Russell Roof Tiles is urging policymakers to work more closely with roof tile manufacturers and roofing contractors as the industry prepares for the introduction of the Future Homes Standard (FHS).
The new regulations, due to come into force from 24 March 2027 with a one-year transition period, aim to ensure all new homes are ‘zero-carbon ready’ and reduce carbon emissions by 75% compared with 2013 Building Regulations.
However, Russell Roof Tiles believes greater collaboration is needed to ensure the roofing sector is fully prepared for the changes.
Mark Parsons, Technical Director at Russell Roof Tiles, said: “We are missing important industry alignment around the implementation of the Future Homes Standard. The building regulations seem to have been pushed through by policymakers without considering the opinions of roof tile manufacturers and roofers in the construction industry that will be implementing the changes.”
He also raised concerns about the performance of complete roofing systems as low-carbon technologies become more widely adopted.
“The ramifications of the Future Homes Standard are enormous,” Mark said. “There are concerns as to whether there has been enough combined testing of roof build-up construction with the underlay and BIPV when it comes to roof design performance, safety and ventilation.
“It appears there has not been sufficient consideration given to how the various components work specifically as a roofing system in the UK climate to avoid issues such as roof leaks, overheating and condensation over time. This is all without mentioning the confusion around who is responsible if something goes wrong and when or how maintenance or replacement work is to be carried out.”