Approved Document L restructured into two volumes

From 15 June 2022, Approved Document L, which covers the conservation of fuel and power, is split into two volumes in England. Volume 1 covers dwellings and Volume 2 covers buildings other than dwellings, replacing the four previous parts L1A, L1B, L2A and L2B¹. The change follows The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021¹.

The Planning Portal, which publishes the approved documents, states that the two volumes "will replace the following four Approved Document L parts": L1A, conservation of fuel and power in new dwellings; L1B, in existing dwellings; L2A, in new buildings other than dwellings; and L2B, in existing buildings other than dwellings¹.

"As of 15 June 2022, the guidance will change due to The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2021"

Volume 1 applies to dwellings only and contains guidance on the energy efficiency requirements set out in Part L of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010². The Planning Portal lists the subjects it covers as limiting heat gains and losses, air permeability and pressure testing, insulation regulations, boiler productivity, lighting and hot water storage, along with fixed standards for Carbon Index ratings, solar emissions, heating and ventilation systems, space heating controls and air conditioning². Volume 2 applies to buildings other than dwellings and covers insulation regulations, boiler productivity, lighting and hot water storage, among other fuel and power systems¹.

The document itself states that it takes effect on 15 June 2022 for use in England, and that it does not apply to work subject to a building notice, full plans application or initial notice submitted before that date, provided the work for each building is started before 15 June 2023⁵. It also notes that in a mixed-use building, Volume 2 should be consulted for building work in parts of the building that are not dwellings⁵.

The same commencement date applies to Approved Document F on ventilation, which is also restructured into two volumes: Volume 1 for dwellings and Volume 2 for buildings other than dwellings, replacing the 2010 edition incorporating 2010 and 2013 amendments⁶. The Planning Portal gives the publication date for the new volumes as December 2021¹.

Why it matters for households

Part L is the part of the Building Regulations in England that sets the energy efficiency requirements for building work, and it is the document that governs insulation and glazing requirements when a home is extended, altered or built. Consolidating four parts into a single dwellings volume means the guidance a householder or their adviser needs for domestic work sits in one document rather than being split between new-build and existing-dwelling parts¹.

The document states that complying with the guidance in the approved documents does not guarantee that building work complies with the requirements of the regulations, and that there may be other ways to comply⁵. It also states that where building work consists only of installing certain services or fittings, such as fuel-burning appliances or replacement windows, and the owner employs an installer registered with a relevant competent person scheme, a building control body does not need to be notified⁵.

For homes, the practical effect is that the energy efficiency requirements applied to a project are now read from Volume 1, which covers limiting heat gains and losses, air permeability and pressure testing, and insulation regulations². The document also sets out that for building work in very large dwellings of over 1000m2, consequential improvements may be required, and that work to some dwellings does not need to comply fully with the energy efficiency requirements where doing so would unacceptably alter the dwelling's character or appearance⁵.

What happens next

The Planning Portal lists the Volume 1 and Volume 2 documents as the 2021 edition incorporating 2023 amendments, with a last updated date of 2 February 2023¹. The 2023 amendments are described in the document as focusing on the removal of the primary energy factor as a performance standard for dwellings in relation to district heat networks and community heating⁵. The transitional arrangements are set out in Circular Letter 01/2021 published on gov.uk, which the document cites but does not reproduce⁵.

Sources7 cited

1. Approved Document L, Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings - Part L - Conservation of fuel and power - Planning Portal, planningportal.co.uk
2. Approved Document L, Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1: Dwellings - Part L - Conservation of fuel and power - Planning Portal, planningportal.co.uk
3. Approved Document L, Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1: Dwellings - Part L - Conservation of fuel and power - Planning Portal, planningportal.co.uk
4. Previous editions - Part L - Conservation of fuel and power - Planning Portal, planningportal.co.uk
5. Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1: Dwellings, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
6. Previous editions - Part F - Ventilation - Planning Portal, planningportal.co.uk
7. Approved Document F: Volume 1 applies to dwellings - Part F - Ventilation - Planning Portal, planningportal.co.uk