New homes warranty and insurance provider NHBC has released its Technical Standards for 2024, outlining the requirements and performance standards for the design and construction of new homes registered with the organisation and guidance on how these can be achieved.
The latest edition of the Standards will apply to every new home registered with NHBC where the foundations are begun on or after 1 January 2024.
Revisions to standards for 2024
There have been several significant changes and updates across Parts 3 to 8. These include, but are not limited to:
- A new chapter 4.6 – ‘Engineered fill’ in Part 4 covering NHBC guidance on meeting the Technical Requirements and recommendations for using engineered fill to support residential developments, external works and infrastructures.
- Extensive revisions to chapter 6.1 including the provision of cavity trays to complicated junctions and additional insight on the design and specification of windposts.
- Updates to chapter 6.3 regarding internal masonry walls and fire-stopping details.
- Improvements to chapter 7.2 to provide more information on durability, ventilation strategies, integration of roof solar technologies and roof cassette systems.
- A revision of Part 8 (chapters 8.1 – 8.6) to improve the usability of the sections and improve guidance on heat pumps and solar photovoltaics, ensuring alignment with the Requirements for Electrical Installations (IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition), and weep hole locations in relation to gas meter boxes.
NHBC says it consults with stakeholders from across the industry to ensure its Standards are always relevant and provide the required support for builders and developers to keep raising the level of quality in house building.
