Chris Alderson, Managing Director of Edgetech, delves into the imminent implications of the Future Home Standard for the British glass and glazing sector.
The UK’s glazing industry has admirably weathered unprecedented challenges, from the upheavals of the pandemic to a deepening skills shortage and supply chain disruptions of historic proportions.
Yet, on the horizon looms a formidable obstacle: the Future Homes Standard, poised to reshape every facet of the glazing supply chain.
While the precise ramifications remain uncertain, it is evident that this standard will prompt seismic shifts in industry operations.
The resilience of the UK glazing sector is undeniable, and I am confident it will rise to meet these challenges. However, proactive measures are imperative, with the Future Homes Standard scheduled for implementation in 2025.
While specifics of the new regulations are yet to be unveiled, it is widely anticipated that stringent energy efficiency targets for new builds will be central. Speculation abounds, suggesting U-values as low as 0.8, bordering on Passivhaus standards.
Even if the final requirements fall short of such exacting benchmarks, it is evident that a significant advancement in window energy performance is imminent. Within the UK glazing community, there is growing consensus that triple glazing offers the most pragmatic pathway to achieving the requisite strides in energy efficiency.
Understandably, some manufacturers harbor apprehensions. Embracing triple glazing as the standard will necessitate substantial investments in processes and machinery. Yet, failing to embrace this transition carries profound risks for the industry.
Without adequate investment in triple glazing, architects and designers may be compelled to explore alternative avenues to meet stringent energy efficiency mandates. Options such as reducing window sizes or overall numbers are already under consideration as fallback measures for compliance.
Such measures would drastically diminish demand for glass within the lucrative new build sector, exerting a cascading impact on the entire glass and glazing ecosystem.
Furthermore, homeowners stand to suffer. Extensive research underscores the physical and psychological benefits of natural light. Yet, in a scenario where such benefits are curtailed, the built environment risks becoming drearier and less welcoming.
For both our sector and the broader societal well-being, it is imperative that the UK glazing industry seizes the moment to embrace triple glazing as a viable solution.
will