With new and updated Building Regulations being rolled out now and over the next few years to ensure safer, higher performing and greener buildings, it’s a period of change and adaptability for housing providers. Zutec offers advice on Part L compliance, the requirement for photographic evidence to demonstrate new homes meet efficiency targets and the benefits of using a construction SaaS platform.
One such example of regulatory changes is the uplifted Part L (or Approved Document L), which came into affect in June and is part of Building Regulation 40. Part L 2021 provides an interim improvement in energy efficiency for individual dwellings being built or refurbished in England and Wales, in readiness for upcoming regulations such as the more rigorous Future Homes and Future Building Standard in 2025. This standard will complement existing building regulations and will be the turning point in which the UK Government is hoping to reduce carbon emissions in new homes by 75-80%. Part L is essentially future proofing homes for future regulatory requirements.
The requirement to capture photographic evidence to comply with Part L 2021 is mandatory. It is, therefore, essential that those building or refurbishing housing get to grips with what is required of them to meet these new standards and comply with the regulations. They also need to be a step ahead in terms of the adjustment period, how they make the process easy to achieve, how they produce and document evidence, and how they make evidence easily accessible to everyone that needs to see it.
It can be a complex and cumbersome road to get there without the right tools and processes in place. However, it is down to everyone involved in the process from housebuilders and contractors to housing associations and local authorities to demonstrate that new-builds and refurbished dwellings are constructed using materials, methods and technology that meet standards. Clear and consistent digital processes will be required to support this endeavour.
This might sound like a long journey for those involved but one that is entirely achievable if the right first steps are taken now.
Why photographic evidence?
With an implementation start date of 15th June 2022, Part L: Volumes 1 and 2 were officially published in December 2021, in order that everyone involved in the process could prepare. Part L stipulates that qualitative photographic evidence is required throughout the build stages to demonstrate that new homes meet the energy efficiency targets outlined above. However, changes will not apply in relation to building work where a building notice or an initial notice was given to, or full plans deposited with, a local authority before 15th June 2022 — provided that the building work is started before 15th June 2023.
Specific requirements for photographic evidence are outlined in Appendix B of Part L 2021, but in short, photos are required to be taken during construction and prior to production of the EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) and BREL (Building Regulation England Part L Report) output compliance report. These photos must be unique to each property and property detail and ensure the as-built construction truly reflects that of the design stage SAP calculation to demonstrate quality and installation is in accordance with best practice and the assumed performance.
Every photo taken and submitted to the assessor should be digital and high enough resolution to allow a qualitative audit of the subject detail. This means close ups may be required, geo-location enabled to show date, time and location of each image, and a file name to include plot number and reference according to the property detail so photos are traceable. Part L requires all photos to be taken at appropriate stages of construction when each detail is completed and prior to closing up works.
For SAP assessors to release EPCs and the new as built BREL Report, this photographic evidence will prove work has been constructed correctly to meet the uplifted standards.
Why tech will be central to much more than just photo capture
As Dutyholders, technology will play a critical role in ‘owning your data’ and ensuring the supply chain is collating and presenting the photographic evidence required to demonstrate compliance. A centralised platform that reports and tracks progress against the requirements will be essential to ensure projects run smoothly. To neglect or omit these requirements can be costly and time consuming as inefficient photographic evidence may mean work has to be deconstructed and retrofitted causing project delays. Non-compliance with the BREL report, which is required by the building control body for final sign-off, also means a property can’t be ‘completed’ until it meets standards.
When it comes to Part L 2021, one go to tool or app used throughout the build stage will help housing associations and local authorities not only ensure the mandatory photographic evidence is captured by the supply chain but will also allow users to manage and share that evidence with relevant stakeholders. Under the new guidelines the BREL report should be signed by the developer to confirm the dwelling has been constructed and completed according to the specifications in the report. The BREL report and photo log should also be passed on to the homeowner.
A single source of truth will make the process for everyone involved easier, and mean evidence is recorded and easily accessible by key stakeholders. As photos must be taken throughout the build lifecycle, processes and workflows can be put in place to ensure these photos are taken correctly in line with the programme, and can be traced back to a particular project, site location and dwelling, will be essential. Photos not only have to be taken of the detail, such as the insulation and installations themselves that will deliver this energy efficiency, but there is a requirement for that photo to be geo-referenced and easily accessible for SAP assessors to review and inspect… and this is where a digital quality management platform comes into play.
A construction SaaS platform, such as Zutec, provides a common data environment to support the requirements outlined above. It can be integrated with existing quality management programmes and is the perfect solution to take geo-located photos from any mobile device while on site, ensuring photos match the project and location. Photos and correlating data can be centrally recorded and accessible by all key stakeholders from the house builder to the owner, as well as SAP assessor as they inspect evidence on the road toward Part L 2021 compliance.
Quick to implement and simple to use, there is no need for a Wi-Fi connection with a platform like Zutec. Data can be collected on site and processed later, meaning one place where all photographic evidence and supporting documentation lives. Additionally, photos can be marked up and shared with team members and inspectors at any time, which means site managers can submit photos as they are captured, so evidence can be approved or sent back with feedback. If the work is not up to standard it can be remediated before the build completes. This speeds up the process, ahead of the EPC and the BREL report being released and avoids retrofitting new homes, which is timely and costly.
A solution such as Zutec, can be up and running quickly and provides additional benefits including improved team communications, assignment of tasks and the ability close and sign off installations. One tool for everything. As a completely configurable platform it can be used for other upcoming regulations, as well as any quality management and digital handover use cases — providing the golden thread for housing associations and local authorities, giving them a single source of truth to show that most efficient products and materials have been used to provide safe and performing homes.
Taking the next step
For housing industry, Part L 2021 is the first step towards greater quality assurance, traceability and accountability, in order to ensure the most efficient products and materials are used to close the gap between how energy-efficient buildings should be and how they perform in the real world. Unfortunately, what is required today is not always reality.
All in all, Part L 2021 changes will ensure the sector meet higher standards as regulations get far more stringent and puts a greater emphasis on the housebuilder or contractor to provide the evidence for the SAP calculation, as assessors work towards signing a BREL compliance report off and handing over a property. A platform is the most efficient and effective way to evidence compliance to this and other upcoming Building Regulations and means management can monitor how their teams are performing and delivering this requirement.
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