The 2006 Part L2A Building Regulations Explained

The DCLG has accepted that modular and portable buildings have unique energy efficient properties and this is recognised in the special considerations applied to them in the ADL-2A.

Pre-owned modular buildings that comply with the 1995 and /or 2002 Part L building regulations are deemed to comply with the current 2006 Part L2A building regulations.

The MPBA Arup Report document provides further explanation of those considerations and a step-by-step flowchart on how to demonstrate compliance when approving a modular and / or portable building.

Special considerations have been given for the following;

• Buildings created where more than 70% of the external envelope is from existing sub-assemblies manufactured before 1st April 2002. Reasonable provision would be if the sub-assemblies comply with the standards given in the 1995 edition of Approved Document L.

• Buildings created where more than 70% of the external envelope is from existing sub-assemblies manufactured between 1st April 2002 and 6th April 2006. Reasonable provision would be if the
  sub-assemblies comply with the standards given in the 2002 edition of Approved Document.

• New or existing modular/portable buildings to be sited for less than 2 years are exempt from the energy efficient requirements.

• Modular and portable buildings that are less than 50sqm are exempt from the energy efficient requirements.

• Modular and portable buildings that are to be used on a construction site are exempt from the energy efficient requirements.

Click the link to see an extract from the Energy Performance Standards for Modular and Portable Buildings.

The unique characteristics possessed by modular and portable buildings are that the embodied energy required to manufacture them is transportable. The embodied energy of both traditional and modular buildings is locked into their fabric. In traditional buildings this is largely lost when they are no longer required and demolished, even when the materials are recycled, however, with modular and / or portable buildings the embodied energy can be relocated along with the modules to another site.