As part of the government’s drive to go zero carbon for new builds by 2019, changes are to be made to current building regulations.
These alterations are being brought in to make all non-domestic buildings more energy efficient.
The changes are being made to part L2B of the Building Regulations, which currently state, ‘the construction of an extension triggers the requirement for consequential improvements in buildings with a total useful floor area greater than 1000m²’.
The consequential improvements referred to are energy efficient measures that would need to be put in place should work on an extension go ahead. This can be anything from changing the light bulbs to installing double glazed windows.
This hasn’t really had much of an impact on the dental industry previously, as there aren’t many practices that are bigger than 1000m².
In some cases this will add up to an extra 10% in additional building costs to the total price of the extension.
Of course, for dentists who operate from an older building and are not looking to expand there is no cause for alarm. But any dentist looking to buy should be wary of an older building and the potential extra costs of investing in one carries.
For dentists seeking to acquire a new practice or expand, making the next move will need careful consideration.
Specialist dental project management consultancies like Roger Gullidge Design are available to give advice.
With extensive knowledge of building regulations and experience of how these changes will affect the dental industry, their assistance could be of great help. By seeking the right professional help, ways can be found of alleviating the potential costs of complying to consequential improvements.
At first the cost of complying with the revised regulations may seem a little intimidating, but the advantages of imposing them are clear to see. These changes will force all businesses to take a massive step forward ecologically. Contemporary dentistry will be laying the foundations for a more energy efficient industry, moving on from the improvident buildings of yesteryear. Implementing advanced technological design and energy efficiency, the modern dental practice will facilitate a greener future.