February 2023 amendments to Approved Document L, volume 1 and volume 2

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The Building Regulations 2010

This document contains amendments to the following Approved Document:

Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power Volume 1 – Dwellings Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellings 2021 edition

February 2023

For use in England

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This document sets out amendments to guidance previously published in Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1 – Dwellings and Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellings, 2021 edition. These amendments have been incorporated in the online available Approved Document L Volume 1 and Volume 2. Hard copy versions either downloaded or purchased before 2 February 2023 will need to be read alongside the amendments listed in this document. You should always check the online version to know that you are looking at the most up to date version.

The changes highlighted in this amendment booklet take effect on 2 February 2023 for use in England. The 2021 edition will continue to apply where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or full plans deposited with, a local authority before 2 February 2023 and either the building work to which it relates:

a.has started before that day; or

b.is started within the period of six months beginning on that day.

Please note that ‘building notice’, ‘initial notice’ and ‘full plans’ have the meanings given in the Building Regulations 2010.

The changes focus on the following provision:

District heat networks and community heating: Removal of primary energy factor as a performance standard for dwellings and buildings other than dwellings.

Full details of the changes are provided below.

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Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power Volume 1 – Dwellings

2021 edition

List of amendments

February 2023

Page 15Replace paragraph 2.10 with the following.

2.10The same CO₂ emission factors used to calculate the dwelling emission rate should be used to check against the minimum performance standards described in Section 6 of this approved document.

Page 44Replace paragraph 6.20 and note with the following.

6.20An existing district heat network that is being connected to a new dwelling should not have a CO₂ emission factor for delivered heat to the dwelling which is greater than 0.350kgCO₂/kWh. The CO₂ emission factor should be calculated using SAP 10 or taken from the Product Characteristics Database.

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Approved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellings

2021 edition

List of amendments

February 2023

Page 12Paragraph 2.7, replace the last note with the following.

Page 55Replace paragraph 6.79 and note with the following.

6.79A district heat network that is being connected to a new building should not have a CO₂ emission factor for delivered heat to the building which is greater than 0.350kgCO₂/kWh.

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The following documents have been published to give guidance on how to meet the Building Regulations. You can find the date of the edition approved by the Secretary of State at www.gov.uk.

Approved Document A Structure

Approved Document B Fire safety Volume 1: Dwellings

Approved Document B Fire safety Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings

Approved Document C Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture

Approved Document D Toxic substances

Approved Document E Resistance to the passage of sound

Approved Document F Ventilation Volume 1: Dwellings

Approved Document F Ventilation Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings

Approved Document G Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency

Approved Document H Drainage and waste disposal

Approved Document J Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems

Approved Document K Protection from falling, collision and impact

Approved Document L Conservation of fuel and power Volume 1: Dwellings

Approved Document L Conservation of fuel and power Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings

Approved Document M Access to and use of buildings Volume 1: Dwellings

Approved Document M Access to and use of buildings Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings

Approved Document O Overheating

Approved Document P Electrical safety – Dwellings

Approved Document Q Security – Dwellings

Approved Document R Infrastructure for electronic communications Volume 1: Physical infrastructure and network connection for new dwellings

Approved Document R Infrastructure for electronic communications Volume 2: Physical infrastructure for high-speed electronic communications networks

Approved Document S Infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles

Approved Document 7 Materials and workmanship

The Building Regulations 2010, Approved Documents are available from:

RIBA Books Online: www.architecture.com/ribabooks Telephone: +44 (0)20 7496 8383 Email: sales@books.architecture.com

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