PAS 2035/2030 – Energy Efficiency Retrofit Specifications
According to the official Wikipedia definition A Publicly Available Specification or PAS is a “standardization document that closely resembles a formal standard in structure and format but which has a different development model. The objective of a Publicly Available Specification is to speed up standardization. PASs are often produced in response to an urgent market need”.
It’s the British Standards Institute (BSI) who are responsible for publication of the PAS and there are a large number to cover all areas but, when it comes to energy efficiency retrofit there are two that you need to be aware of and which specifically relate to this market:
PAS 2035 details best practice guidance for domestic retrofit projects, and specifies a process retrofit projects must follow which is based off a whole house approach as to minimise the risk of unintended consequences. PAS 2035 must be used in conjunction with the PAS 2030 document.
PAS 2030 sets out robust and uniformly applicable technical specifications for the installation of energy efficiency improvement measures. The PAS 2030 document is used by installers of energy efficiency measures to ensure that they meet the requirements set out in the document, and to ensure that work carried out is to the highest standard.
It’s important to note that any energy efficiency measures installed under current Government energy efficiency schemes and hence eligible for grant funding must be compliant with PAS 2035/2030 to ensure installations are done to the highest quality and the risk of unintended consequences, such as condensation or damp, are minimised.
PAS 2035/2030 – The 2023 Revision
BSI’s revision of the PAS 2035/2030:2019+A1:2022 document was sponsored by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to ensure the PAS 2035/2030 documents would reflect the most current industry best practice while enabling a safe, high-quality approach to domestic retrofit.
These revisions are drafted by a technical author which sits within a wider industry-led steering group. This steering group is comprised of individual industry experts (including a representative from SWIGA), each of which represents specific key areas within the energy efficiency and home retrofit industry.
The launch of the new PAS 2035/2030:2023 represents a significant milestone in government’s continued commitment to advancing industry standards and promoting quality assurance within the domestic energy efficiency sector.
PAS 2035/2030:2023 – What’s New?
The PAS 2035/2030:2023 document incorporates views from a wide range of experts in the industry, as well as comments from BSI’s public consultation which ran from 28 March to 12 May 2023. PAS 2035/2030:2023 introduces several changes which are summarised start of the document. Some key benefits include the following:
- Freely Available: One of the most notable changes with this new release is that it is now freely available for download. We recognise the importance of making industry standards accessible to everyone, and this change ensures that PAS 2035/2030:2023 is within reach for all stakeholders and retrofit professionals.
- Minimises Risks and Ensures Quality: PAS 2035/2030:2023 has been reviewed so that it continues to ensure the highest quality in the industry. By following the guidelines outlined in this standard, you can enhance project outcomes, increase consumer confidence, and significantly reduce the risk of any unintended consequences to both the building and residents of dwellings.
- More user-friendly: In comparison to its predecessor, PAS 2035/2030:2023 specifies an approach to retrofit which is easier to understand and follow. The removal of risk pathways, as well as simplifying the language, makes the document more user-friendly, ensuring that compliance is more straightforward and efficient. Additional requirements and considerations for certain projects ensure continued assurance of quality.
Perhaps the biggest difference is that, in a break from the norm, the British Standards Institute (BSI) have published Publicly Available StandardsPAS: PAS 2035:2023 and PAS 2030:2023 and made them available to download from the BSI webstore for FREE.
We therefore recommend that if you’re considering an energy efficiency retrofit of your home that you download, read and digest the guidance – it may help you and provide access to grant funding.