Current UK building regulations, specifically Part L, prioritize heat retention to lower heating bills. This winter-centric approach creates "thermos houses" that trap heat during summer peaks. To shift this, the government must overhaul the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) to penalize overheating risks as heavily as heat loss.
Legislators should introduce a maximum allowable internal temperature for summer months. This would force architects to move beyond minimal compliance with Part O. Instead of simple calculations, the law should mandate physical features like external brise soleil, high-thermal-mass materials, and calculated cross-ventilation paths.
We need a shift toward passive cooling requirements. This means requiring "night flushing" capabilities and shading for south-facing glazing by default. If the regulations demanded a specific cooling capacity without mechanical air conditioning, designers would prioritize airflow and orientation. The goal is to stop treating overheating as an edge case and start treating it as a primary failure of thermal comfort.
