In late September, the Government made a significant policy shift regarding energy efficiency standards for rental properties. On September 20th, Rishi Sunak announced a departure from previously proposed regulations that would have compelled landlords to ensure the energy efficiency of their properties were at EPC rating ‘C’ or higher.
After the government announced that its air source heat pump scheme has missed its first-year target, we explore why this might be the case, including analysing whether heat pumps are a suitable replacement for gas boilers and even how flawed SAP methodologies might even lead to a worse EPC rating after installing a low-carbon heat pump.
When building, converting, or generally making improvements to a building, sound insulation is a consideration that cannot be overlooked. There are two main types of sound which are under scrutiny when it comes to construction and sound insulation, airborne sound and structure-borne (impact) sound. This article is designed to help you understand in greater detail what airborne sound is, what causes it, and how it can be reduced.
Post-pandemic Construction in the UK
As the UK economy, the war in Ukraine and Climate change continue to occupy the front pages, you could be forgiven for forgetting that less than 12 months ago the country was still battling the 2-year-long COVID-19 pandemic.
But, with the worst health crisis in living memory now in the rear-view mirror, just how well is the construction industry, specifically house-building, coping in picking up the pieces following the most turbulent of times?
Put simply, Sound Insulation Testing is a test carried out to check the sound insulation performance of certain elements of a building. Part E of the Building Regulations require that when any new or converted building results in two adjoining dwellings being separated by party (shared) walls or floors, they must be tested to ensure they are sufficiently insulated to avoid excess noise passing between them.
