England · Statutory guidance
Conservation of fuel and power: Approved Document L, Volume 2 — Buildings other than dwellings
Energy performance guidance for non-domestic buildings, covering fabric, services, controls and commissioning.
- Edition
- 2021 edition incorporating 2023 amendments · Volume 2; later editions and transitions on source page
- Search coverage
- 116 of 116 PDF pages · 2 OCR pages
Energy & sustainability
Open original PDF at page 19 Source wording and page order preserved. Drawings and table layouts remain available in the original PDF.
O N L I N E V E R S I O N R24-27C
Section 1: Calculating the target primary
energy rate and target emission rate
1.1 A new building must be built to a minimum standard of total energy performance. This is evaluated
by comparing calculations of the performance of the ‘actual building’ against calculations of the
performance of a theoretical building, called the ‘notional building’. This must be carried out both
at the design stage and when work is complete.
The notional building is the same size and shape as the actual building and has standardised
properties for fabric and services. The full properties of the notional building are set out in the
National Calculation Methodology Modelling Guide, which is available from https://www.uk-ncm.
org.uk/.
1.2 The energy performance of the notional building is described using the following metrics.
a. The target primary energy rate, in kWh /m2 per year.
PE
b. The target emission rate, in kgCO /m2 per year.
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1.3 The target primary energy rate and target emission rate must be calculated using one of the
calculation tools in the approved methodology, used in line with the version policy as stated in the
methodology. As part of the submission to the building control body, the applicant should show
that the software tool used is appropriate to the application. The calculation tool can be either of
the following.
a. The Simplified Building Energy Model (SBEM), for buildings with design features that are capable
of being adequately modelled by the Simplified Building Energy Model.
b. Other software tools approved under the Notice of Approval.
NOTE: An up-to-date list of approved software can be found on the Department for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities webpages.
NOTE: Information on the approved methodology, the version policy for these tools and how to
choose an appropriate modelling tool can be found in the National Calculation Methodology
Modelling Guide.
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Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document L Volume 2, 2021 edition
O N L I N E V E R S I O N
Edition and local adoption determine which requirements apply. Use the publisher’s document for the complete clauses, diagrams and amendments.