


Point1 EXCEED Part L Regulations and support the Government’s commitment to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, it is intended to halve energy use in all new builds by 2030. The introduction of a Future Homes Standard (FHS) for new build homes by 2025 is intended to produce homes which are future proofed with high levels of energy efficiency and low carbon heating.


Previously you were permitted to use historic building regulations on a project that had been awarded planning, you will not be permitted to do so going forward. There is a transitional period however, but for that to apply, developers will need to both; submit a building / initial notice, or have deposited plans BY 15th June 2022, and commenced development on each individual building BY 15th June 2023. 


Where plans are submitted AFTER 15th June 2022, all homes must be built in line with the new Part L standards. Where plans are submitted before 15th June 2022, but construction does not commence by 15th June 2023, the relevant buildings must build in line with the new standards.


CO2 emissions have been used as the main metric for compliance with building regulations for a number of years, however, this will become less effective as a measure of energy performance as the electricity grid becomes de-carbonised. If not addressed, this could result in a dwelling with low CO2 emissions complying with regulations, despite having excessively high energy consumption. Consequently, the Primary Energy metric has been introduced to ensure that energy efficiency is directly measured rather than assuming it is linked to CO2 emissions.


With proven psi value details, the design versus as built gap is also being addressed, with requirements for provision of photographic evidence and air pressure testing for every plot. Site checklists will be required to be completed and submitted to ensure work is in accordance with specifications and critical junctions satisfy thermal bridging values. 5 air changes per hour (not 10), and moving away from gas boilers, as this will undoubtedly mean you will not be able to comply with the new regulations. Although gas boilers will still be permitted under the interim changes, heating systems will be required to be future proofed for heat pumps with wet heating systems, designed for flow temperatures of 55°C. In addition, with targets based on the use of photovoltaics (PV) it is likely that some degree of PV will be required in design solutions. This will now apply to individual buildings, as opposed to a whole site.






  • The brand name for the Kingspan Insulation Structural Insulated Panel System (SIPS)
  • Can be used to form wall and roof structures - part of a whole house building system.
  • Can be combined with other building components to construct houses, schools, flats, offices, care homes, hotels and other complex structures.
  • A structurally robust, incredibly thermally efficient, super air tight building system.
  • Kingspan TEK™ Building System is third party accredited and carries a BBA certificate as a complete building system.
  • The Kingspan TEK™ Building System is made in the UK by Kingspan Insulation in a unique, continuous manufacturing process.
  • Comprises two face layers of quality OSB3 (orientated strand board).
  • OSB3 panel faces are held an equal distance apart. The bottom layer is flooded with chemical components that react and expand to form a PUR insulated structural core which autohesively bonds to the OSB3 facings
  • Standard panels are manufactured between 4800mm and 7500mm in length.
  • The Kingspan TEK™ Building System is typically used where high levels of thermal performance and air tightness are required by the architect or client.
  • Low U-Values in a slender wall / roof assembly.
  • Dramatically reduced thermal bridging, predominantly due to the nature of SIPS but also due to the unique insulated panel jointing system and simple connection details.
  • Buildings constructed from the Kingspan TEK™ Building System will benefit from low, long term running costs.
  • Enables maximum efficiency gains from renewable technologies such as MVHR, air source, ground source heat pumps etc.
  • A U-Value is a measure of heat loss. It is expressed in W/m²K, and shows the amount of heat lost in watts (W) per square metre of material (for example wall, roof, floor etc.) when the temperature (K) outside is at least one degree lower. In a nutshell, the lower the U-Value, the better the insulation provided by the material.
  • Kingspan TEK™ Building System delivers incredibly low U-Values as standard.
  • The Kingspan TEK™ Building System has a U-Value range of between 0.20 W/m².K and 0.10 W/m².K
  • The Kingspan TEK™ Building System is also a Passivhaus certified system. A building fabric specification for the Kingspan TEK™ Building System can developed to achieve the thermal, air permeability and (Ψ) psi-value performance required in the design of Passivhaus.  
  • Changes to Approved Document Part-L Building Regulations in October 2010 placed a greater emphasis on the impact of linear thermal bridges at junctions in building fabric. These are expressed as PSI (Ψ) Values.
  • The Kingspan TEK™ Building System has Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPS) at its core and naturally achieves very good Ψ-Values, due to the continuity of insulation at junctions and openings inherent in the system's design.
  • The Kingspan TEK™ Building System has modelled Ψ-Values which can be provided to help building designers achieve the best possible Dwelling Emission Rate (DER) calculations in SAP.

A Y-Value is calculated in SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) as the total sum of Ψ (PSI) values multiplied by the total length of each junction detail in your dwelling. The lower the Y-Value, the less heat is lost. 

  • SAP works by assessing how much energy a dwelling will consume and how much carbon dioxide (CO²) will be emitted in delivering a defined level of comfort and service provision, based on standardised occupancy conditions.
  • A SAP calculation takes data from the actual building design and uses it to assess CO² emissions and the cost of energy used for heating, hot water and internal lighting, relates it back to the floor area and displays it as a number between 1 and 100+. The higher the number, the lower the building’s running costs will be, with 100 representing zero energy cost.
  • It is possible to achieve a higher score than 100 with the use of renewable technologies such as PV, the energy of which can be exported to the national grid.
  • SAP ratings are also displayed in a banding system, from A to G, similar to the stickers that you would see on a new electrical appliance. Band A properties are rated at 92 and above, Band B ranges 81 to 91, and Band C ranges 69 to 80.
  • An SAP calculation and EPC, Energy Performance Certificate will be required to prove that the new dwelling is compliant with part L1A of current building regulations.
  • Factors that affect the SAP rating include: 

  • Thermal efficiency of the structure
  • Levels of air permeability 
  • Building ventilation
  • Fuel used for space heating, hot water and lighting.
  • The efficiency and control of heating systems
  • Solar gains through openings
  • Predicted CO² emissions
  • Overheating risk
  • A fail on any one of the above elements will result in a fail for the building design overall.
  • An incredibly thermally efficient, air tight building system with minimal linear or repeated thermal bridging such as the Kingspan TEK™ Building System from Point1 Building Systems can be used as a major component in the creation of a low or zero energy home.  
  • All new homes need a supply of fresh air, not just for the health and comfort of the occupants, but also to control condensation, remove pollutants, and to ensure the safe and efficient operation of various appliances. It is also a requirement of building regulations.
  • Traditionally, many UK dwellings have relied on natural / conventional air infiltration to provide ventilation such as window trickle vents, continuous eaves ventilation, extract fans etc. This however can result in excessive ventilation that increases energy consumption required for space heating, and can cause discomfort to occupants because of cold draughts.
  • Energy loss due to ventilation accounts for approximately a fifth of space-heating energy demand in an older, poorly insulated dwelling.
  • The objective of a good ventilation strategy is to provide a balance between energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
  • A whole house MVHR system works by replacing the warm stale moist air from the house, with fresh air from outside. The fresh air passes through a highly efficient heat exchanger and is pre-warmed by the heat which is recovered from the extracted stale air. Modern heat exchangers can recover between 70 – 98% heat from the outgoing stale air.
  • MVHR systems can also be specified to provide cooling during summer months, whilst ensuring that the dwelling is always fed with clean, fresh, filtered ambient air.  
  • When combined with an airtight, thermally efficient building system such as the Kingspan TEK™ Delivery System from Point1, a MVHR system will dramatically reduce space-heating energy demand. 

The Kingspan TEK™ Building System is a Passivhaus certified system and can be used in the creation of zero energy buildings. 

  • Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) are the main component in the next generation of timber-based construction systems. Although still seen in the UK as a relatively new building technology, SIPS have been used successfully in the UK since the late 90’s and around the world, particularly in the USA, for more than 50 years. SIPS are now firmly established in the market place as a genuine alternative to conventional, inefficient traditional building materials.
  • Ever demanding Building Regulations, combined with increased energy costs, confirm the consumer’s appetite for buildings that deliver much higher levels of energy efficiency. The Kingspan TEK™ Building System is an extremely cost effective product and exceeds the building regulations thermal requirements.
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