On Tuesday 25th April SWIGA hosted their annual Solid Wall Insulation Industry Update Day in Redditch. It was great to see so many of the industry there, including many of our new Associate Members. We would like to thank all those who attended and hope that you found the event interesting and informative.

We would also like to thank the three key speakers - SWIGA chairman David Lawrence, Ruth Richmond, Head of Net Zero Buildings Supply Chain at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and finally, SWIGA's very own Andrew Champ. Below is a short summary of the subjects covered and the points raised:

David Lawrence - SWIGA Chairman

In his welcoming address David reminded us of the significant challenges which the UK has faced over the last 18 months or so - challenges which affect us all:
 

• Significant rise in energy costs for consumers and the need to reduce them
• Need to increase the numbers of habitable quality homes that allow people to live in comfort cost effectively
• Record inflation
• The ongoing battle to push back C02
• Coming out of the recession that was thrust upon the world as a result of Covid

On a far more positive note he also focussed on the significant opportunities for the industry and the challenges we collectively need to overcome if we are to deliver - including:
 

• Huge investment from Gov - HUGS, SHDF, ECO 4 and Great British Insulation Scheme applying pressure to deliver
• Ongoing work to identify the difficulties with PAS guidance and work to improve it
• Need to train significant numbers of skilled installers to a high standard
• Build the supply chain to keep up with current and future demand
• Find solutions to support difficult detailing for retrofit at scale

The opportunity for the solid wall industry is immense and David stressed the need for focus and collaboration across the whole industry to overcome the delivery challenges.

Ruth Richmond - Head of Net Zero Buildings Supply Chain, DESNZ

Always a pleasure to listen to Ruth speak at these events and the fact she'd taken time out of her busy schedule to spend time with us at the event was greatly appreciated. Ruth delivered a comprehensive energy efficiency policy update which first reminded us of the scale of the homes decarbonisation challenge:
 

• Around 30 million buildings in the UK – which are responsible for around 30% of our national emissions.
• UK building stock is currently inefficient, with large numbers of ‘hard-to-treat’ older buildings.
• Around 85% of UK properties are connected to the gas grid with many others using oil, coal or liquefied propane gas.
• Supply chains for key technologies are growing but remain at an early stage of development. Significant new infrastructure is required to support the transition.

She went on to spell out the Governments recent initiatives aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of buildings - specifically :

• The Heat & Buildings Strategy, published October 2021 - investing £6.6bn over this Parliament in energy efficiency and clean heat schemes.
• Publication of ‘Powering up Britain’ which included:
  • The Great British Insulation Scheme.
  • Extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
  • The Heat Pump Investment Accelerator.
  • A second consultation on the forthcoming Clean Heat Market Mechanism.
• The Energy Efficiency Taskforce

Ruth stressed that the Government want all homes to meet EPC C by 2035, where cost-effective, practical and affordable and that their fuel poverty target means fuel poor homes need to be improved by 2030. The intention is to achieve this through:

1. Regulation: related to minimum performance standards
2. New Builds: conforming to the Future Homes Standards
3. Funding: significant funding through various schemes e.g. SHDF, HUG and LAD.

The presentation also reminded us that, whilst the current focus may appear to be aimed at the domestic market, the Government are also committed to decarbonising the 1.7 million commercial and industrial buildings along with Improving energy performance in all Public Sector buildings in England and Wales too.

The presentation then went into the specifics of what the Government are doing to address the challenges:
 

• Reducing barriers to incentivise investment, keep the transition affordable and protect households and businesses
• Growing the market for private green finance
• Ensuring businesses invest in upskilling and growing their workforce
• Expanding information and advice provision

Funding schemes are established, increasing in value and set to continue to support - these include:
 

• Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
• Local Authority Delivery Scheme
• Home Upgrade Grant
• The Energy Company Obligation - ECO4
• Great British Insulation Scheme

PAS 2030 and PAS 2035 Standards will remain an essential part of Government domestic schemes but these are under review and out to consultation to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

Finally Ruth spoke about how the Government recognised the barriers and challenges to the success of delivering on objectives and targets. In particular:

• Supply chain growth was needed and the barriers to this were spelled out
• The skills shortage and the need to invest more to address this key issue
• Product supply chain challenges

It was made clear that the focus on the decarbonisation of buildings (both domestic and non-domestic) has never been greater and that the Government is focussed on ramping up delivery in order that they address fuel poverty quickly and achieve longer term net zero targets. The departmental structure is in place, the funding streams are established and set to continue and the support to address the barriers is available ... now it's time for industry collaboration in order that we deliver on the significant opportunity that lies ahead.

Andrew Champ - SWIGA Chief Executive

The last section of the meeting was presented by SWIGA's very own Andrew Champ who provided an update as to where we are in relation to the new Roofline Closure Systems, formally known as Verge Trims.

Live trials of the newly designed trims have been completed over the course of the winter but there are a number or remaining steps before they can be signed off and adopted:
 

• Final collation of evidence from trials to complete
• Finalise approach of submission required evidence – if any, with Trustmark – SWIGA will add to prenote
• Suggest included in retrofit designs and RC must receive a completed Roofline closure checklist before sign off and for submission
• Present evidence and process to the retrofit standards task force for approval - move to final acceptance with DESNZ
• Upon acceptance, design details and principles to be added to Weathering and thermal bridge guide
• Communication approach to the market and management of the work moving forward - propose to use approach used for below ground detail communication.
• Timeline dependant on availability of Retrofit Standards Taskforce
• 6 weeks work to complete group activities

Keep an eye on the SWIGA website for further information as the final steps are worked through.

Our Thanks Again

Once again, SWIGA would like to thank all those who took the time to join us on the day - we hope you enjoyed the event, found the content of interest and caught up with old friends and colleagues from across the industry. See you again next year!