Get Sust! Issue 44

Water efficiency and safety: changes in the pipeline

Changes to the Building Regulations Approved Document G (sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency) are in the pipeline. From October this year all new-build homes will have protective devices (such as a thermostatic mixing valve) fitted to baths to limit hot water temperature, and will need to meet a new minimum standard of 125 litres of water per person per day to improve water efficiency. These changes were announced by the housing minister in May.

The new requirements also stipulate where greywater and harvested rainwater can be safely used.

The government has published a Water Efficiency Calculator for New Dwellings that can be used to estimate water usage for the purposes of both Part G of the Building Regulations and for the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Learn more:

	•	Download the Water Efficiency Calculator for New Dwellings from www.communities.gov.uk/publications.
	•	The Amendment to Part G is free to download at www.thenbs.com/topics/Regulations/articles/partG_amendments.asp.