Part L changes kick in from June but could rising energy costs be a bigger market driver?

From 1 April, 22 million UK households will see their home energy bills skyrocket. Average bills for those on default direct debit tariffs will jump by more than 50% from around £1,300 to almost £2,000, a year.

The increase is the product of a record rise in global gas prices over the last six-months, with wholesale prices quadrupling in the last year.

“The industry has been focussed on Part L and the implications for new build and home improvement,” says Graham Howatson, director, HWL. “Each has a massive impact on our industry, and there are more changes coming down the line as we move towards the Future Homes Standard.

“Next month, however, something far more immediate is happening and that’s a big increase in our energy bills as consumers, something which will put energy efficiency at the top of the agenda for all of us.”

The Government published its long-awaited revisions to Part L and Part F in December. From June this year, replacement doors with a >60% glazed area will need to achieve an overall U-value of 1.4W/m²K, while newbuild equivalents will need to achieve an overall U-value of 1.2W/m²K.

“The changes to Part L are significant. A lot of systems only scrape in, and some older aluminium systems won’t,” Graham continues.

“If we’re looking further ahead to 2025 and the Future Homes Standard the changes could be even bigger with U-values as low as 0.8W/m²K currently on the table.

“That’s going to drive significant change in the products we fit going forward but the increases homeowners are going to see in their home energy bills – that creates an immediate opportunity.”

HWL took the decision at the end of 2020 to drop manufacture of ‘standard’ product, focussing instead on the manufacture of specialist products.

This was built around Timberweld, which it used in its pioneering development of a non-glass-bonded 90° jointed R9 window, replicating a traditional 90° mechanical joint on both sides of a welded sash.

Also offering an R9 open-in door and R7 in a Timberwelded format, HWL added the new 70mm Kömmerling flush casement to its range late in 2021.

“It’s built around a six-chamber profile that helps to deliver U values as low as 1.2 (W/m²k), making it a turn-key solution for Part L new build, but also comfortably meeting requirements for home improvement, double-glazed,” explains Graham.

Graham argues that the ability to meet new tougher building regulations without stepping up to a triple-glazed IGU is another big advantage for the new Kömmerling system. This he adds is something which may not be so easily achieved if you’re manufacturing an older aluminium system.

“A lot of legacy aluminium systems will struggle to meet U-value requirements without going to triple-glazed and even then, may not get across the line,” Graham continues.

“And we know that weight in triple-glazed units is something that if they can, installers want to avoid, because it means every job has to be carried out by a two-man team. With Sheerline, our aluminium systems offering, you don’t have to go to triple-glazed.”

HWL’s decision to add Sheerline to its offer sits within its broader strategy to ditch volume manufacturer for a higher margin portfolio. Supplied PAS24 as standard, it offers Sheerline’s Prestige window range in a choice of two opening sash styles, both of which are available in either a standard outframe or as a flush option.

Installers can specify Prestige with a choice of small, intermediate and large outer-frames and with 28-44mm glazing options, with u-values as low as 0.9 W/m²k.

HWL also offers the Sheerline Prestige bi-fold and entrance door, each achieving u-values as low as 1.4 W/m²k without needing to go to triple-glazed, comfortably meeting requirements for home improvement under revisions to Part L from June.

“It’s natural to focus on regulation because you can benchmark your product offer against it,” Graham argues.

“It also creates a commercial opportunity if you source product from a fabricator who can supply products which meet requirements without having to step up to a triple-glazed unit and the complexity and cost in handling that goes with that – that’s the regulatory driver.

“But we shouldn’t overlook the end-user. If energy costs are higher – and going to be for some time- they are likely to be far more responsive to a product offer, which directly helps them to keep a lid on those costs.”