The Code for Sustainable Homes: Explained

Colin KingBRE

Key Aspects of the Code

Key Objectives of the Code

As recommended by the Sustainable Buildings Task Group

• Bring about a step change in sustainable building practice for new homes, provides a route map to Zero Carbon dwellings

• Encourage home builders to construct more sustainable homes

• Signal the direction of future regulations

Minimum standardsCategories FlexibilityEnergy Efficiency 6 levels of minimum standards one for each level of the

CodeWater Efficiency Three levels of minimum standards each covering two

levels of the Code

Materials A single basic standard at Code entry levelSurface Water Run Off WastePollution No minimum standardsHealth & Well-Being ManagementEcology

• Energy

• Potable Water Consumption

• Waste

• Materials

• Water Surface Run-off

• Pollution

• Health & Wellbeing

• Management

• Energy

• Potable Water Consumption

• Waste

• Materials

• Water Surface Run-off

• Pollution

• Health & Wellbeing

• Management

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• Energy

• Potable Water Consumption

• Energy

• Potable Water Consumption

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OverallScore

Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4 Level 5Level 6

Ecology•

A Two-stage Process

• Design Stage– Based on design drawings, specifications and

commitments – Results in interim certificate of compliance

+• Post Construction Stage

– Based the design stage information– Confirmation of compliance through site

records and visual inspection– Code certificate awarded based on compliance

at this stage

Technical Content

Code Issue Categories

• Energy/CO2

• Water

• Materials

• Surface Water Run- off

• Waste

• Pollution

• Health & Well-being

• Management

• Ecology

Energy

Sliding scale introduced

Energy

• Ene 2 Fabric Energy Efficiency

• Ene 3 Smart Meters

• Ene 4 Drying Space

Energy

• Ene 5 Energy Labelled White Goods

• Ene 6 External Lighting

• Ene 7 Low and Zero Carbon Technologies

Energy

• Ene 8 Cycle Storage

• Ene 9 Home Office

Water

Water

•Wat 1 Internal Potable Water Mandatory

Water

• Wat 2 External Water Use

Materials

Materials• Mat 1 Environmental Impact of

– A. Roof – B. External Walls– C. Internal Walls (including

separating floors)– D. Upper and Ground Floors

(including separating floors)– E. Windows– Mandatory All Levels

Materials

• Mat 2 Responsible sourcing of materialsBasic Building Elements

• Mat 3 Responsible sourcing of materials Finishing Elements

Surface Water Run Off

Surface Water Run Off

• Sur 1 Reduction of Surface Water Run Off from SiteMandatory All Levels

• Sur 2 Flood Risk

Mandatory requirements of the Code

• Ensure that run-off rates and annual volumes of run-off post development will be no greater than the previous conditions for the site. Where rainwater holding facilities/sustainable drainage systems (SUD’s) are used to provide attenuation of water run-off to either natural watercourses or surface water drainage systems, providing percentage time attenuation should be provided as follows to meet the mandatory requirement or the following, whichever is greater:

• 50% in low flooding risk areas• 75% in moderate flooding risk areas• 100% in significant flooding risk areas

Waste

Waste

• Was 1 Household WasteStorage and Recycling FacilitiesMandatory All Levels

• Was 2 Construction Site WasteManagement

• Was 3 Composting

Mandatory Requirements for any level of the Code

• Waste 1 – either internal recycling facilities or local authoritycollection scheme of required number of waste streams.

Pollution

Pollution

• Pol 1 Global Warming Potential (GWP) of Insulants

• Pol 2 NOx Emissions

Health and Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing

• Hea 1 Daylighting

• Hea 2 Sound Insulation

• Hea 3 Private Space

• Hea 4 Lifetime Homes

Management

Management Credits

• Man 1 Home User Guide

• Man 2 Considerate Constructors

• Man 3 Construction Site Impacts

• Man 4 Security

Ecology

Ecology• Eco 1 Ecological Value of Site

• Eco 2 Ecological Enhancement

• Eco 3 Protection of Ecological Features

• Eco 4 Change of Ecological Value of Site

• Eco 5 Building Footprint

So What Does it Look Like

• Anything you want it too

• Just a performance standard above minimums set by regulation.

• Questions