Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 175: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether his Department has protected the hollow block construction industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16439/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I refer to the reply to Question No. 58 of 13 April 2005, in which I explained the open and transparent procedure used for the formulation and adoption of building code standards. This guards against any sectoral interest having undue or improper influence on the regulatory process.

The building regulations lay down performance-based standards, and do not either mandate or prohibit the use of specific construction products-systems. Various competing products-systems demonstrating compliance with the regulations may lawfully be used; and the choice is left to the designers, builders and the market.

Part L of the building regulations deals with the conservation of fuel and energy in buildings. Stricter thermal performance and insulation standards apply to new dwellings commencing on or after 1 January 2003. Prior to the adoption of these standards, the building regulations advisory body, BRAB, commissioned a technical study by the energy research group, ERG, University College Dublin, of the impact of much higher thermal performance levels for new houses on the most common house construction types in Ireland. These were: twin leaf construction, using solid blocks; single leaf construction, using hollow blocks; and timber frame construction.

The results of the ERG-UCD study were published in November 2000 and showed that all commonly used house construction systems could be insulated to comply with the higher part L standards proposed. The study recommended minor adjustments in the u-values for roofs and walls. The recommended u-values were subsequently incorporated in the 2002 edition of technical guidance document L on how to comply with part L, published by my Department.