Our services for Residential buildings

SAP Calculations  (SAP Calcs) - for new build dwellings & conversions Part L 2021 (2013 Parts L1A & L1B)

Our SAP Calculations demonstrate compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations. 

Whether you're planning a new build or a conversion, we provide detailed assessments to ensure your project meets regulatory standards. From initial design to final construction, our team ensures your building's energy performance aligns with requirements.

A SAP Assessment is required by Building Control at the design stage of a new dwelling to show how the building will comply with Part L. Once built, the dwelling requires a further set of SAP calculations to confirm that what is built still complies with Part L. At this stage we produce the as-built SAP calculations & provide the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) based on the as-built spec.

SAP calculations are produced by interpreting & inputting dwelling data (areas, volumes, u-values, heating/cooling systems, renewables, etc) into SAP Calculation software to show how the dwelling compares to a ‘notional’ target building. The dwelling ‘passes’ when the CO2 emissions (DER) and building fabric energy efficiency (DFEE) are better than the notional 'target' building.

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SAP Calculations - for over-glazed extensions & conservatories (Part L1B)

For projects involving overglazed extensions or conservatories, we provide 'Notional vs Proposed SAP calculations' to ensure compliance with Part L1B of the building regulations. Our thorough approach minimizes the need for additional measures, making the compliance process smooth and efficient. 

Building Control will ask for 'Notional vs Proposed SAP calculations' if your extension or conservatory has a glazed area that is greater than 25% of the extension floor area (glazing includes rooflights, glazed roofs & lanterns, as well as doors and windows). 

We show compliance by producing 2 sets of SAP calculations, one showing a ‘notional’ extension, and one showing the ‘proposed’ actual extension. The CO2 emissions of the ‘proposed’ actual extension must be no worse than the ‘notional’ extension in order to comply with Part L1B.

* Building Regulations Part L is concerned with Conservation of Fuel & Power. (or Standard 6.1 of Scottish Building Standards in Scotland).

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Fast-Track SAP service, ASAP:

Our New priority SAP calculation service

Introducing ASAP, our priority SAP calculation service. Ideal for urgent projects, ASAP guarantees quicker turnaround times for SAP calculations, allowing you to meet tight deadlines without compromising quality.

Part O Overheating Calculations & Reports

Our  Part O Overheating Reports demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document O. Leveraging both simplified models and dynamic thermal modelling, we provide comprehensive assessments tailored to your building's specifications.

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Part G Water Calculations

We provide Part G Water Calculations to show that the water usage of a new dwelling meets the requirements of Part G. Currently the Building Regulations require a maximum water consumption of 125 litres/person/day (125 litres per per person per day) in order to comply.

125 l/p/d is fairly easy to achieve with modern sanitaryware but can become tricky where large baths or powerful showers are being used – In these cases it is necessary to offset high usage in one area with low usage in another, or use alternative water sources to offset high usage (e.g. rainwater or greywater harvesting).

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Energy Statements & Renewables Reports

Navigating the evolving requirements of Local Planning Authorities across the UK, we specialize in providing Energy Statements & Renewables Reports. From small-scale PV installations to comprehensive renewable energy strategies, we help you meet planning conditions effectively.

Whether the requirement be for a 10% CO2 emissions reduction, 20% energy demand reduction or CSH4/CSH5 Energy, we have experience of providing Energy Statements & Renewables Reports to satisfy Planning Authorities across the whole of the UK.

Compliance can be as simple as installing a small PV (Solar Photovoltaic) array or installing a heat pump, depending on the specific requirement. For multiple dwellings it may be possible to achieve compliance by installing renewables on just a small number of units in a development, depending on the wording of the planning condition.

Contact us to discuss how we can help you comply.

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Air Tightness Testing (aka Air Pressure Testing, Air Permeability Testing)

Air Tightness Testing shows how airtight a building is. The more airtight a building is the less heat energy can escape. The SAP calculations will normally assume a certain level of air tightness in order to achieve a ‘pass’.

An air test is conducted by temporarily installing a large fan into an external doorway of a dwelling and either blowing air into, or out of the building. The fan is set to a series of fan speeds to show how much air can enter or escape the building. The result (q50) is measured in m³/hour/m² surface area, (or n50 for Passivhaus, ACH – Air Changes per Hour).

The maximum q50 allowed in a SAP calculation is 8.0 in Part L 2021 (10.0 in Part L1A 2013), although a result of 5.0 or less is typically achieved.

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Sound Testing (Part E Acoustic Testing)

New dwellings that are attached to each other (flats, semi-detached, terraces) will require Part E Sound Testing to show compliance with Part E.

Sound testing through party walls and party floors is conducted using sound meters to show compliance, and consists of airborne and impact sound tests.

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Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH)

Code for Sustainable Homes was abolished in 2016 but aspects of it still exist, as well as legacy cases and planning approvals.

Some LPA’s require a certain “Code level” to comply with a renewables or energy related planning requirement, e.g. some London boroughs require “CSH level 5 Energy”, meaning that only the ENE1 energy section is required, rather than the whole CSH – this isn’t easy to achieve however, as CSH5 energy is essentially zero carbon in SAP.

 

Our services for Commercial buildings

SBEM Calculations - for new buildings (Part L2A) & converted buildings (Part L2B)

SBEM Calculations show compliance with Part L* of the Building Regulations. “SBEM Calcs” are required by Building Control at the design stage of a new dwelling to show how it complies with Part L. Once built, the building requires a new set of SBEM calcs to show that what is built complies with Part L. At this stage we produce the as-built SBEM calculations & provide the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate), where required, based on the as-built spec.

SBEM calculations, like SAP calculations for dwellings, are produced by interpreting & inputing building data (areas, volumes, u-values, heating/cooling systems, renewables, etc) into software to show how the building compares to a ‘notional’ building. The calculation ‘passes’ when the CO₂ emissions (BER) is better than the TER for notional building.

Air Tightness Testing (aka Air Pressure Testing, Air Permeability Testing)

Air Testing shows how airtight a building is. The more airtight a building is the less heat energy can escape. A building’s SAP calculations will normally assume a certain level of air tightness in order to achieve a ‘pass’.

An air test is conducted by temporarily installing a fan into an external doorway of a building and either blowing air into, or sucking air out of the building. The fan is set to a series of different fan speeds to show how much air can enter or escape the building, thus showing how airtight the building is. The result (q50) is measured in m³/hour/m² of surface area.

Environmental Noise Surveys

The noise assessments undertaken vary greatly, from a single existing or proposed air conditioning plant to inner city residential developments and large out of town developments. This can also include the measurement, assessment and evaluation of noise pollution from rail, road, aircraft and more recently wind turbines.

All noise surveys are carried out to meet the latest standards and confirm the requirements set out by the local governing department, be it Environmental Health, Planning or Building Control.

We will provide a full technical report that analyses your proposed development, ensuring you will meet the necessary acoustic requirements. We can also recommend what level of sound insulation your development may require.