Building standards - ventilation guidance: research

7. Industry workshops

Aims and objectives

7.1. The aim of the detailed industry workshop is to gain an understanding of industry awareness and use of the 2015 requirements. This includes collection of data from industry participants, including designers, contractors and building control officers, through an industry workshop to establish in more detail how guidance is being interpreted by designers, the design solutions being implemented, and design methodologies being used.

7.2. The industry workshop was conducted (with BSD approval) at later stages of the project, to present the findings of the research, and to identify and scope out further revisions or changes with the industry's input.

7.3. The industry workshop was organised through the Scottish Federation of Housing Association (SFHA) online platform ("webinar"). Researchers provided SFHA with information in order to publicise the online event and gain a broad audience. The information provided to SFHA is listed below and the leaflet is shown in figure 7.1.

Title: Understanding the role of ventilation in healthy homes

Brief : The University of Strathclyde on behalf of the Building Standards Division has been conducting research to understand if changes to guidance in Standard 3.14 Ventilation in the 2015 Building Regulations have been effective in improving ventilation practices and indoor air quality.

Come along to find out more about the preliminary findings from the research team and the key learnings for social landlords in managing indoor air quality, supporting healthy living environments and providing appropriate advice to tenants.

Benefits of Attending:

• Understand the role of ventilation practices in improving indoor air quality
• Learn about the key findings from ongoing academic research
• Discuss approaches to engaging with tenants on ventilation
• Discuss how the design guidance is being used at the design stages and to identify potential improvements.

Target Audience: Asset managers, housing officers, energy advisors, designers, contractors, building control officers. This event is open to non-members.

Structure of the workshop

7.4. The industry workshop was organised in two parts. The first part focused on presenting the BSD project and presenting key interim results from the household survey. The second part of the workshop consisted of a focus group with the audience to explore industry's view of the introduction of the CO₂ monitors. Table 7.1. presents the workshop structure.

Table 7.1 Structure of the industry's workshop

14:00 Welcome and house keeping - Cassandra Dove

PART I: BSD research to identify if changes to guidance in standard 3.14 ventilation in 2015 have been effective in improving ventilation and indoor air quality

14:05 Introduction to the project and expectations for the day - Prof. Tim Sharpe

14:15 Presentation of the household survey results - Dr Linda Toledo

PART II: Focus group

The audience will be asked some questions through the zoom chat, and they are invited to respond verbally (by raising their hand first) or via chat (responses will be read by one of the researchers).

Each question will be allocated 15-20 minutes max.

14:35 With regards to the Standard 3.14 Ventilation in the 2015 Building Regulations, and specifically to the requirement of CO₂ monitoring equipment to be provided…

• Q1-what is your perception of that regulation?
  • are you confident that your department has the knowledge of CO₂ monitor requirement?
  • are you confident that CO₂ monitors are being installed?
• Q2-Have you encountered resistance from occupants to install CO₂ monitors?
  • has the installation of CO₂ monitors resulted in any complaints from occupants?
  • Or has it helped to identify any problems?
• Q3-What is been done to explain the CO₂ monitor to occupants?
  • what instructions are provided to occupants?

Dr Grainne McGill

15:35 Sum up conclusions and closure - Prof. Tim Sharpe

Workshop

7.5. The workshop was well attended (48 delegates in total, excluding organisers and presenters), thanks to the marketing and support provided by SFHA. The audience was composed by a mix of government / local authority representatives, housing associations and construction professionals, as illustrated in Figure 7.2.

7.6. The findings from the industry workshop are discussed below. The focus group was recorded and is privately accessible in the SFHA YouTube channel.

Q1: With regards to the Standard 3.14 Ventilation in the 2015 Building Regulations, and specifically to the requirement of CO₂ monitoring equipment to be provided, what is your perception of that regulation?

7.7. In response, participant 1 from the Scottish Government (P1-gov) stated that a possible reason for non-compliance may lie in the fact that the building warrants of households contacted might have been submitted prior to the changes to building regulation Standard 3.14. The same participant also explained that despite having 3 years to build after approval, such time is often extended. As a result, some of the addresses contacted may have had their building warrants submitted just before the introduction of changes in October 2014, which would help to explain the high level of non-compliance observed.

7.8. The research team investigated this possibility through communication with a member of Building Standards referred by Mr Thomas Lennon (Alan McAulay from the Building Standards Hub Director). Out of the 16 homes monitored in WP3, those with no CO₂ monitor (4 in total) provision were further investigated to verify building warrant submission.

7.9. Mr McAuley checked the date of building warrant submission of the 4 monitored homes with no CO₂ monitor. He confirmed that 4 out of 4 addresses had their building warrant submitted before the changes to the regulations introduced on 1st October 2015 and henceforth did not require to provide CO₂ monitor (see fig. 7.3). These 4 homes were highlighted in the WP3 chapter seasonal analysis. Besides one that is Passivhaus, the other 3 homes with no CO₂ monitors were performing poorly in winter and spring. However, a direct comparison with those built post 2015 could not be drawn.

7.10. Participant 2 from the construction sector (P2-const) brought to the discussion the conflict between regulation requirements, such as fire doors that must be kept closed and ventilation. This is especially relevant if considering that door undercuts were found to be insufficient (i.e. < 8,000mm²) in 9 out of the 16 homes monitored under WP3. Participant P2-const also highlighted the fact that the 2015 Ventilation Regulations are based on a room-by-room ventilation analysis and not whole house analysis. He explained that the British Standards requires a whole house because it results in better performance, and henceforth the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has developed a practice notice ^[26] with a strategy flow chart for Section 3.0 Guidance to select the correct strategy and that could be useful in case for the building requirements change to a whole house strategy.

Are you confident that your department has the knowledge of the requirement for CO₂ monitoring? Are you confident that CO₂ monitors are being installed?

7.11. Participant 1 from the Scottish Government (P1-gov) reminded of the multiple energy efficiency measures introduced at the time that building controllers had to absorb in a short amount of time. They also reminded that just in 2013 the requirement to use CO alarms was introduced.

7.12. To question 2, participant 3 from a housing association (P3-ha), stated that they, as a housing association, do perform the checks to verify that CO₂ monitors are installed. They also confirmed that their housing association do explain to occupants how the CO₂ monitor is to be used and how to engage with the trickle vents. They try to create a partnership with tenants and, on this basis the housing association is interested in explaining to tenants to get them more engaged. This participant is from a housing association in Skye where humidity levels are extremely high, therefore tenants must be better at ventilation and humidity management. He stated that they would also like to have humidity sensors so that tenants are more observant and more in control of their indoor environments.

Q2. With regards to the Standard 3.14 Ventilation in the 2015 Building Regulations, and specifically to the requirement of CO₂ monitoring equipment to be provided, have you encountered resistance from occupants to install CO₂ monitors? has the installation of CO₂ monitors resulted in complaints from occupants or has it helped to identify any problems?

7.13. Participant 4 from a housing association (P4-ha) explained they regularly adopt a whole house ventilation strategy claiming they didn't have any issues from occupants, but he stated that they as a housing association would not build without a whole house ventilation system with heat recovery.

7.14. Participant P3-ha underlined those homes equipped with less known technologies, such as air source heat pump, have a much higher level of engagement,

7.15. Participant P4-ha explained that on occasions they receive phone calls from tenants which they use as opportunity to ask questions and to check if they are having any issues with the ventilation system. He stated that they do an annual service in which they revisit the ventilation systems with the occupants.

The audience was asked whether there has been any reported cases of people confusing CO₂ monitor with CO alarm sensors.

7.16. Participant 5 from the construction sector (P5-const) highlighted the fact that in the case of retrofits they haven't been fitted CO₂ monitors. He stated that because CO₂ sensors are located in the bedroom and CO monitors in the kitchen, it should not represent an issue. It should be highlighted however that this is not always the case, for instance in flats that have a boiler in the bedroom (e.g. case study H4).

Q3: With regards to the Standard 3.14 Ventilation in the 2015 Building Regulations, and specifically to the requirement of CO₂ monitoring equipment to be provided, what is been done to explain the CO₂ monitor to occupants? What instructions are provided to occupants?

7.17. Participant 5 from the construction sector (P5-const) explained that on day 1 of moving in, tenants receive 3 large packs of information: one pack from the housing officer on tenancy regulations and obligations, one pack from the development department, covering the basics aspects of the property, including utilities, fire doors, thermal performance, general advice on how to get the best out of the building and advice on fire prevention, and finally one pack of information from architects or contractors covering the technical aspects on how to use the components of the property, which is not ideal as the tenant is mostly concern with moving in.

7.18. Participants P5-contr and P4-ha stated that some housing associations perform follow ups with tenants, after 6 weeks, 8 weeks or 3 months. These follow ups are called settlement visits or tenancy sustainment and their aim is to ask tenants how well they are settling in. Participant P5-const stated that this is probably the best opportunity to reinforce information on how to get the best out of the building. This point was reinforced by participant P4-ha, who also stressed the importance of the technical induction which is best done after the tenants have lived in the property for a period of time.

Participants were asked how they explain the traffic light system of the CO2 monitor

7.19. Participant P4-ha explained that housing officers must first explain at a level that people can understand so as not to generate anxiety. He stated that in northern parts of Scotland the humidity levels are 12%-13% higher which often results in instances of mould, especially in bedrooms. He stated that, especially in older buildings, there is a real tension between humidity management and indoor air quality.

Participants were asked if CO₂ monitors should stay in the building regulation

7.20. Participant P5-const brings the reflection that in case of MVHR, and in the case of power cuts. This makes further sense if we think that homes might be required to be equipped with MVHR.

7.21. The discussion moved to fuel poverty and the effects it may take in rural areas with no gas provision as opposed to urban areas. Participant P4-ha elaborated on providing access to tenants to clear their own MVHR filters. He also claimed that doing this would require extra 2m² to each flat to be able to access their own which added much financial fear.

Summary

• The low compliance issue was further investigated thanks to the points made during the focus group. During such further investigation it became clear that many homes in the list of 200 addresses built in 2019 may not have been constructed to 2015 regulations. That notwithstanding, it remains an issue if Building regulations change, such changes can take up to 5 years to be built. This also generates some form of injustice between the large and the smaller development, with larger developers with land banks and greater resources able to more readily stage warrant applications. This practice will also slow progress to the delivery of new standards and performance
• Another aspect of compliance discussed in the workshop is the lacking provision of advice on how to use the CO₂ monitors. Tenant engagement from small housing associations was confirmed through the workshop, though it remains unclear why there is little guidance delivered to tenants, despite the requirement for Quick start guides being in place before changes to Standard 3.14 Ventilation. For those who delivered advice effectively (i.e. not on the day or moving in, after several weeks and repeatedly), it became clear the crucial role that social landlords have on both securing tenant understanding and on performing regular checks to the ventilation systems, which is lacking in the private sector.
• It can also be concluded that participants have not had any obstacles or complaints from occupant regarding the installation of the CO₂ monitor. Occupant complaints have not been a barrier. However technical inductions should be avoided on the day of moving in and they should be repeated periodically to verify that instructions are understood and that systems are working properly.
• There is some evidence, both from the survey but also the workshop about confusion between CO and CO2 monitors.