Building regulations - proposed changes to energy and environmental standards: stage 2 consultation and BRIA
Consultation on proposed changes to energy and environmental standards in the Scottish Building Regulations. Updates to guidance supporting the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended) and the Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended).
Open
84 days to respond
Respond online
Part of
8 Overheating
8.1 Introduction
The February 2023 standards introduced the need to undertake an overheating risk assessment in dwellings and similar non-domestic buildings in support of compliance with mandatory standard 3.28 overheating. Guidance signposts two potential methodologies: a simple method; and Dynamic Thermal Analysis modelling.
The criteria for a certified Passivhaus building include the requirement that the percentage of hours in a calendar year with indoor temperatures above 25oC be less than 10% for buildings without active cooling with this stress tested via a calculation within the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) software.
8.2 Proposals
Given themes within responses to the July 2024 stage one consultation and review engagement, recognising the use of PHPP as an alternative, third methodology is a useful action to be incorporated into the guidance to mandatory standard 3.28.
Scottish Government will be developing updated guidance in support of standard 3.28 ‘Overheating risk’ to identify further information that will provide greater clarity on the actions required to achieve compliance with the standard. This has been in response to concerns from users of the guidance relating to the ‘simple method’ since its introduction in February 2023. We will also develop draft guidance on the use of PHPP as an option to assess and mitigate overheating risk in dwellings and some non-residential buildings. To inform this updated guidance a research project was procured in Winter 2025 with the guidance being made available for consultation once finalised. It is proposed that implementation of this guidance would align with the implementation date for the wider review.
Consultation Question 26
With regards to the proposal to reference the use of PHPP as an additional overheating risk assessment methodology option, do you know of any risks and opportunities that should be considered to inform the development of draft guidance?
Yes
No
If you answered ‘Yes’, please provide information summarising your experience.
Contact
Email: buildingstandards@gov.scot