Category: General

The Future Homes and Building Standard is a set of standards that homes and buildings must adhere to. This ensures that all new homes built from 2025 onwards produce 75%-80% less carbon emissions than homes built under the current regulations. This is a huge step forward for the construction industry, and it’s something that the industry needs to start preparing for now. The standard will require a change in the way homes are designed and built, so we must begin to explore these changes now. In this article, we will explore what the Future Homes Standard is, why it is so important and why as a company we produce all our current products to meet these crucial standards now to be ready for the change in the law.

According to the government’s consultation in 2019, 20% of greenhouse gas emissions are made by new and existing homes in the UK. Future Homes Standard aims to improve energy efficiency in newly built homes from 2025 onwards, applicable to homes built in England.

New homes built from 2025 must have:

1. low carbon emission heating systems installed
2. high rated insulation for maximum energy efficiency
3. double glazing, which can insulate around doors and windows and reduce energy consumption
4. 75%-80% less carbon emissions than current homes

These moves help homes move toward the government’s goal of becoming Net Zero in 2050 and decarbonising the electricity grid. The Future Homes Standard should mean that these new homes built will not need to be retrofitted with the latest technology to meet the net-zero targets. The government will continue to consult the industry and refine the standard before they are made into regulations. These will be given out with notice for the industry to implement.

The Immediate Future for New Homes:

The government also introduced the interim uplift regulations that will come into force in June 2022. This is so building regulations make sure homes emit up to 30% less carbon, prevent over-heating and improve ventilation and insulation before the Future Homes Standard comes into effect.

There are caveats, including transitional arrangements in place. If a building notice or full plans for building work are submitted to a local authority before 15 June 2022, then, provided the building work starts by 15 June 2023, the building is subject to previous building and regulation standards. All contractors must be aware of this as the deadline approaches.

How we can prepare for the Future Homes Standard:

1. Learning about the new standard and how it will affect the way we design and build homes
2. Updating our skillsets to reflect the new requirements of the Future Homes Standard
3. Looking into new technologies and materials that can help us reduce carbon emissions in homes

The Future Homes Standard is essential to reducing carbon emissions and ensuring that all new homes are energy efficient. We need to start preparing for this change now, and the construction industry needs to act fast to meet the 2025 deadline. We provide multiple sustainable building materials to help homes achieve greater energy efficiency, insulation, and sustainability and help meet the Future Homes Standards, including THERMOMUR® building systems and JACKODUR® insulation. Contact us to discuss your requirements today!

Concrete has strong sustainability credentials and is playing a vital role in meeting the UK’s ambition of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Increasingly, the industry is recognising the importance of measuring the environmental performance of a building over its whole life, rather than simply considering the impact of its construction.

JACKON UK receives daily questions regarding the carbon footprint of the materials we use. This is why discussing the life cycle of the current housing stock and future proofing buildings is so important. JACKON UK is relied on by many customers due to its broad range of climate-friendly, sustainable thermal insulation solutions and it is committed to contributing towards high-quality, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible buildings. 

The UK concrete industry is making great strides in its commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its raw materials, and recent trials at Hanson Cement’s Ribblesdale plant in Lancashire shine a spotlight on one of many ways the industry is changing.

Led by the Mineral Products Association (MPA), Hanson UK and made possible by Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) funding, the trial used a mix of 100% net-zero fuel for commercial-scale cement manufacture. During the demonstration at the Ribblesdale plant, the proportion of fuels in the cement kiln’s main burner was gradually increased to a wholly net-zero mix consisting of tanker-delivered hydrogen as well as meat and bone meal (MBM) and glycerine. 

If fully implemented for the whole kiln system, nearly 180,000 tonnes of CO₂ could be saved each year at Ribblesdale alone, compared to using the traditional fuel of coal at the site.

Dr Richard Leese, MPA Director – Industrial Policy, Energy and Climate Change, says: “Our sector is committed to advancing ground-breaking collaborative research and innovation to meet the industry’s climate change objectives. This world-first trial has demonstrated the potential of using net-zero fuel mixes for the manufacture of cement at commercial scale. 

“Building on the significant steps our members have already taken through the use of waste-derived fuels, in the future we envisage that combining the use of net-zero fuels with Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) technology will enable the production of cement to capture more CO₂ than it emits.”

Energy & Climate Change Minister, Greg Hands, said: “This project, supported by £3.2 million in government funding, is a key example of how we are supporting industry to reduce emissions and move away from relying on fossil fuels.

“Fuel switching and developing hydrogen technology will be vital for decarbonising industries such as cement production and will help us further develop the green infrastructure needed as we drive forward the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution”.

Read more about this trial here. 

JACKON UK is delighted to announce that we have been awarded the contract to supply the THERMOMUR® ICF system and JACKODUR® ATLAS insulated concrete raft system to a beautiful American colonial-style project just south of Reading. 

JACKON brings over 60 years’ expertise in EPS and XPS manufacturing to the market. JACKODUR® ATLAS uses XPS (extruded polystyrene) and THERMOMUR® uses EPS (moulded expanded polystyrene) to create the formwork. In accordance with the current trend towards green building and zero-energy homes, the combination of JACKODUR® ATLAS with THERMOMUR® enables more rapid construction and the most energy efficient buildings.

The property will consist of three large retaining walls set back from the substructure (to allow access and aid in the waterproofing design), an ICF Basement along with 2 further stories and a wrap-around balcony.

JACKON UK recently attended Grand Designs Live at the NEC in Birmingham, promoting the fact that we are Future Homes ready. That means we’re ready for the tough new u-value targets for new builds when they come into effect from 2025 as part of the Future Homes Standard.

Grand Designs hosted an ‘Ask an Expert’ area where attendees could access free consultations with experts, including designers, planning and finance specialists, architects, builders and project managers. JACKON UK are thrilled to have received lots of positive feedback from these consultations. 

The entire perimeter of the ‘Ask an Expert’ area was constructed using THERMOMUR® ICF blocks so not only did ‘Ask an Expert’ provide the panel of experts with a closed-off working space to interact with prospective clients, but it also gave JACKON UK an opportunity to showcase their ICF construction products in an environment where all questions could be answered about this leading insulated concrete form. 

JACKON UK would also like to thank Matthew Worrall for his support and Tudor Beams for the constant supply of beverages and insight into their sustainable and cost-effective alternative to real oak.

JACKOBOARD® is one of the first brands to give its support to the TTA Awards 2022 as a Gold Sponsor. JACKOBOARD® is no stranger to the TTA Awards, having been a Gold Sponsor in previous years as well.

Michael Hailwood, Director of JACKON UK & IRE, says: “I am really looking forward to celebrating the excellence our industry has to offer at the TTA Awards 2022. The association with quality and brilliance provided by Gold Sponsorship is absolutely right for JACKOBOARD® and it also provides a truly unique opportunity to promote our brand in front of a key buying audience from right across the tiling sector”.

Entries are opening soon for the TTA Awards 2022 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on 24 June.

Kay Porter, CEO of The Tile Association, says: “We’re pleased to announce JACKOBOARD® as a Gold Sponsor of the TTA 2022 Awards. Having major industry brands on board from the start is a real credit to the awards and we are grateful for the ongoing support of our sponsors, without whom the TTA Awards would not be possible.”

Martin brings a wealth of experience which has been gathered from many different roles. His career started in 1992 as a Fabrication & Welding Engineer, and he later developed into CAD Design, Quality Management and finally Specification Sales and Key Account Management. 

Martin has worked with industry leading manufacturers who supply into building, tiling, plumbing, retail and dry lining distribution. These accounts were all stimulated by specification and contractor-led projects and Martin has been active in the complete value chain. 

By most recently specialising in XPS-based products and understanding these products’ versatility in many different applications, he lends his considerable skill set to support the technical requirements, sustainability performance and commercial positions in each target market group. 

Michael Hailwood, Director of JACKON UK & Ireland, says: “This appointment shows the intent that JACKON have to continue with our impressive recent growth and increase the presence in the UK specification market with the industry leading JACKOBOARD® brand. Bringing Martin to the company is an exciting opportunity, and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team”.