UK Future Homes Standard Drives Stricter Energy Efficiency and Ventilation Requirements
UK: The UK’s Future Homes Standard (FHS), planned for implementation in 2025, aims to reduce carbon emissions in new homes through low-carbon heating, including heat pumps, improved insulation and energy-efficient technologies such as Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). Updates to Building Regulations Parts F and L focus on indoor air quality, ventilation and energy performance, with Part L targeting a 31% reduction in carbon emissions compared with previous standards and the Home Energy Model (HEM) replacing the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). Proposed fabric standards include U-values of 0.18 W/m²K for walls, 0.13 W/m²K for roofs and floors, and 1.4 W/m²K for windows and doors, while ventilation guidance specifies a minimum supply rate of 30 litres per second per person for mechanical systems and 5,000 mm² of background ventilation per room. The requirements affect new homes and relevant major renovations or extensions, encouraging landlords and developers to invest in efficient heating, insulation and ventilation systems to support lower energy use, healthier indoor environments and compliance with evolving regulations.
Source: Ideal Bathrooms
