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Thermal Regulations - Scotland

Section 6 CoverDomestic Technical Handbook - Section 6: Energy

The EPBD requires a calculation method that adopts a whole building approach to energy performance. A new 2005 version of SAP has been developed that meets this requirement. The SAP worksheet and specification can be downloaded from www.bre.co.uk/sap2005 In addition, there is greater emphasis on ensuring that the building construction meets the standards assumed at the design stage and that the heating and hot water systems are correctly commissioned.

How to comply

The four criteria set out below describe the process the designer and builder must go through to show compliance. SAP 2005 is used to calculate a Target Emission Rate (TER) for a ‘notional dwelling’ of exactly the same size and shape as the proposed dwelling and assuming a fixed package of measures as set out in Table 9. The steps to achieve compliance are set out below.


 

1. Calculating the CO2 emissions for the proposed building

The calculated rate of carbon dioxide emissions from the dwelling (the Dwelling Emission Rate DER) should not be greater than the Target Emission Rate (TER).

How to comply

Using the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP 2005), the CO2 emission rate is calculated for a notional dwelling of the same size and shape as the proposed dwelling using a fixed set of criteria for the fabric heat loss, building services and fuel choice. Tables 2 and 3 lists the criteria used to calculate the CO2 emission rate. BRE approved SAP 2005 software incorporates a function that with Scotland selected, automatically generates the target CO2 emissions level when the fuel type is selected and the ‘notional dwelling’ dimensions and 'living area fraction' have been input into the programme.

To calculate the Dwelling Emission Rate (DER), the SAP calculation is repeated, but this time inserting the proposed U-values, building services and low or zero carbon energy sources for the proposed building. If the DER of the proposed building is less than or equal to the TER, Standard 6.1 has been achieved.

As an alternative to the SAP calculation method, clause 6.16 allows a simplified approach, which is to adopt one of the six packages of measures listed in Table 9.

Note that a SAP calculation will still need to be done to produce the information for the Energy Performance Certificate that must be affixed to every new dwelling – see step 4.


 

2. Design ‘back stops’

Show that the thermal performance of the building fabric and the heating, hot water and lighting systems are within the design limits in the Technical Handbook.

How to comply

Standards 6.2 to 6.8 in the Technical Handbook mainly recommend ‘back stop’ levels of performance, which in most cases will need to be exceeded in order to meet the level of energy efficiency required in Standard 6.1 of the Handbook.

These back stops include:

  • limiting U-values (see Table 4)
  • levels of air permeability
  • heating and hot water systems and controls
  • insulation of pipes, ducts and vessels
  • artificial lighting
  • mechanical ventilation and air conditioning

Table 4 - Limiting U-values (W/M2K)

Individual Element

(a) Area-weighted dwelling average

(b) Worst sub-element

Wall 0.30 0.70
Floor 0.25 0.70
Roof 0.20 0.35
Glazed openings & doors 2.20 3.30

 

3. Written information

Provide operating and maintenance instructions to enable the building and its services to be operated in an energy efficient manner.

How to comply

The owner of the building should be provided with a set of simple operating and maintenance instructions explaining how to use the installed heating and hot water system to achieve economy in use.


 

EPC Small4. Energy Performance Certificate

Every new dwelling should have an Energy Performance Certificate affixed to it. The Technical Handbook lists out all the information that should be included on the Certificate. It should be permanently affixed to the dwelling, in a meter cupboard for example.

 

 

Table 9: Measures to calculate target carbon dioxide emissions for the 'notional dwelling'

Element or system

Gas

(package 1)

LPG

(package 2)

Oil

(package 3)

Electricity

(package 4)

Biomass 1

(package 5)

Solid fuel

(package 6)

Walls  U=0.25 U=0.25 U=0.25 U=0.25 U=0.25 U=0.20
Roofs U=0.22 U=0.22 U=0.22 U=0.22 U=0.22 U=0.20
Floors U=0.16 U=0.16 U=0.16 U=0.16 U=0.16 U=0.16
Openings 2 U=0.18 U=0.18 U=0.17 U=0.18 U=0.18 U=1.50
Allowance for thermal bridging 0.08 x total exposed surface area3 0.08 x total exposed surface area 0.08 x total exposed surface area 0.08 x total exposed surface area 0.08 x total exposed surface area 0.06 x total exposed surface area
Open flues none one one none one one
Heating system (pump in heated space) Gas boiler roomsealed fan flued 90% efficiency LPG boiler roomsealed fan flued 90% efficiency Oil boiler roomsealed fan flued 93% efficiency Air to water heat pump Wood pellet boiler HETAS approved Anthracite bolier autofeed in heated space HETAS approved
Heating system controls

Programmer

+ room thermostat

Programmer

+ room thermostat

+ TRVs

+ Boiler interlock

Programmer

+ room thermostat

+ TRVs

+ Boiler interlock

+ weather

Programmer

+ room thermostat

+ TRVs

+ Boiler interlock

 

Programmer

+ room thermostat

Programmer

+ room thermostat

+ TRVs

Hot water (HW) system (not applicable if combi boiler) Stored HW (from boiler) separate time control for space and water heating Stored HW (from boiler) separate time control for space and water heating Stored HW (from boiler) separate time control for space and water heating Stored HW by electric immersion Stored HW (from boiler) separate time control for space and water heating Stored HW by dual electric immersion & solar
Secondary space heating 10% electric 10% closed wood logburning room heater 4 10% closed wood logburning room heater 4 10% electric 10% electric 10% electric
Solar panel evacuated tube-collector efficiency n=0.6, a1=3 none none none none none 4m2 panel between SE and SW, not more that 45degree pitch, no overshading

 

Table 10: The following default values are used in the 'notional dwelling' for all fuel types

Windows, doors, and rooflights

area 25% of total floor area [5]

Orientation

all glazing orientated east/west

Shading

average overshading

Number of sheltered sides

2

Chimneys

none

Ventilation system

natural ventilation with intermittent extract fans: 4 for dwellings with floor area more than 80 m2, 3 for smaller dwellings

Air permeability

10 m3 /m2h at 50 Pa

Hot water cylinder (for solar water heating a combined cylinder with solar store 75 litre, no solar powered pump)

150 litre cylinder insulated with 50 mm of factory applied foam (cylinder in heated space) cylinder temperature controlled by thermostat

Primary water heating losses (not applicable to combi-boiler or immersion)

primary pipework insulated

Low energy light fittings

50% of fixed outlets

Notes to Tables 9 and 10

1) The biomass column should be used not only where biomass fuel is to be used but also for biogas, large scale waste combustion from boilers and waste heat from power stations. It does not however include dual or multi-fuel which should be taken under the ‘solid fuel’ column.

2) U is the average U-value of all openings (windows, doors, rooflights) based on one opaque door 1.85 m2 of U=1.8, any other doors fully glazed. For windows, doors etc a frame factor of 0.7, light transmittance 0.80 and solar energy transmittance 0.72 for U greater than or equal to 1.7, 0.63 for U less than 1.7 are assumed.

3) Construction using ‘Accredited Construction Details (Scotland)’ is considered to correspond to the default figure of 0.08 for thermal bridging (refer clause 6.2.3).

4) Under secondary heating the closed wood logburning room heater is capable of burning wood only, not multi-fuel.

5) If total exposed façade area is less than 25% of the floor area, the total exposed façade area.

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