To avoid the serious risk of creating a major public health burden by sealing pollutants and viruses in our homes, the White Paper makes it clear that we must adopt a ‘Ventilate when you Insulate’ approach, ensuring that energy efficiency and ventilation improvements go hand-in-hand, and poor-quality installations of ventilation systems and poor compliance are rooted out.

The document covers the impacts of poor indoor air quality, the positive effect of ventilation on health, and the challenges we face, before outlining 4 policy solutions to take the country forward:
 

1. Set higher ventilation standards for new builds to protect health and wellbeing
2. Ensure energy efficiency retrofits are accompanied by ventilation measures to protect health and wellbeing
3. Drive ventilation compliance standards
4. Treat poor IAQ and poor ventilation as a public health emergency and, in addition to public education campaigns on the risks and solutions, make sure it is enshrined in all relevant policy areas

The timely update from trade association BEAMA comes amidst a seminal moment for the built environment in the UK, with the country navigating its way out of the pandemic, the introduction of new Building Regulations for energy conservation and ventilation and the Government driving its long-term Net Zero Strategy. The push towards energy efficiency has led to increasing air tightness but this has not been matched by ventilation improvements, resulting in the increased risk of poor indoor air quality compromising the health and wellbeing of occupants.

The Paper acknowledges that whilst the UK Government has shown good intentions, such as its commitment in the Heat and Buildings Strategy to take decisive, ‘no-regrets’ action now on improving ventilation and mitigating the risks of poor indoor air quality, a concrete plan must be delivered in practice.

Colin Timmins, Director of the BEAMA Ventilation Group, hopes the updated White Paper will serve as a wake-up call to Government: “Our message to policymakers is simple: a ‘Ventilate when you Insulate’ approach must be adopted, and poor-quality installations and compliance must be tackled, to ensure indoor air quality and health are safeguarded. By adopting and implementing the 4 policy solutions set out in this White Paper, the Government can achieve this and deliver healthy homes that are fit for the future.”

Rupert Kazlauciunas, Technical Product Manager at Zehnder Group UK commented on the updated paper saying: “We at Zehnder fully support the BEAMA white paper, with ventilation at the heart of the solution to improve health and wellbeing of occupants. It’s clear that as we look to build more energy efficient and air tight properties, along with improving the existing housing stock in the strive to Net Zero, that we can’t ignore the lungs of the property.”

To download the updated 2022 edition of the BEAMA Ventilation White Paper, please click the link.