Future Homes Standard is Live

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Released on the 24th March 2026, ready for 24th March 2027

The long awaited update to Building Regulations Approved Document Part L volume 1 (Dwellings) has finally landed.

Our MEP team have taken time to read through the details and can summarise here.

Air Source Heat Pumps, Photovolatics and decentralised Mechanical Ventilation (dMEV) will play an important role moving forward.  A surpise player is the inclusion and importance laid upon Waste Water Heat Recovery (WWHR).

Air tightness will be set to 8m3/h.m2 within the ADL1 doc however the notional comparitive model will be at 4m3/hr.m2.   Therefore ideally strategies must be based around 4 or lower.  However following a footnote and experience under ADF and improving air tightness beyond 3m3/hr.m2 does really advocate the need for full Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery MVHR, to ensure good indoor air quality while maintaining energy efficiency.

Other notable elements to consider is the increased PV provision within the notional model, and inlcusion of clause 5.73 within Requirement L3 where renewables are to be included.  Changing from a standard property consideration of 20% of the ground floor area to 40%.  With exceptions or accommodation made for multi-storey developments.  Thus making PV an almost certainty for individual properties.

Lighting performance and design also takes an important role too.  First glance within ADL1, fixed lighting should achieve lighting levels of 105 light source lumens per circuit watt as a minimum.

There will be a new modelling method to follow which is named as Home Energy Modelling (HEM) which will run alongside current SAP10.2 and 10.3 version until March 2027.

Slid under the radar is the updated release of ADL volume 2 (non-domestic – Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions) as well, although this may be subject to a further change to align with the pending Future Building Standard (FBS).

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69c122a6cfa346b9d4704a55/ADL1_2026.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69c122b9b920af63be1c763b/ADL2_2026.pdf