Join our network. Make change happen.UK: Country Profile
Code Development
| Summary |
Summary
Each constituent part of the UK (England Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales) sets its own requirements. England and Wales first included energy conservation in building regulations in 1976, whereas Scotland and Northern Ireland introduced such regulations later, 2003 and 2006, respectively. As a member of the European Union, the United Kingdom must comply with the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). England and Wales, Scotland as well as Northern Ireland are responsible for incorporating European directives at their own national levels. |
| Start Year |
Exact Start Year
1 976
Start Year Range
< 1980
|
| Revision Schedule |
Yes, a revision schedule exists
Revision Schedule Explanation
England and Wales plan to issue their next building regulation revisions in 2016. Scotland has created a panel in to advise on the development of a low carbon building standards strategy to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. |
| Existing Code Coverage |
Commercial
Residential
|
| Stakeholder Engagement |
Stakeholder Engagement
Working group
Technical Committee
Websites
Public Meeting or Conference or Newsletter
|
| Best Practices |
New Buildings
Existing Buildings
|
Code Implementation - Compliance & Enforcement
| Administrative/Enforcement Structures |
Local authorities oversee compliance with building regulations and target emission rates. Third parties submit reports with calculations showing compliance. |
| Compliance Checking on Design |
Yes, compliance is checked on Design
|
| Compliance Checking on Construction |
Yes, compliance is checked on Construction
|
| Compliance Checking on Pre-Occupancy | |
| Air Tightness testingy |
Yes, Air Tightness is tested
|
| Commissioning before occupancy |
Yes, commissioning is happening before occupancy
|
| Commissioning after occupancy | |
| Compliance Software Residential | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
| Compliance Software Non-Residential |
Yes, Software exists
|
| Penalties for non-compliance |
Refusal Permission to construct
Other
Other penalties
Fines
|
| Incentives and Recognition program for compliance |
Incentives and Recognition program for compliance
End User Program
Awards/Grants/Tax Breaks
Finance/Loans/Ratings
Dwellings constructed to achieve net carbon emissions of zero over the year are exempt from stamp duty tax. |
| Compliance Rate monitoringe | |
| Compliance Rate Publicised | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
| Compliance Lessons Learned | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
| Compliance Energy Use Statistics | |
| Compliance Rate in % | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
Capacity Building and Education
| Awareness Raising |
Awareness raising
Resourse kits
Compliance Training
Online resources -
Professional Curriculum
The regional governments have worked with professional bodies, trade associations and accreditation schemes to ensure a smooth implementation process. Local authority building control is a not-for-profit membership organisation that represents all local authority building control teams in England and Wales. The Zero Energy Hub provides on-line resources and guidance on implementing the UK Zero Carbon homes policies. |
Building materials
| Building Materials Ratings |
Energy Performance Certificates
| EPC Implementation |
EPC Implementation
EPCs are referred to in codes -
Building codes in the UK reference energy performance certificates (EPCs). The UK has adopted the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and mandated EPBD EPC requirements in line with the European standards. |
