Nine
in 10 architects are going above and beyond the minimum requirements for
tackling overheating in new homes, as developers seek to protect residents
against extreme heatwaves, according to a new study by glassmaker Pilkington
UK.
The
manufacturer polled 100 architects 12 months on from the introduction of Part O
building regulations, which laid out stricter measures for new homes to
minimise their risk of overheating.
Encouragingly,
only 9% admitted to just meeting the new regulations’ minimum requirements. The
study suggested developer demand was among the factors motivating architects.
Photo: New Hall Farm
Almost
a third (32%) of respondents said extreme heatwaves, prompting greater interest
in overheating from developers for occupant wellbeing, would be the biggest
factor to influence greater measures for combatting overheating in new homes
over the next five years.
Meanwhile,
two in five (40%) architects said Part O would be the top driver.
But the
study found how seven in 10 (71%) architects agreed there is a missed
opportunity in Part O limiting the strictest measures for combatting
overheating only to London and central Manchester, with other areas at a
similar risk of overheating.
Phil
Brown, European regulatory marketing manager at Pilkington UK, said:
“Architects going beyond minimum requirements for overheating is encouraging to
see. But it questions whether the landmark Part O regulations went far enough,
and if they are out of step with developers’ ambitions for new homes following
last summer’s record-breaking heatwave events.”
Pilkington
UK’s study found how the majority of architects (57%) had found compliance with
Part O easy. Many were turning to products like Pilkington Suncool 70/35
glazing designed to limit solar gain in buildings, to meet the new
requirements.
The
majority (70%) of architects polled said they were specifying more solar
control glazing for residential projects since Part O was introduced.
Nearly
nine in 10 (86%) architects polled agreed that solutions for combating
overheating, like solar control glazing, are becoming increasingly important to
new UK homes as the country becomes more accustomed to experiencing extreme
heatwaves due to climate change.
However, one in seven (14%)
said they most commonly incorporate air conditioning systems to help limit
overheating, despite Part O instructing architects to exhaust all passive
measures for mitigating overheating before considering mechanical cooling.
Phil
Brown continued: “Solar control glazing has historically only had a
small role to play in UK residential building design due to the country’s more
temperate climate. But changes in regulation, climate and energy efficiency
ambitions are making it a more essential material of choice for windows and
glazed elevations.
“It’s
incumbent on manufacturers to continue to innovate to provide more choice for
architects in solar control glazing, enabling them to meet their clients’
demand for homes that go above and beyond in protecting residents against
overheating.”
Pilkington
UK revealed its research findings to almost 200 residential building design
professionals in an online seminar on Part O hosted by Phil Brown.
