Conservation of fuel and power: Approved Document L, Volume 1 — Dwellings

O N L I N E V E R S I O N R40, R40A 9.5 For new dwellings, the operating and maintenance instructions should include a Home User Guide. The Home User Guide should contain non-technical advice on how to operate and maintain the dwelling in a healthy and energy efficient manner. The guide should contain advice on the following. a. Ventilation. b. Heating and domestic hot water. c. On-site electricity generation (if applicable). d. Staying cool in hot weather. A template for a Home User Guide can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ home-user-guide-template. There is no requirement to follow the layout, format or example text used in the template. Additional information for work in existing buildings 9.6 For existing dwellings, when any building work is carried out for which Section 5 and/or Section 6 of this approved document sets a standard, the energy performance of the fixed building services and/ or on-site electricity generation affected by the work should be assessed and documented. 9.7 For existing dwellings, when installing a complete new or replacement system (e.g. replacing a heating system including the heating appliance, pipework and heat emitters), the energy performance of the whole system should be assessed. The results should be recorded and given to the building owner with the manufacturer’s supporting literature. The record of energy performance results may be in any of the following forms. a. Full records of commissioning the system in accordance with Section 8. b. A documented assessment using the Standard Assessment Procedure, such as a new energy performance certificate. c. Another equivalent assessment carried out by a suitably qualified person. 9.8 For existing dwellings, when carrying out work on an existing system, such as installing or replacing components (e.g. replacing a boiler but retaining the pipework and heat emitters), the energy performance of the new components should be assessed. The results should be recorded and given to the building owner. The record of energy performance results may be in either of the following forms. a. Product data sheets from the product manufacturer. b. Other documented results of energy assessment of the product carried out in accordance with relevant test standards. 9.9 For existing dwellings, if work on an existing system alters the energy performance or CO emissions 2 performance of the system, then the complete altered system should be assessed and the guidance for new or replacement systems in paragraph 9.7 should be followed. Such work could include the following. a. A change in heating fuel for a space heating or domestic hot water system. b. Extending or expanding the capacity of a space heating, comfort cooling or ventilation system by over 25% of its previous capacity. Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document L Volume 1, 2021 edition 59 O N L I N E V E R S I O N