Research finds “confusion and lack of clarity” about regulations

According to Polypipe Building Products, builders’ and plumbers’ merchants will play a key role in helping heating installers comply with the updated Part L regulations.

New research has revealed that installer awareness of the new building regulations is low, almost half of heating installers admitted they were not aware of the update to Part L and over a third of said they do not keep up to date with regulation changes.

Dan Love, head of commercial at Polypipe Building Products, said: “The confusion and lack of clarity surrounding the changes to Part L could spell trouble among the installer community as non-compliance could result in hefty fines and serious penalties. While the onus is on installers to familiarise themselves with the updates, merchants have a crucial role to play in advising customers and supporting them in making responsible and compliant purchases.”

The research also highlighted the confusion installers have when it comes to knowing which projects the changes to regulations will affect. 37% of installers think that because they work on existing dwellings, the legislation will not affect them, and 23% did not know whether the building regulations affected new builds.

However, the research discovered that female installers are more likely to have read an understood the regulations, 59% saying they understood the building regulations compared to 34% of men.

Love also said: “While it is positive to see higher awareness among certain demographics, a comprehensive understanding of the regulations is essential for all installers and merchants moving forward.”