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Are there any changes to the regulations planned between now and 2025?
Last Updated: 3 September 2025Yes, changes to regulations are anticipated between now and 2025. The UK government has announced interim documents for Scotland and Wales, with updates leading to the Future Homes Standard. Additionally, SAP 11 is scheduled for release in 2025, which will likely include significant amendments to current ventilation standards. Upcoming Changes to UK Regulations by 2025...
Can I Close Trickle Vents at Night?
Last Updated: 16 September 2025Yes, you can physically close trickle vents at night, but it’s strongly discouraged. These vents provide continuous background ventilation to combat condensation and mould by allowing fresh air circulation even when windows are shut. Closing them overnight heightens humidity risks, particularly in bedrooms where moisture from breathing accumulates. Closing these vents can lead to stale...
What steps should contractors take to meet Awaab’s Law requirements for damp and mould remediation?
Last Updated: 3 September 2025Contractors must act swiftly to comply with Awaab’s Law by conducting immediate risk assessments, addressing emergencies within 24 hours, investigating hazards within 14 days, and implementing long-term fixes like improved ventilation. Partnering with specialists such as VENTI ensures compliance through advanced treatments like MAXAM Pura+ and continuous monitoring via COSIE Homes. Understanding Awaab’s Law and...
Why Can’t MVHR Be Used for Cooling?
Last Updated: 3 September 2025Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems are designed primarily for heat exchange, not cooling. They transfer heat from outgoing stale air to incoming fresh air, improving energy efficiency. However, MVHR cannot actively cool indoor spaces because it lacks a refrigeration cycle and cannot lower supply air below the cooler of the two airstreams. In...
What training programmes are required for staff to comply with Awaab’s Law?
Last Updated: 3 September 2025To comply with Awaab’s Law, staff must complete training in hazard identification (e.g., damp, mould), legal obligations, repair protocols, and tenant communication. Programmes should cover technical skills for ventilation systems, proactive monitoring tools, and role-specific modules for housing officers, surveyors, and contractors. Regular refreshers ensure alignment with evolving regulations. 1. Core Training Areas Hazard Identification...
What is Clean Air?
Last Updated: 3 September 2025Clean air in the United Kingdom is fundamentally defined by the absence of harmful pollutants at levels that pose a risk to human health, wildlife, vegetation, or cultural heritage. This standard is quantified by specific thresholds for particulate matter (like PM10 at 40 µg/m³ annually and PM2.5 at 25 µg/m³ annually) and key gases such...
What are the common causes of trickle vent failure in double-glazed windows?
Last Updated: 16 September 2025Trickle vent failure in UK double-glazed windows commonly stems from manufacturing defects, mechanical wear, blockages (e.g., dust or paint), external damage (weather/impact), improper installation, user closure to prevent draughts, and neglected maintenance. These issues compromise ventilation, leading to condensation, mould, and poor air quality in airtight homes, despite Building Regulations Part F mandating their use...
What is EnerPHit?
Last Updated: 2 September 2025EnerPHit is a certification standard developed by the Passive House Institute (PHI) for retrofitting existing buildings to achieve near-Passive House levels of energy efficiency. It combines rigorous energy performance criteria with practical retrofit strategies, focusing on reducing heat loss, improving airtightness, and optimising ventilation. EnerPHit is particularly relevant in the UK residential retrofit sector, where...
Edwardian Terrace
Last Updated: 2 September 2025Can Edwardian Terraces Ever Breathe Properly? Edwardian terraces are some of the most charming homes in England. Their high ceilings, decorative fireplaces and solid brick walls carry history in every brick. But what they also carry—often unnoticed—is stale, damp and polluted air. Ventilation is not just a modern concern. It’s the quiet backbone of healthy...
What Percentage of Dwellings in England Had a Damp Problem in 2023?
Last Updated: 2 September 2025In 2023, 5% of dwellings in England reported a problem with damp, marking the highest percentage in the last five years, compared to the previous range of 3-4%. This increase highlights growing concerns about housing quality and ventilation in the UK. Understanding the Damp Crisis in England Damp is a pervasive issue in the UK,...