Legislation

BSRIA's legislation and guidance news tracker
This free news service monitors selected regulatory and guidance news in construction, building design and building services. 

This tracker was last updated on 18/01/2020.

Highlights - recent | View all >>

• The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has announced energy reduction targets for offices to support its earlier publication "‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings: A Framework Definition (April 2019)."  These new targets were announced on 14th January 2020.  Read more here.
  
  An amendment to the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations is due to be published in 2020. 
  Amendment One follows advances in technology enabling a more practical solution for electric vehicle charging installations.  Read more here.
   
  
• The British Standards Institution (BSI) is running a Consultation on its Draft PAS 14191:2020 PAS 14191:2020 Built environment – Management and operation of interconnected construction data dictionaries – Specification.
  For participation, the Consultation runs until 5th February 2020.  Read more here
  
  
• The NBS has launched its 10th annual NBS BIM survey, marking a decade of tracking BIM adoption in the UK. Open until March 2020. To participate, click here
  
  
• The Welsh Government has released amendments to Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volumes 1 and 2, and Approved Document 7 (Materials and Workmanship). The amendments are to come into force on 13 January 2020, the same time as changes introduced by the Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2019, SI 2019/1499. Read more here
  A Consultation also runs from 19th January 2020 to 12th March 2020. Read more here
  
  
• The Scottish government has announced that new regulations will be developed to require all new homes to use renewable or low carbon heating from 2024. Read more here
  
  
• The Government intends to introduce an Environment Bill, aiming to enshrine environmental principles into law post Brexit. Read more here
  
  
• The UK Government has announced it will publish its National Infrastructure Strategy in the spring. Read more here
  
  
• The UK Government announced a Fire Safety Bill, in response to the Grenfell Tower fire on 19th December 2019. Read more here and also here
  
  
• Construction Contracts Bill (started in 2009) has now moved to the House of Lords. Read more here
  
  
• The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has endorsed Build UK’s ‘Roadmap to Zero Retentions’, which provides for the abolition of retentions in the construction industry by 2025.
  The roadmap announced on 9th December 2020 proposes a phased approach to moving towards the objective of zero retentions by 2023, and no later than 2025.  Read more here
  
  
• The results of an offsite construction survey have been announced on 5th December 2019.  
  Published by ECA, CIBSE and Select, the survey reports the results of a user survey on the benefits of offsite construction processes. Read more here

What's new?

Regulations | View all >>

• SI 2020/0000 The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. The Regulations are due to come into force on 1st April 2020. Read more here
  
  
• SSI 2019/436 Environment (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc) (No 2) Regulations 2019. This was created on 17th December 2019. Read more here
  
  
• SI 2019/1499 Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2019. This was created on 13th December 2019 and came into force on 13th January 2020. Read more here
  
  
• SI 2019/2024 Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2024 of 1 October 2019 laying down ecodesign requirements for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance). Read more here
  
  
• SI 2019/1141 Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) Order 2019. This was created on 30th October 2019 and due to come into force on 1st January 2020. Read more here
  
  
• SI 2019/1440  Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2019. This was created on 30th October 2019. Read more here
  
  
• SI 2019/1443  The Waste and Environmental Protection (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. This was created on 1st November 2019 and comes into force on 21st November and 1st May 2019. Read more here

Legislation (Bill or Act)  View all Bills>> | View all Acts>>

• Bill: Fire Safety Bill
  The UK Government has introduced a Bill to implement the relevant legislative recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry Phase 1 Report and make clear that the Fire Safety Order will require building owners and managers of multi-occupied residential premises to consider and mitigate the risks of external wall systems and fire doors. This was announced at the Queen's Speech on 19th December 2019. Read more here
  
  
• Bill: Domestic Premises (Energy Performance) Bill [HL] 2019-20
  A Bill to require the Secretary of State to ensure that domestic properties have a minimum energy performance rating of C on an Energy Performance Certificate; to make provision regarding performance and insulation of new heating systems in existing properties; and for connected purposes. Read more here
  
  
• Act: Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 
  This Act amends the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to make provision setting targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions . Read more here
  
  
• Bill: Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill [HL] 2019-20
  A Bill to establish the right to breathe clean air; to require the Secretary of State to achieve and maintain clean air in England and Wales. This Private Member's Bill had its first reading on 22nd October 2019 and its second is to be announced.  Read more here
  
  
• Bill: Environment Bill 2019-20
  A Bill to make provision about targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment The first reading was on 15th October 2019 and the second reading is due on 28th October 2019.  Read more here
  
  
• Bill: UK Government: Clean Air (No. 3) Bill 2017-19. A Bill to establish a right to breathe clean air; to make provision about reducing air pollution. Private member’s Bill presented on 2nd October 2019. First reading on 2nd October, the second reading is to be announced.  Find more here

Consultations  | View all >> 

• Consultation: Cash retentions in Scottish public and private sector construction contracts
  The Scottish government has opened a consultation seeking comment on the practice of cash retention in public and private sector construction contracts in Scotland. The Consultation runs from 4th December 2019 to 25th March 2020. Read more here
  
  
• Consultation: Request for comment on BIM Guideline and Guidance
  This offers a BIM (building informatino modelling) guideline for the implementation of BEP and EIR which is based on EN ISO 19650 and CEN/TR Guidance for understanding and using EN ISO 29481-1. Read more here
  
  
• Consultation on the amendments to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations for new dwellings for Wales.
  The Consultation ran from 19th January 2020 to 12th March 2020. Read more here
  
  
• BSI Draft PAS 14191:2020 PAS 14191:2020 Built environment – Management and operation of interconnected construction data dictionaries – Specification
  This Consultation ran from 14th January to 5th February 2020.  Read more here
  
  
• Non-domestic Private Rented Sector minimum energy efficiency standards: future trajectory to 2030
  This Consultation ran from 15th October to 17th January 2020. Read more here
  
  
• Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014: proposed amendments. 
  This Consultation ran from 17th October 2019 to 12th December 2019. Read more here
  
  
• The Future Homes Standard: changes to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations for new dwellings. 
  This Consultation ran from 1st October 2019 to 10th January 2020. Read more here

Guidance  | View all>>

• The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has announced energy reduction targets for offices to support its earlier publication "‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings: A Framework Definition (April 2019)."  These targets were announced on 14th January 2020.  Read more here
  
  
• British Standards and ECA has announced an update to the 18th Editions of the Wiring Regulations BS 7671: 2018. 
   Amendment One will be published in 2020 and follows advances in technology enabling a more practical solution for electric vehicle charging installations.  Read more here.
  
  
• RIBA has published '‘Retrofitting for Flood Resilience: A Guide to Building and Community Design", a pictoral guide which aims to raise awareness of the causes of flooding and the practical and technical building solutions that can help mitigate flooding. Read more here
  
  
• RICS publishes new guidance to improve health and safety reporting for commercial properties called "Technical due diligence of commercial property", due to be released in April 2020. Read more here
  
  
• Leading construction body, CONIAC, launches work at height guide for construction workers called "Safety Steps" on 18th November 2019.  Read more here
  
  
• ARUP has published a new guide "Rediscovering Heritage Lighting" to help transform heritage buildings and landmarks through the medium of light. Read more here
  
  
• A new guide from UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB), supported by NHBC Foundation, explaining where moisture comes from and identifies actions you can take to maintain the right moisture balance in the home. Read more here
  
  
• New Government Soft Landings guidance aligned with BIM framework
  The Government Soft Landings guidance has been updated in order to align it with the UK’s building information modelling framework (including ISO 19650 and BS 8536) and industry best practice. Read more here

Policy and strategy  |  View all>>

• The Scottish government has announced that new regulations will be developed to require all new homes to use renewable or low carbon heating from 2024. This will happen alongside the phasing in of renewable and low carbon heating systems to non-domestic buildings given consent to build from 2024. The new initiatives form part of Scotland’s efforts to tackle climate change. Read more here
  
  
• The UK Government has announced plans to publish a national infrastructure strategy
  This will set out the details of the its pledge to invest £100bn in infrastructure. The strategy will also set out the government’s long-term ambitions across ‘all areas of economic infrastructure, including transport, local growth, decarbonisation, digital infrastructure, infrastructure finance and delivery. Read more here
  
  
• The Green Finance Institute announced the formation of the Coalition for the Energy Efficiency of Buildings (CEEB)
  The Coalition was announced on 11th December and will champion the acceleration of financial innovation and scale-up, aimed at developing the market for financing net-zero carbon and climate-resilient buildings in the UK. Read more here
  
  
• The European Commission publishes initial roadmap for the European Green Deal
  The European Commission has published ‘The European Green Deal’ on 11th December 2019, which is described as ‘a roadmap for making the EU's economy sustainable by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities across all policy areas and making the transition just and inclusive for all’. Read more here
  
  
• The UK Government introduces ground-breaking Environment Bill
  The Government has published a landmark Environment Bill (15th October), which aims to tackle the biggest environmental priorities of our time, signalling a historic step change in the way we protect and enhance our natural environment. Read more here

MORE FOR MEMBERS

• For our tracker with a list of all Legislation (Acts and Bills), Consultations Regulations and Guidance relevant to buildings and building services, updated in 2019, click here
• For our tracker with a selected list of Guidance supporting legislation published in 2019, click here.
• A simple spreadsheet with a list of current legislation, regulations and guidance sorted by construction and building services area is also available on request. Please email us.
  Please note this is updated regularly but not every week, so may not have the latest information.

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• Read about all our legislation services available to BSRIA members here.