Planning, building and the environment

Part L of the Building Regulations: Proposed new editions of the Approved Documents L - Consultation: Summary of responses

Published	18 June 2009
Type(s)	Consultation responses, Consultation documents
Site	Planning, building and the environment
Product code	09BD05967
ISBN	9781409815143
Price	Free

Summary

This paper is a summary of the responses to the consultation paper, Part L of the Building Regulations: Proposed new editions of the Approved Documents L, which was issued by Communities and Local Government in June 2008. Responses were invited by 9 September 2008. The consultation package included the text of proposed 2008 editions of the Approved Documents L which would replace those which came into effect in April 2006.

A total of 43 written responses were received. This paper records the main points submitted in writing in response to the consultation.

The majority of respondents were content with the proposed changes to:

reflect legislative change
correct facts, and
improve style and presentation, though several felt there may be some scope for reducing the number of references and for further refinements in presentation

The consultation did not identify any impact on either the private or voluntary sectors that has not already been accounted for in previous Impact Assessments, and therefore no Impact Assessment has been produced.

When the consultation was published in June 2008 it was the intention to republish the Part L Approved Documents in the new style previewed in the consultation with a number of amendments and corrections which had been set out in annexes D and E of the consultation document.

However, with the forthcoming consultation on proposals to revise Part L in 2010, it has been decided to publish an addendum/corrigendum slip instead of republishing the 2006 Documents. The new style of approved documents will be taken forward in the 2010 Part L revision.

Multi-foil Insulation

Many of the responses related to the references in the Approved Documents to BRE Document BR 443 including reference in paragraph 3.10.2 to multi-foil insulation. While there was a divergence of views, the greater part of respondents agreed that paragraph 3.10.2 is the guidance that should be given in relation to multi-foil insulation products, at least until such time as a valid European Technical Approval or an alternative method becomes available. Few respondents considered that the retention of the reference to BR 443 would change their behaviour.

Communities and Local Government commissioned an expert review by Professor Philip Eames of Loughborough University of the current scientific opinion on test methods for determining the thermal performance of building materials and structures. Professor Eames' report also considers the technical issues raised in the consultation responses. The Department has published the Professor Eames' findings in the report Multi-foil Insulation: BD 2768

A new Communities and Local Government Circular 06/2009 and a separate Divisional Letter on this consultation have also been issued.

All these publications can be found in the related publications section below.

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