Crofton, the Kent-based consulting engineer, recently held a seminar in Maidstone, Kent to inform businesses of how they can comply with tough new energy performance regulations that involve harsh penalties – with fines of up to £5,000 if they are not adhered to.

The new building regulation came into effect in October 2010. From now on, any building work carried out to new buildings requires a 25% improvement on previous energy standards, and improvements to be made to any existing building to which a new extension is attached. Failure to comply can mean a £5,000 fine plus a fine of £50 for every day of non compliance.

Barry Henson, Building Services Director at Crofton, discussed the impact the proposed changes will have when businesses undertake new build schemes, refurbishments or extensions to their existing buildings, and outlined the implications for managing the new regulation.

Mr Henson commented: We ran the seminar because businesses need to know that these new rules have come into effect and they have dramatically changed energy performance requirements. We explained to businesses the way that new buildings are affected and the heating, ventilation, lighting and air conditioning systems need to be installed to comply with the regulations. Further where extending an existing building in excess of 1000m sq floor area there is likely to be requirement to improve the performance of the existing building too.

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"For example, implementation of low carbon systems is now becoming a common solution in meeting the new energy standards. This means technologies such as solar collectors, combined heat and power, and heat pumps. Any businesses considering new build or refurbishment projects must come up with proposals for their buildings and then carry out carbon footprint testing to ensure they meet the energy performance standard required.

"Also, when constructing new buildings, or when refurbishing existing ones, qualities such as air tightness, and the thermal insulation of the walls, roof and flooring must be considered in more detail."

The seminar was well attended by facilities managers, architects, local authorities, contractors and project managers. Mr Henson believed that all those who attended the seminar left "fully briefed" on how the new regulation could effect them and "confident" that they would avoid non compliance penalties.

This new "Part L" of the Building Regulations, aims to help meet global warming reduction targets to which the UK Government has signed up.

For more information on the new regulation visit: www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/buildingregulations

Or the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/publications/lc_trans_plan/lc_trans_plan.aspx