Interest Building For Future Homes Standard

More than 300 industry professionals recently attended a GGF webinar exploring the major changes introduced through the Future Homes Standard.

The Glass and Glazing Federation explained what they will mean for the new build sector.

The event was hosted by Kevin Jones, Head of Technical at the GGF. The CPD accredited webinar focused on the introduction of the new Home Energy Model and the significant impact it is expected to have on the specification, design and assessment of windows and doors within new build housing.

It came following publication of the Future Homes Standard earlier this year, which introduces a move away from traditional standard reference window calculations and instead requires thermal performance calculations to be based on the actual size and configuration of each individual window.

Every item included

During the webinar, attendees were taken through the practical implications of the changes and how they are likely to affect housebuilders, fabricators and installers moving forward.

Jones explained that under the new Home Energy Model, all items fitted within a window opening now need to be included within thermal calculations.

This includes features such as dummy sashes, Georgian bars, add-on cills, head vents and other ancillary items which previously had far less impact on compliance assessments.

No more standard calculations

“The age of the standard calculation window is effectively over for new build,” Jones explained. “We are now moving towards a situation where every single window has to be assessed to its actual size and configuration.”

Complicated complications

Jones also explored how more complex window designs could make achieving target U-values increasingly difficult under the new regulations. He said: “The more complicated the window design becomes, the harder it is to achieve the target U-values. Features such as dummy sash and decorative bars all affect the calculation once they are included.”

Triple tipped

According to the GGF, the changes are likely to increase the use of triple glazing within new build housing developments as developers look for ways to achieve compliance.

However, the webinar also highlighted how developers may explore a range of different approaches, including simplifying window designs or using a mixture of double and triple glazing within the same building.

“There is a possibility that we could see both double and triple glazing used on the same development. In some cases, potentially even within the same room,” said Jones.

Changing relationships

Alongside the technical changes, the webinar also explored how the Future Homes Standard is likely to change the relationship between glazing companies and housebuilders.

The GGF believes the changes create a major opportunity for fabricators and installers to become involved much earlier in the design and specification stages of projects.

“This gives the glazing sector a much stronger consultative role,” Jones opined. “Housebuilders have a lot of questions at the moment. The companies that can help guide them through these changes are going to be in a very strong position.”

The strong attendance at the webinar reflects growing industry interest in the Future Homes Standard and the practical challenges businesses are now preparing for across the new build sector. The Federation confirmed it has seen a significant increase in technical enquiries from businesses seeking guidance on the changes and is continuing to develop further technical support and guidance documents for members.

Picture: More than 300 industry professionals attend a webinar on Future Homes Standard hosted by Kevin Jones, Head of Technical at the GGF.

www.ggf.org.uk