The Future Homes Standard (FHS) represents the next tightening of the UK’s long-term trajectory towards low-carbon, high performance homes. With it comes an urgency for developers, contractors and specifiers to embed lower carbon delivery into every part of a build. The FHS builds on the whole-house energy efficiency principles already in play through Part L, adding new requirements around low-carbon heating, mandatory solar, mechanical extract ventilation and a shift to a Home Energy Model (HEM).
In practice, this does not mean a reinvention of how we build, but a renewed emphasis on getting decisions right earlier in the process. For many suppliers, the FHS creates a clear pathway – solar for renewable energy, insulation for better thermal efficiency, and heat pumps for low-carbon heating. For concrete blocks, this pathway is not quite as obvious.
Thermal efficiency must be considered, and this includes looking at thermally efficient choices within masonry. Though blocks are only one component of sustainable housebuilding, and it will be the overall wall design that determines the thermal performance of the structure, the FHS means that no component is too small to be overlooked. The advantages of thermally efficient blocks should not be understated. The thermal properties of low-carbon concrete help regulate indoor temperatures, reducing the need for heating and cooling. This lowers energy consumption, cutting both costs and emissions while improving overall building efficiency.
Blocks will always play a fundamental part in modern construction, and specifiers should be aware of the versatility available to make sure they are choosing the right block for the job. Forward thinking manufacturers are, for example, producing blocks with multiple internal cavities that deliver better thermal performance. For detached dwellings and extensions, aggregate blocks are also being designed with a lightweight construction, like Holcim’s Masterlite Ultra18, which is proven to support the U-value requirements of the FHS. This is due to them reducing the thermal mass of a building, helping to regulate internal temperatures and reducing energy consumption.
As the range of options and solutions increase, the amount of new information available also increases. This means the need for collaboration and trusted sources of data is more important than ever to ensure accurate choices are made. When the value chain collaborates from the outset, waste is reduced – not just material waste, but wasted time, rework, over-processing and unnecessary cost.
SUPPORTING THE GOLDEN THREAD
As regulatory expectations around transparency and accountability increase, the Golden Thread becomes a central part of how homes are designed, built and maintained. Reliable, project-specific product data is essential to this.
Housebuilders, developers and specifiers need high-quality transparency from material manufacturers. That’s why Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), alongside robust carbon calculation tools for materials such as cement, concrete (ready-mix), aggregates, asphalt and mortars are becoming a differentiating factor when it comes to choosing sustainable materials.
EPDs are standardised documents that provide comprehensive information about the environmental impact of a product. They offer a holistic view of the product’s life cycle, including the sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing processes, transportation, and its energy performance. This transparent and data-rich approach empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions about material selection, project carbon footprint and whole-life performance.
Holcim can produce project-specific EPDs. This level of detail is extremely useful in quantifying the contribution of each product to the overall carbon footprint of the build, supports with better carbon modelling, and can help to reduce risks of late-stage redesign.
PRACTICAL BEATS PERFECT
The construction industry is entering one of its most ambitious periods of activity and the introduction of FHS means that it should be its most sustainable era yet. But this only becomes realised through early collaboration, thoughtful material choices and regulatory compliance.
Concrete blocks may be humble, but they are foundational. When chosen thoughtfully and backed by robust data, they play a vital role in delivering efficient, low-carbon homes. And when manufacturers, designers and housebuilders work together from the start, the entire value chain becomes more efficient, more sustainable and better aligned with the expectations of the FHS.
www.holcim.co.uk/products/building-products