Nine in 10 architects are going above and beyond the minimum requirements for tackling overheating in new homes, as developers seek to protect residents against extreme heatwaves, according to a new study by glassmaker Pilkington UK.
The manufacturer polled 100 architects* 12 months on from the introduction of Part O building regulations, which laid out stricter measures for new homes to minimise their risk of overheating.
Encouragingly, only 9% admitted to just meeting the new regulations’ minimum requirements. The study suggested developer demand was among the factors motivating architects.
Almost a third (32%) of respondents said extreme heatwaves, prompting greater interest in overheating from developers for occupant wellbeing, would be the biggest factor to influence greater measures for combatting overheating in new homes over the next five years.
Meanwhile, two in five (40%) architects said Part O would be the top driver.
But the study found how seven in 10 (71%) architects agreed there is a missed opportunity in Part O limiting the strictest measures for combatting overheating only to London and central Manchester, with other areas at a similar risk of overheating.
Phil Brown, European regulatory marketing manager at Pilkington UK, said: “Architects going beyond minimum requirements for overheating is encouraging to see. But it questions whether the landmark Part O regulations went far enough, and if they are out of step with developers’ ambitions for new homes following last summer’s record-breaking heatwave events.”
Architects turn to solar control glass
Pilkington UK’s study found how the majority of architects (57%) had found compliance with Part O easy. Many were turning to products like Pilkington Suncool™ 70/35 glazing designed to limit solar gain in buildings, to meet the new requirements.
The majority (70%) of architects polled said they were specifying more solar control glazing for residential projects since Part O was introduced.
