Trevor Sargent
Question:527 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason the use of hollow blocks continues to be permitted in the construction industry. [26737/01]
Written Answers. - Building Regulations.
The building regulations do not place a restriction on the use of any particular method of construction or product, including hollow concrete blocks, provided the performance requirements of the regulations are met, for example, in relation to thermal performance and structural stability. It is a matter for building owners, designers and builders to ensure that their buildings comply with the regulations and to select the form of construction and product which best meets their needs in achieving this.
Technical guidance document L, which accompanies the regulations, provides guidance on the thermal performance standards of various elements in buildings, including roofs, walls and so on. For typical construction, the technical guidance document provides guidance on determining the thickness of insulation material required to achieve the standards, taking account of the thermal properties of both the insulation and the basic construction.
In November 2000, I published my initial proposals for revised thermal performance and insulation requirements for new dwellings. I commenced the public consultation process of the revised technical guidance document L on 27 September 2001. All interested parties have an opportunity to comment during the consultation process which ends on 30 November 2001. I will give full consideration to all submissions received, in consultation with the building regulations advisory body before the regulations are signed and the definitive technical guidance document published.