This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Focus on energy efficient buildings
24/09/2001
All new buildings will have to be more energy efficient
as a result of legislation being laid in the Scottish
Parliament today.
The drive to improve energy efficiency is intended
to help the UK meet targets to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions as well as ensuring that homes and other
buildings are cheaper to heat.
Deputy Transport and Planning Minister Lewis Macdonald
said:
"The Executive is committed to acting to help deliver
the UK's Kyoto targets on reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, and to removing fuel poverty. Stringent
requirements, which mean fundamental changes in building
construction, must be adopted if we are to meet these
objectives.
"The much higher standards, which were widely consulted
upon, have been welcomed by energy and sustainability
campaigners. They will have a lasting effect on the future
design and construction of new building, especially
housing.
"The insulation standards being introduced for Scotland
feature higher standards of wall insulation than currently
proposed for England and Wales. The common use of timber
frame construction in Scotland makes this practical.
Further improvements across Great Britain are planned in
the longer term.
"This move, coupled with the scheme announced last year
to install central heating for all pensioners and social
tenants, demonstrates the Executive's commitment to end
fuel poverty and tackle disadvantage, while also
contributing to a more environmentally-friendly energy
future.
"I particularly appreciate the way in which the Scottish
construction industry has responded to our initial
proposals. In order to give the construction industry the
maximum possible time to prepare for the changes to the
building regulations, I have decided that there will be a
longer than usual lead in time before the regulations come
into force on 4 March 2002."
Today's move means there will be a number of key changes
made to the existing Building Standards (Scotland)
Regulations. These include:
- The introduction of tougher thermal insulation
standards for all new buildings and the removal of the
exemption for some conservatories from building
regulation requirements
- More stringent standards for the energy efficiency
of domestic boilers and building services
The package also includes changes to the technical
standards on fire safety, to deal with the introduction of
European fire test methods, and improvements to promote use
of sustainable surface water drainage systems to reduce
incidences of flooding and pollution.
BACKGROUND
- Before making or amending the Building Standards
(Scotland) Regulations, Scottish Ministers are required
to consult the Building Standards Advisory Committee
(BSAC) and other bodies. The Executive proposals have
the support of BSAC and the consultation exercise
involved some 400 external consultees.
- The proposed amendments relate to changes to the
Technical Standards for compliance with the Building
Standards (Scotland) Regulations, specifically to the
following Parts of the Standards:
Part A - General
Part B - Fitness of materials
Part D - Structural fire precautions
Part E - Means of escape from fire,
facilities for fire-fighting and means of warning
of fire in dwellings and enclosed shopping
centres
Part J - Conservation of fuel and power
Part M - Drainage and sanitary
facilities
Part R - Storage of waste
- Formal publication of the legislation had to await
response to the notification of the proposals to the EU
under Directive 98/34/EC (
Avoiding New Barriers to Trade). The
three-month period within which Member States could
comment ended on 12 July.
- Changes to regulations usually come into force
three months after publication and laying in
Parliament. However, changes in construction practice
will be needed to comply with the legislation and the
extent of the changes suggests that the period for
industry to prepare should be extended. As well as
addressing industry concerns, this increased period
will harmonise with the timescale for the regulatory
changes in England and Wales.
- Copies of the amended Regulations, the sixth
amendment to the Technical Standards, are available
from The Stationery Office.