If you work in ventilation, you might notice that Building Regulations seem to change more often than the British weather.

And yes… Part F is back.

It can be hard to keep up with, but that’s what we’re here for!

The latest update to Approved Document F was published just a few weeks ago, as part of the Future Homes Standard, and whilst most major changes don’t officially come into force until March 2027, the direction of travel is now very clear.

Homes are becoming more airtight, and energy targets are becoming stricter. This means that ventilation systems are now expected to do a lot more than simply extract air.

So, what actually matters?

 

 Proving Performance

With the new regs, it is no longer enough for a ventilation system to theoretically work. A big change with the new regulations is the shift towards proving performance, and not just specifying it.

In the past, ventilation was a box which could be ticked by installing a fan. But we’re happy to see that this is finally changing and the updated guidance places a much bigger focus on:

• Proper commissioning
• Performance verification
• Inspection and maintenance
• Better documentation and handover

 

The rise of MVHR continues

You might be sick of us talking about them by now… But MVHR systems are becoming increasingly favoured in new build homes, which probably won’t come as a surprise to most people in the industry.

But why?

Because modern homes are now so airtight, fitting an intermittent extract fan in the bathroom isn’t enough anymore. The regulations are also now heavily focused on reducing heat loss and improving overall energy efficiency.

That means ventilation systems now need to work with low-carbon heating systems like heat pumps, rather than against them.

And that’s where MVHR really comes into its own. It continuously supplies new filtered air, extracts stale air, and recovers heat at the same time.

 

Homeowners actually need to understand the system

A surprisingly important change is the introduction of Regulation 40C. This new rule means that homeowners must now receive ventilation information in a format they can actually understand.

Which honestly… makes sense to us.

Because there’s no point installing a great system if the homeowner:

• Turns it off
• Doesn’t maintain it
• Has no idea what it does
• Thinks the filters clean themselves

The new guidance puts more responsibility on manufacturers and installers to provide simple, user-friendly information instead of overly technical paperwork nobody reads.

 

Ductwork matters more than ever

Ductwork has always been important. But now more than ever before.

Ventilation systems are under more scrutiny when it comes to ductwork quality and installation standards.

Leaks, poor layouts, crushed flexible ducting and bad installation practices can massively reduce system performance and efficiency.

Which is why the regulations now place more emphasis on:

• Airtight ductwork
• Proper inspection
• Reduced energy loss
• Correct installation practices

We’ve seen our fair share of poor ductwork and are pleased to see regulations now taking this into consideration. You can have the best ventilation system in the world, but if it’s not well connected, it won’t work as it should.

 

So what does all of this mean for installers?

In reality, the industry is moving towards:

• More continuous ventilation
• More MVHR
• Better commissioning
• Better handover
• Better installs overall

And honestly… that’s not a bad thing.

Ventilation is no longer being treated as an afterthought but it becoming increasingly recognised as a major part of building performance, energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

And it’s about time too!