Climate Concern Drives Architects Beyond Building Regs for Overheating
Nine in 10 architects are going above and beyond the minimum requirements for tackling overheating in new homes as developers seek to protect residents against extreme heatwaves according to a new study by Pilkington UK. The glass manufacturer polled 100 architects 12 months on from the introduction of UK Part O building regulations, which laid out stricter measures for new homes to minimise their risk of overheating.
Only 9% admitted to just meeting the new regulations’ minimum requirements. The study suggested developer demand was among the factors motivating architects. Almost a third (32%) of respondents said extreme heatwaves, prompting greater interest in overheating from developers for occupant wellbeing, would be the biggest factor influencing greater measures for combatting overheating in new homes over the next five years. Meanwhile, 40% of architects said Part O would be the top driver. The study found how seven in 10 (71%) architects agreed there is a missed opportunity in the regulation limiting the strictest measures for combatting overheating only to London and central Manchester, with other areas at a similar risk of overheating.
Phil Brown, European regulatory marketing manager at Pilkington UK, said: “Architects going beyond minimum requirements for overheating is encouraging to see. But it questions whether the landmark Part O regulations went far enough, and if they are out of step with developers’ ambitions for new homes following last summer’s record-breaking heatwave events."
“Solar control glazing has historically only had a small role to play in UK residential building design due to the country’s more temperate climate. But changes in regulation, climate and energy efficiency ambitions are making it a more essential material of choice for windows and glazed elevations.”
