Everything you need to know about the Future Homes Standard
What is the Future Homes Standard, and how will these new standards change the way homes are built now and in the future?
As the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, the UK housing industry must turn its attention towards mitigating the carbon impact of buildings. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the UK government have set a target for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve this ambitious benchmark, all buildings will be required to decarbonise before that time. Cue the introduction of the Future Homes Standard 2025; a clear framework that supports the government’s ‘Heat and Buildings Strategy’ in making new homes more energy efficient.
But what is the Future Homes Standard, and how will this new legislation change the way homes are built now and in the future? We explore everything you need to know about these new building standards below.
What is the Future Homes Standard?
The Future Homes Standard (FHS) is the next iteration of Part L of the building regulations, following on from the updates implemented in 2021. The Standard seeks to further improve new building stock to increase Dwelling Emission Rates (DER), Dwelling Fabric Energy Efficiency (DFEE) and the dwellings' Primary Energy Rate (PER). The primary goal of the FHS is to ensure that all new homes built from 2025 will have carbon dioxide emissions of at least 75% lower than homes built under the current building regulations.
How will energy efficiency be assessed within the FHS?
The Home Energy Model (HEM) has been introduced as the primary tool to measure compliance with the Future Homes Standard. This advanced software provides a comprehensive analysis of a building’s overall energy consumption and carbon emissions, and identifies any areas where FHS compliance may be challenging. The HEM will replace the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculations that are currently used to produce Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for buildings.
When will the Future Homes Standard be introduced?
The Future Homes Standard will be officially released in 2025, although no set date has been announced yet. The 3 phases of implementation include:
Phase One: Consultation & Development
From 2020-2024, the UK government conducted extensive consultations with various key stakeholders to develop the Standard’s details. Updated versions of Part F (ventilation) and Part L (energy and carbon emissions) of the building regulations, and new regulations for Part O (overheating) and Part S (electric vehicles) were established in 2022 to introduce some of the new FHS criteria.
Phase Two: Transition Period
From 2024 until the FHS is officially rolled out in 2025, a transitional period of between 6-12 months will take place to give the industry time to familiarise themselves with the changes. During this time, developers can choose to comply with either the existing building regulations or the new Future Homes Standard.
Phase Three: Official Implementation
From 2025 onwards, all new homes must comply with the requirements set out in the Future Homes Standard. As discussed above, the Home Energy Model (HEM) will be the primary tool used to measure compliance with the Standard.
Key requirements of the Future Homes Standard
Building Fabric Efficiency
The Standard mandates that all new build homes must utilise advanced insulation and be airtight. This must be demonstrated in a building’s walls, floors, and roofs through a calculation known as R-values. There is also a critical emphasis on planning for overheating mitigation (mandated by Part O of the building regulations) during the building’s design phase, by addressing potential areas of heat loss or air leakage.
If you’re looking for support with overheating mitigation, our Level 5 CIBSE Low Carbon Consultants offer reliable Thermal Modelling assessments for all residential building types. We leverage cutting-edge IESVE software to create dynamic simulations of a building's real-world thermal performance, and provide practical advice for addressing any potential overheating risks.
Low Carbon Heating & Hot Water Systems
As well as improving the energy efficiency of a building’s fabric, the FHS also mandates the use of low carbon heating and hot water systems. No new homes will be allowed to connect to the gas network from 2025, with an aim to ban all gas boilers from 2035. Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) and ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are now being pushed as recommended low carbon heating systems, alongside hydrogen boilers, biomass boilers, and solar panels.
EV Charging
As outlined in Part S of the building regulations, new homes built from 2025 onwards must have at least one EV charging point installed, or have the necessary electrical infrastructure available to support future installation. This encourages the use of electric vehicles and helps support the transition to low carbon transportation options.
Energy-Efficient Ventilation
The Future Homes Standard also requires new homes to utilise energy efficient ventilation systems, such as Mechanical Extract Ventilation (MEV) and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). These systems ensure that adequate fresh air is circulated around the building, helping to reduce moisture levels and improve the overall air quality.
We carry out a variety of Indoor Air Quality tests that are specifically designed to identify the level of air pollutants in a building, including Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Formaldehyde. These comprehensive assessments, coupled with efforts to improve the energy efficiency of your dwelling’s ventilation, enable you to comply with the FHS and improve overall occupant wellbeing.
Encon Associates’ thoughts on the Future Homes Standard
As one of the UK’s leading sustainable buildings consultancies, Encon Associates is eagerly awaiting the introduction of the Future Homes Standard.
Our Director, Glenn Miles, remarks: “We are uncertain about the UK's position of net zero in the wake of the Ukraine invasion and soaring energy prices - however, from an environmental and sustainability point of view, the reduction of CO2 overall is a positive step. The government must ensure that the source of the electricity on the grid should equally be low or zero carbon, as otherwise we are just moving the CO2 from the homeowner to the source of its electricity.”
If you have any questions about how to ensure compliance with the Future Homes Standard, please feel free to contact one of our expert team members today. We would be happy to help support you in the transition toward net zero carbon.