Actis CPD will help contractors tackle Part L revisions

If, like many contractors and installers, you’re scratching your head about how to comply with the Part L revisions, which came into force in the summer, then a new CPD, created by insulation experts Actis, could help unveil and summarise all of the upcoming changes

The free one-hour Tomorrow’s Insulation Solutions for Future Homes Standards CPD gives guidance on how to meet Part L revisions, such as revised energy efficiency targets which see new build homes having to reduce carbon emissions by 31% over previous levels.

The Actis CPD, which is RIBA-approved and has been certified by the Construction CPD Certification Service, looks at different tactics to help achieve the greater goal of building Net Zero by 2050, such as the increased importance of having a ‘fabric first’ approach.

Actis regional specification manager and co-author of the CPD, Amaret Chahal, explained: “We’ve simplified and summarised all the changes that are happening now, while
making it clear that this is ultimately another stepping stone towards Future Homes Standards.

“Combining more use of efficient building technologies with a thermally sound building structure is the key to achieving lowering requirements. Reducing the need for energy in the first place is essential, which means minimising overall heat loss through thermal bridging and improving air tightness.”

The guidance on achieving Part L revisions will also cover airtightness and insulation

The CPD will look in detail at ways to improve U-values, reduce thermal bridging, address the performance gap and improve airtightness. And to ensure these changes
don’t create a problem in the other direction, it will look at how to ensure there are no issues with overheating.

“The key way to minimise thermal bridging is to make sure insulation is continuous and has no gaps,” explained Amaret.

“Using flexible reflective insulation, such as those in the Actis Hybrid range including an insulated breather membrane and vapour control layer, is an excellent way of achieving this. Because Hybris doesn’t need to be cut with 100% accuracy like solid insulation, it can be moulded into corners, gaps and awkward junctions, making for a snug, leak-free fit.”

The CPD will also look at SAP 10, the latest update to the Standard Assessment Procedure, which is incorporated within the revised Part L regulations and designed to ensure correct thermal modelling junctions are used.