England and Wales Part L2

The Building Regulations 2000 Approved Document L2, conservation of fuel and power in building other than dwellings, came into effect on 1st April 2002. To comply with this document the following need to be taken into account.

1. In order to comply with document L2 U values are currently 0.35W/m2K with thermal bridging, at the composite panel joints and flashing details, to be taken into account. Rockspan and Europanel details have been modelled using the B.R.E. approved finite element software package TRISCO.
2. All buildings with a floor area greater than 1000m2 will tested for air leakage, once complete. Maximum allowable air leakage rate is 11.5m3 @ 50Pa (reducing to 10m3 @ 50Pa by 1.10.03). Rockspan and Europanel is designed as a ‘rear air sealed’ external wall panel system and this ensures that, provided Eurobond’s installation instructions are followed, air leakage through Rockspan and Europanel is well within required limits. The composite panel system has been independently tested to back this up.
3. The risk of condensation must be assessed by thermal modelling and represented by a surface temperature (f) factor.

Eurobond supplies a wide range of typical details, which contain their associated «¦ values and f-factors. All details have been designed to limit air leakage

Scotland Part J

The 6th amendment to the Technical Standards Part J, conservation of fuel and power, came into force on the 4th of March 2002.

In order to comply with Part J U values are currently 0.30W/m2K, however no further allowance needs to be taken into account for thermal bridging through joints in composite panels.

There is no requirement to calculate y values or f-factors or to carry out air leakage tests but all detailing should follow the guidelines set down in B.R.E. Report BR262C Thermal Insulation Avoiding Risks.

Eire/Northern Ireland

Eire and Northern Ireland require wall cladding to achieve a U value of 0.45W/m2K, there is no requirement for «¦ values or f-factors.