PART L The headache that is

[Roof101]

Hi, Please be gentle it's my first post. I need help with Part L for flat roofs. I'll be honest, I'm an old school roofer who is trying to upgrade to 2013, but all I get is conflicting messages. I'm not sure if it's a localised thing but our Building inspectors don't give a hoot. I ask if it needs upgrading they say probably not. But hang on I'm stripping and re-felting an existing flat roof & over 25% falls under an upgrade, so how can this be & how come all the other roofers around here also don't give a hoot. I wouldn't worry about them if it wasn't for the fact they're under cutting me by a huge amount by not insulating. Customers only see the £ signs. So I ask you knowledgeable people, how an earth do you do this Part L with-out being penalised & are there any loop holes people are using (you can PM me those if you like Thank-you.

 

[catlad]

Well I too feel like I am losing work for the same reason, I inform customers of the new regulations and some people are ok with that and other people are only interested in the cheapest price.

 

[^woody^]

The Part L1b requirement to insulate is misunderstood.

There is no actual obligation to insulate when re-roofing, but rather the obligation is to "consider" whether the costs of insulation will be worth it in terms of savings over a 15 year period.

Enforcing it is very dependent on each local authority area. Some councils actively look for scaffold and roofing works and then check for applications, others don't.

As a contractor, there is a duty for you to notify your customers of any regulations affecting the work they want you to do. You would be wise to get a waiver written into your contract so that you don't get a "You did not tell me that I needed to insulate the roof" type of claim

 

[catlad]

Well I never knew that was the case. thanks

 

[Roof101]

Your a star Woody. Thank-you. I'm still going to brush up on this insulation malarky, but at least now I understand the procedure more.

 

[Toproofer]

Aye there's afew around my area that go round looking for scaffolding and roofing works!! And if they spot them rush right up scaffold saying u need a building notice and that they r gonna starting fineing people if they dont apply,Just on a power trip I think!!!i mention it to customers but most don't want to spend £108 on a certificate saying they have x amount of insulation in loft!, and most houses have more than enough in any way just another tax for council, I wouldn't mind paying it if they checked your work but they don't!! One inspector mentioned to a customer that the new tiles on his roof were put on wrong and should have been half bonded,the tiles were double Romans

 

[tony1851]

The Part L1b requirement to insulate is misunderstood.

There is no actual obligation to insulate when re-roofing, but rather the obligation is to "consider" whether the costs of insulation will be worth it in terms of savings over a 15 year period.

Enforcing it is very dependent on each local authority area. Some councils actively look for scaffold and roofing works and then check for applications, others don't.

As a contractor, there is a duty for you to notify your customers of any regulations affecting the work they want you to do. You would be wise to get a waiver written into your contract so that you don't get a "You did not tell me that I needed to insulate the roof" type of claim

On page 17 of L1b it clearly states that when the thermal element is subject to renovation;

'the performance of the whole element should be improved to achieve or better...etc etc'.

So it is not down to 'considering' the matter - there is no choice.

 

[^woody^]

Don't selectively quote from the document. Read it further

 

[tony1851]

Don't selectively quote from the document. Read it further

OK;
'Regulation 4A;

(1) Where a person intends to renovate a thermal element, such
work shall be carried out as is necessary to ensure that
the whole thermal element complies with the requirements of
paragraph L1(a)(i) to Schedule 1'.

 

[Roof101]

In an ideal world I think it should be a level playing field across the country & more advice as to the requirements from the council. It just seems bizarre that some do and some don't. I was told by planning that the roof is classed as a repair if i'm just re-felting/decking.

Also the people that have leaking roofs that can barely afford the fix or care for the additional insulation are going to go with the roofer who isn't pricing additional insulation in. This is the case more than most so we're being out priced. I've got mouths to feed.

Another question, when they say 25% for instance on a dorma flat roof, is the percentage of the whole roof dorma & main roof included or just 25% of the flat roof? Thanks

 

[tony1851]

It's just the flat-roof part.

Your right, there isn't a level playing field, but that applies in lots of jobs unfortunately. Just tell your potential customers that 'sometimes' councils ask for extra insulation, and leave it to them.

 

[Xenon]

Don't selectively quote from the document. Read it further

OK;
'Regulation 4A;

(1) Where a person intends to renovate a thermal element, such
work shall be carried out as is necessary to ensure that
the whole thermal element complies with the requirements of
paragraph L1(a)(i) to Schedule 1'.

It also states that if current 'U' is .35 upgrade of insulation is not required. And if you overlay an existing roof, its clased as a repair, so no insulation required.