Tips & Insight
Fire Suppression System Integrity Testing
How do we protect valuable assets from the risk of fire? Room integrity testing plays a critical part in mitigating this risk. A fire within your company buildi ...
Building Airtightness: The Impact of Ventilation Systems
A well-sealed building minimises heat loss, reducing energy consumption and lowering utility bills. However, achieving airtightness also necessitates an effecti ...
The Problem with Extractor Fans
Ventilation in our homes is under increased scrutiny from building control – and for good reason. We test a lot of extract fans as per the Part F requirem ...
BREEAM auditor vs assessor: different perspectives but a common goal
Our senior BREEAM consultant Ivonne Ortega-Nava has seen both sides of a BREEAM project – both as an auditor reviewing a high volume of assessments – ...
How to achieve wall U-values
U-values are a key part of energy assessments. Reducing the heat loss through the elements means less heating demand and fewer CO2 emissions. For more informati ...
Thermal Mass Parameter – effects in SAP
The calculation of a Thermal Mass Parameter became a mandatory part of SAP assessments in 2022. The changes to Part L of the Building Regulations and the releas ...
Get Ready for Photographic Evidence
Strict new EPC photographic evidence requirements were introduced for all new homes in June 2022. The changes relate to the Part L Changes we saw in 2022 regard ...
What is an Energy Statement?
What is an Energy Statement? If you are involved with any significant planning application, there is a good chance you will need to provide an energy statement. ...
The new PER – what it is and how will it affect your project?
The Primary Energy Rating (PER for short) comes into effect with the new regulations launch this June. For dwellings, the PER joins the former CO2 based emissio ...
The New Part O for Overheating
Another major shakeup for the Building Regulations in June is the introduction of a new Part O to tackle overheating risk. Within our usual SAP Calculation too ...
8 things to know about the new building regulations
Long awaited changes to the building regulations were published today which will greatly impact the way new buildings are designed and built. Changes to Part L ...
Q&A with an Airtightness Consultant
What’s it like working in the world of airtightness? Lee Kenton is a Level 2 airtightness consultant and one of our technical managers here at BE. We want ...
BREEAM Fees Set to Increase
The cost of delivering BREEAM schemes is about to increase. BRE have given notice that fees will be increasing for all assessments registered on or after 1st Ju ...
Q&A with a BREEAM Assessor
What’s it like to spend your working life assessing BREEAM projects? We asked our lead consultant Alison Ewins about life inside and outside of the BREEAM ...
District Heating First from the London Underground
If you had to name a location in London with an excess of heat, the tube network would be at the forefront of most people’s minds. Now excess heat from the No ...
What is a Heat Network? A Brief Guide to District Heating
A heat network, or district heating, distributes heat generated at a central location to individual premises. Occupants then use this heat energy for space heat ...
WWHR: What is Waste Water Heat Recovery?
Waste Water Heat Recovery (WWHR) units can help to lower CO² emissions in new homes. They can provide a relatively low cost and low maintenance solution to low ...
SAP Assessment – it’s all in the Process!
To get the best out of your SAP Assessor it’s worth understanding a little about the assessment process itself. A SAP Assessor can (and sometimes should) ...
What are U-Value Calculations?
U-values play a huge part in determining the energy performance of a building. So what are U-value calculations, and how do they relate to SAP Assessments? A U- ...
Extending a Home in Guernsey – Our Guide to Part L
Each of the Bailiwick’s of the Channel Islands apply their own rules for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings. These cover new build homes, non-dom ...
Japan’s Biggest Housebuilder Moves into UK Market
Japan’s biggest house builder has struck a £90m deal with Homes England and Urban Splash to deliver thousands of new properties across England. Sekisui House ...
EPC’s, SAP and BRUKL – A Guide for Planners and Building Control
Energy assessors are responsible for producing SAP, BRUKL and EPC documents on behalf of those creating new buildings. These can be used to show how a new build ...
Why is Dorset falling Short?
Dorset lags behind the rest of the country in it’s approach to sustainable construction. Local policy has been labelled unambitious, unenforced and fallin ...
What are Psi values? A rough guide for SAP
Psi-values are a critical component within the design of low energy buildings. Historically they have been given a cursory glance by design teams, and often lef ...
How do I get my EPC?
A very common question is “my build is reaching completion, how do we get the EPC?” Well firstly congratulations on getting to the final stage! Befo ...
BE gains Constructionline Gold & Acclaim Status
We are very proud to say that Build Energy has gained Constructionline Gold status, as well as Acclaim SSIP accreditation. In recent months we’ve been wor ...
The Draft London Plan – Six Changes to Watch for in 2019
The Greater London Authority have recently released new guidance on preparing energy statements for planning applications. Many of the changes to the expected d ...
Greater Manchester wants all new buildings ‘net zero’ by 2028
‘Net zero’ for all new buildings from 2028 in Manchester Plan. The draft Greater Manchester Plan for Homes, Jobs and the Environment was released in ...
Do I need SAP, SBEM or an EPC?
SAP, SBEM, EPCs. These all come up as part of Building Regulations, but when do you need what? You may be familiar with some common acronyms which appear around ...
MVHR Systems – What You Need to Know
Mechanical Ventilation Systems with Heat Recovery (MVHR) are becoming much more commonplace in new builds and they can play an important part in energy efficien ...