As the UK continues to tackle its decarbonisation agenda and strives for net zero, one of the most significant documents in this journey is the introduction of the Future Homes and Future Buildings Standard (FHBS), which is set to come into force in 2025.
This regulation aims to ensure that new homes and buildings are future-proofed with low-carbon heating technologies such as heat pumps and high energy efficiency. The documents follow on from the approved documents within the building regulations such as Part L.
In this guide, we’ll explore the future homes standard and future buildings standard, its impact on energy efficiency, thermal efficiency and how it will impact the UK's drive towards net zero.
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What Is The Future Homes and Future Buildings Standard?
The FHBS is a new set of building regulations developed by the UK government to drastically reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency in new buildings. It builds on the 2021 uplift to Building Regulations Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) and Part F (Ventilation) and is seen as a key tenet of the UK’s strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The FHS standard will apply to new homes and the FBS will apply to non-domestic buildings in England and is designed to ensure that they are built to have high levels of energy efficiency and use low-carbon heating systems such as air source heat pumps.
Through these energy efficiency measures the goal is to reduce carbon emissions from new homes by 75–80% compared to homes built under previous regulations.
Key Features of the Standard
1. Carbon Savings - Low Carbon Heating Systems
One of the most transformative aspects of the FHS and FBS design to accelerate carbon savings is the ban on gas boilers, gas water heaters and fossil fuel heating in new homes and commercial buildings.
This is due to the recognition that heating and hot water demand is a huge area for CO2 emissions reductions. The FHBS is taking the incremental increases in energy efficiency seen in the building regulations (Part L) and creating wholesale change to reduce energy use intensity.
Now developers must install low-carbon or zero carbon alternatives to fossil fuel heating such as:
- Air source heat pumps or ground source heat pumps for heating, hot water demand and underfloor heating systems
- District heating networks (district heating)
- Electric heating systems with smart controls
This shift is seen as a crucial step for decarbonising heating and hot water demand.
2. Improved Fabric Efficiency
The FHS and FBS places a strong emphasis on thermal performance supporting the overall building performance to create carbon savings. This includes:
- Improved fabric standards and airtightness testing
- High levels of insulation in walls, roofs, and floors
- Triple-glazed windows with low U-values
- Minimised thermal bridging through better detailing and materials
- Airtight construction to reduce heat loss
3. Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality
With increased airtightness comes the need for mechanical ventilation systems and ventilation standards to maintain healthy indoor air. The standards encourages the use of:
- Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems
- Trickle vents and extract fans in less airtight homes
- Smart ventilation controls to balance air quality and energy use
4. Energy Performance and Compliance
The FHBS introduces more rigorous methods for assessing energy performance and therefore creating carbon savings.
These carbon saving assessment methods include:
- Updated SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) calculations
- TM54 assessments to predict operational energy use
- Primary energy targets and carbon emission limits
These tools ensure that buildings perform as expected reducing the performance gap in real-world conditions.
Who Will Be Affected?
The FHBS will impact a wide range of stakeholders as it seeks to go beyond the building regulations:
- Homebuilders and developers: Must design and construct homes that meet the new fabric standards for fabric efficiency. They must review and understand new home energy models.
- Architects and engineers: Need to integrate energy efficiency and low-carbon systems such as heat pumps from the design stage. As well as understand new calculation methodology such as the home energy model.
- Product manufacturers: Must supply compliant materials and technologies whilst being considerate of such things as heat pump controls.
- Local authorities and building control: Will enforce the new regulations.
- Homeowners and buyers: Will benefit from lower energy bills and more comfortable living environments, low carbon technologies, solar generation.
How to Prepare for the FHBS
For Developers and Builders:
- Start early: Integrate energy modelling such as the home energy model and compliance checks from the concept stage.
- Training: Ensure that designers, site managers, and tradespeople understand the new approved documents.
- Partner with specialists: Work with energy consultants and sustainability experts to navigate the changes.
- Use compliant products: Choose materials and systems that meet or exceed the new performance criteria.
For Architects and Designers:
- Design for performance: Focus on passive design strategies like orientation, shading, and thermal mass.
- Minimise thermal bridging: Use thermal breaks and continuous insulation.
- Specify efficient systems: Select low-carbon heating technologies such as air source heat pumps whilst understanding their embodied carbon, ventilation, and renewable technologies. To maximise building performance.
For Homeowners and Renovators:
While the FHBS applies primarily to new builds, those undertaking major renovations should also consider:
- Upgrading fabric standards with insulation and windows
- Installing heat pumps or solar panels and reviewing against the home energy model.
- Improving ventilation systems by following updated ventilation standards.
Challenges and Considerations
Cost Implications
One of the main concerns is the higher upfront cost of low-carbon technologies such as air source heat pumps or solar generation and high-performance materials that drive carbon savings.
Speak to our experts at Rinnai today to find the optimum solution to your project needs.
Skills and Knowledge Gaps
The construction industry must upskill to meet the demands of the FHBS. This includes training in:
- Heat pump design and heat pump installation
- Airtight construction techniques that help close the performance gap
- Energy modelling and compliance tools to understand carbon factors.
Why It Matters
The FHBS is more than a regulatory update to the building regulations. It will be a blueprint for the future of sustainable construction and modelling. By building homes and buildings that are energy-efficient, low-carbon, and resilient, the FHBS can:
- Reduce national carbon emissions and energy use intensity
- Lower energy bills from improved building performance
- Improve indoor comfort and health
- Create green jobs and stimulate innovation
It also aligns with broader goals such as the UK’s Net Zero Strategy, the Clean Growth Strategy, and the UK commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Final Thoughts
The Future Homes and Buildings Standard represents a bold step toward a more sustainable built environment. While the transitional period may be challenging, it also presents an opportunity to redefine how we build and live - creating homes and buildings that are not only better from a carbon emissions and energy intensity perspective but also better for the people who live in them.
Further Reading
The Future Homes and Buildings Standards: 2023 consultation - GOV.UK
Building Regulations Approved Document Part L: Conservation of fuel and power: Approved Document L - GOV.UK
Building Regulations Approved Document Part J: Approved Document J: Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems
Building Regulations Approved Document Part F: Ventilation: Approved Document F - GOV.UK
For design support that includes embodied carbon and heat pump efficiencies, contact our design team today for a free of charge consultation.
