The world of construction is always changing as new legislation comes in and higher standards become the expected norm. Working in this industry requires constant learning, adaptation and innovation.
2024 will be no different and we have gathered together some of the most important legislation that people in the industry need to be aware of this year.
Building Safety Act 2022
This Act achieved royal assent in 2022 and has important ramifications for the industry. It was brought in following the Grenfell Fire tragedy to try and ensure that it could never be repeated. It does so by increasing the responsibility borne by developers and landlords for the buildings they create and own.
Fire safety is made more of a focus and regulations are coming into place to help remediate building risks and ensure the requisite safety standards are met. We will see the new regulatory body for building control professionals launched in April 2024.
This means that architects, developers and main contractors will soon face a higher level of scrutiny and must embed fire safety into all aspects of their buildings even more than is already the case. One example of how to do that is to specify A1-rated materials like Specwall which meet and exceed fire testing guidelines throughout buildings in order to make them as fireproof as possible.
Future Homes Standard
The Future Homes Standard will come into full force in 2025 and will require new residential buildings to produce between 75% and 80% fewer carbon emissions over their lifetime. This will be achieved in large part by a fabric-first approach which will specify very high quality products which not only emit less carbon in production and installation, but through a building’s lifetime and beyond.
The Standard is still in progress and 2024 will see a big landmark as the full implementation consultation will take place. This will be essential for all industry professionals to keep up to date with as it will be a major factor in all future residential developments.
While this standard is focused on residential buildings, the reality is that the effects will ripple outwards into all other sectors too. Supply chains will change and working practices that are altered for residential projects will transfer over to industrial and commercial projects too.
Read more about how the Future Homes Standard will change the industry as a whole by clicking here.
Biodiversity net gain
From January 2024, all residential, industrial and commercial property developments will have to demonstrate how they are “nature positive” and deliver a biodiversity net gain of at least 10%. This will be applicable on small sites from April and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects by 2025.
This move was introduced through the Environment Act and is considered a cornerstone of the country’s environmental policy. Our built environment is a key area where we can work together to halt and reverse species decline.
As part of the larger picture, it is yet another indication of how everyone involved with buildings should consider sustainability and environmentally friendly policies at every stage of development. As we work to combat the climate emergency, architects, specifiers, main contractors and developers must have the climate and environmental emergency at the forefront of their minds.
Want to learn more about Specwall and how it can make your development more sustainable? Get in touch today by clicking here.
Get in Touch 