Question:

The new Was 3 checklist asks for all doors on route to the composting facility to have handles that do not needed to be grasped- don’t all handles need to be grasped !

Answer:

This requirement comes directly from BS8300:2009 Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people, which states the following:-

It should be possible to operate all door opening furniture one-handed, without the need to grasp or twist. Care should be taken in the selection of security and fire exit fittings, such as short lever turn buttons, bolts, latches or locks, with the aim of making them manageable for all users. Wherever possible, door opening furniture used in conjunction with locks and latches should have a lever action. Knobs with a spherical, circular or similar design, as well as small symmetrical turn buttons, are difficult to use by people with limited dexterity, arthritis or a weak grip. The torque force required to operate keys and cylinder turns should not exceed 0.5 Nm.

Lever door handles can be operated with a closed fist by people with limited dexterity, arthritis or a weak grip.

Contact Abbey Consultants on 01923 274427 for further advice and help on Code For Sustainable Homes Issues.

Abbey Consultants (Southern) – Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors – visit www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk

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Question:

The new Was 3 checklist asks for all doors on route to the composting facility to have handles that do not needed to be grasped- don’t all handles need to be grasped !

Answer:

This requirement comes directly from BS8300:2009 Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people, which states the following:-

It should be possible to operate all door opening furniture one-handed, without the need to grasp or twist. Care should be taken in the selection of security and fire exit fittings, such as short lever turn buttons, bolts, latches or locks, with the aim of making them manageable for all users. Wherever possible, door opening furniture used in conjunction with locks and latches should have a lever action. Knobs with a spherical, circular or similar design, as well as small symmetrical turn buttons, are difficult to use by people with limited dexterity, arthritis or a weak grip. The torque force required to operate keys and cylinder turns should not exceed 0.5 Nm.

Lever door handles can be operated with a closed fist by people with limited dexterity, arthritis or a weak grip.

Contact Abbey Consultants on 01923 274427 for further advice and help on Code For Sustainable Homes Issues.

Abbey Consultants (Southern) – Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors – visit www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk

Question:

What time of year should the ecologists report be compiled?

Answer:

The Code does not stipulate what time of year the ecologist’s report should be compiled. A suitably qualified ecologist will be able to advise you on further on this matter.

Contact Abbey Consultants on 01923 274427 for further advice and help on Code For Sustainable Homes Issues.

Abbey Consultants (Southern) - Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors – visit www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk

Question:

Can rainwater butts gain the Wat 2 credit when attached to a shed rather than the dwelling?

Answer:

As long as all criteria re correct specification and sizing are met, there is nothing in the technical guidance that states a shed cannot be used to collect rainwater for garden irrigation.  However, when a dwelling is collecting rainwater from a shed (which will typically have a small catchment area), a minimum collection area is required for the credits to be achieved.  For compliance with Wat 2, this collection area must be sized in order that a minimum of 5 litres/person/day can be collected.

As assessors we are to determine and/or developer confirm that the shed roof area specified is sufficiently sized to meet the minimum 5 litres/person/day requirement.

Please note that water butts must be connected to the rainwater downpipes with an automatic overflow into the conventional rainwater drainage system. This conventional rainwater drainage system can include SUDS.

Contact Abbey Consultants on 01923 274427 for further advice and help on Code For Sustainable Homes Issues.

Abbey Consultants (Southern) – Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors – visit www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk

Question:

Can flow restrictors be used on the piperwork feeding end fittings as opposed to being integrated into the fitting itself?

Answer:

Any type of flow restrictor will be accepted under the code provided it is not easily removed and is placed on pipework immediatley before the fitting (i.e. not before the storage tank).

Please Note – Isolation valves set partially closed are not acceptable as flow restrictors.

Contact Abbey Consultants on 01923 274427 for further advice and help on Code For Sustainable Homes Issues.

Abbey Consultants (Southern) – Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors – visit www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk

BREEAM In-Use is a new scheme to help building managers reduce the running costs and improve the environmental performance of existing buildings. It consists of a standard, an easy-to-use assessment methodology and a 3rd party certification process that provides a clear and credible route map to improving sustainability.

The biggest opportunity to address the UK’s environmental impact lies in better management and improvement of the existing building stock. BREEAM In-Use has been developed to recognise and encourage better building management and targeted investment in existing building stock.

The BREEAM-In Use scheme enables building managers to self-assess the performance of their portfolio using the online BREEAM In-Use tool. Training is provided to license BREEAM In-Use Auditors to verify the building manager’s self assessment and provide a certificate.

BREEAM In-Use assessment differs from the established BREEAM schemes in that BREEAM assessors undertake an assessment of new buildings and submit the data to BRE Global to review and issue a certificate. Where as for BREEAM In-Use the Auditor is trained to verify the data obtained by the building manager and issue the certificate themselves.

The assessment tool will enable building managers to see the impact of their building and existing systems and initiatives, as well as the potential impact of any proposed changes. BREEAM In-Use is designed to:

• Reduce operational costs
• Enhance the value and marketability of property assets
• Give a transparent platform for negotiating building improvements with landlords and owners
• Provide a route to compliance with environmental legislation and standards, such as energy labelling and ISO 14001
• Give greater engagement with staff in implementing sustainable business practices
• Provide opportunities to improve staff satisfaction with the working environment with the potential for significant improvements in productivity
• Demonstrate your commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Improve organisational effectiveness
• Provide a genuine badge of proven sustainability

The environmental performance of an organisation’s built assets is a key factor in its sustainability credentials and carbon footprint. Operating a building also represents a major cost – with soaring energy prices and the current gloomy economic outlook, cutting energy, water, waste and other such costs can be a relatively easy way of improving profitability.

BREEAM In-Use sits alongside the already well established BREEAM schemes for assessing the environmental performance of buildings at the design and construction stages. All those involved in occupying, procuring or managing existing buildings can now evaluate – and improve – the performance of their property assets and the quality of their management regimes.

Contact Abbey Consultants on 01923 274427 for further advice and help on BREEAM In-Use Issues.

Abbey Consultants (Southern) – BREEAM Assessors

Following a number of related queries on acoustic testing frequencies required under HW11 (BREEAM Multi-residential 2006), the BRE have confirmed that the number of tests set in Table 2: Frequency of testing required refers to the number required for each type of test (i.e. airborne and/or impact sound insulation) to be conducted on each group or sub-group. The table does not give a total number of tests to be carried out on each group or sub-group.

For self contained dwellings,  Robust Details (RDs) are accepted as a method of compliance with Hea 21 (Multi-residential 2008) and can now be applied retrospectively to HW11 (Multi-residential 2006).  It should be noted that not all RD’s will demonstrate compliance with the performance levels required for Code/EcoHomes/Multi-residential credits as they have been designed to comply with the standards in Building Regulations.

The Robust Details scheme is not applicable in the assessment of constructions which fall into the categories of material changes of use or rooms for residential purposes.

Contact Abbey Consultants on 01923 274427 for further advice and help on BREEAM Multi-Residency Issues.

Abbey Consultants (Southern) – BREEAM Assessors

The Mat 4 Issue of EcoHomes is concerned with the provision of recycling facilities. With this in mind, it is worth clarifying what is required to demonstrate part 2 of the Issue’s guidance (given below).
2. Three bins for recyclable materials should be provided in addition to the normal waste bins, both externally and internally to award all credits.
As developers are not required to provide bins for non-recyclable household waste under the Issue, this point can prove hard to assess or provide evidence for.

In recognition of this as assessors we will no longer be required to submit evidence to this effect. However, in accordance with note 3, as assessors we must still check whether bins are dedicated for recyclables and not normal refuse (i.e specifically designed for purpose and labelled for recycling). So that occupants are not forced to use recycling bins to store normal refuse, it is also good practise (but not an evidential requirement) to check whether adequate space for storing non-recyclable waste, internally and/or externally (depending on the number of credits sought), has been provided elsewhere.

Contact Abbey Consultants on 01923 274427 for further advice and help on EcoHomes and Code for Sustainable Homes Issues.

Abbey Consultants (Southern) EcoHomes Assessors

NIBE are pleased to announce that they have been awarded MCS Certification for the NIBE F205 and NIBE F360 Exhaust Air Heat Pumps, NIBE F2015 Air/Water Heat Pumps and NIBE F1145 and F1245 Ground Source Heat Pumps.

These will be listed on the Green Book Live and Gemserv websites shortly.

This will aid seeking credits under the Code for Sustainable Homes ENE1 & 7 credits.

Contact Abbey Consultants on 01923 274427 for further advice and help on EcoHomes and Code for Sustainable Homes Issues.

Abbey Consultants (Southern) Ltd : SAP Assessors

]]> http://www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=71 0 http://www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk/blog/?p=62 http://www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk/blog/?p=62#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:58:57 +0000 admin http://www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk/blog/?p=62 Abbey Consultants

Abbey Consultants (Southern)  Limited are pleased to be one of only a handful of companies in the United Kingdom that now offers full accredited assessments in BREEAM Communities.

For friendly and helpful advice with your BREEAM assessement call today on 01923 274427.

For more information on BREEAM and all of our services visit our website www.abbeyconsultants.co.uk