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PAS 2038: How can we support your journey to net zero?
by AHR
Following the release of PAS 2035 in 2019, which set the standard for retrofitting works in the domestic sector, PAS 2038 was introduced in 2021, setting the requirements for works to commercial buildings. But exactly what is PAS 2038 and how can we apply its guidance to support your journey to net zero?
What is PAS 2038?
Supporting the UK to significantly improve the energy efficiency of its building stock, PAS 2038:2021 sets out requirements for retrofitting commercial buildings in England and Wales by improving the energy efficiency of existing building stock, reducing the energy demand and decarbonising building services.(1)
Sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the standard supports the legal requirement for the UK government to achieve Net Zero by 2050, to meet the national greenhouse gas emissions targets, as set out in the Climate Change Act.
Which buildings PAS 2038 cover?
PAS 2038 covers all buildings except those used as private dwellings, such as houses, bungalows, flats or apartments – which are covered under PAS 2035: 2019.
This also includes multi-residential buildings where occupants share communal facilities, such as hotels, hostels, and accommodation for students and nurses.
However, buildings smaller than 500 square meters, which also have a construction type and building services you might find in a domestic property, can opt to follow PAS 2035.(1)
Who is PAS 2038 for?
This is where we come in! The PAS 2038 standards support anyone involved in the funding, assessment, specification, design and installation of building improvement measures, including building and construction professionals such as:
- Architects / building consultants
- Facilities managers
- Engineers
- Surveyors
- Site managers
- Architectural technologists
- Suppliers of building materials and products.
The guidance may also be of interest to owners, developers, insurers, investors, tenants and landlord bodies, local authorities, building control bodies, energy assessors and auditors.
As architects and building consultants, we often work as the lead consultant, managing multidisciplinary teams and undertaking stakeholder engagement with a number of the bodies listed above. With our in-house PAS Accredited Retrofit Assessor and Coordinator, we are perfectly positioned to support our clients in moving towards their net zero or thermal efficiency goals.
How can we apply PAS 2038 to support your energy efficiency goals and your journey to net zero?
The application of PAS 2038:2021 supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, associated with energy use in buildings, to the lowest possible level by promoting and defining robust ‘whole-building’ retrofit processes.
As a practice, we apply a ‘whole-building’ approach to every retrofit project we undertake, reviewing the building in its entirety before devising a programme of works which will support the improvement of energy efficiency from all aspects of the building fabric.
We work with clients, from a wide range of sectors, each year and will often be appointed to review their existing building stock in line with plans for maintenance, development, improvement or expansion works.
Our approach is not only to review the estate in its entirety in order to design a programme of works which will support and prioritise maintenance and enhancement works, but to also ensure that each individual building is reviewed with the same depth and consideration.
This approach enables us to apply a systematic process for devising and implementing suitable, coordinated, balanced and well-integrated solutions which:
- Increase climate resilience and minimise environmental impact
- Consider a building in its specific context
- Are proportionate, effective and cost efficient
- Avoid harm to any historically sensitive / intricate parts of the building
- Minimise the risk of unintended consequences
- Ensure a healthy and comfortable internal environment
The use of the PAS 2038 will also support:
- Improved functionality, usability and durability of buildings
- Improved comfort, wellbeing, health and safety (including fire safety) and productivity of building occupants and visitors
- Enabling buildings to use low- or zero-carbon energy supplies
- Improved energy efficiency, leading to reduced fuel use, fuel costs and pollution (especially greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use)
- Reduced environmental impacts of buildings
- Protection and enhancement of the architectural and cultural heritage as represented by the building stock
- Avoidance of unintended consequences related to any of the above
- Minimisation of the “performance gap” that occurs when reductions in fuel use, fuel cost and carbon dioxide emissions are not as large as intended or predicted
- PAS 2038:2021 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; and Goal 13 on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.(2)
If you would like any more information on PAS 2038, please get in touch on here or you can also find out more about our building consultancy team by visiting our building consultancy page.
Posted on:
Oct 21st 2024
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