Part Z is an industry collaboration that proposes an amendment to UK Building Regulations to introduce embodied carbon regulation.
Due to the significant contribution that the embodied carbon of buildings makes to the climate, CIBSE believes there is a need to introduce legislation towards mandatory reporting of carbon emissions in the built environment, along with limiting embodied carbon emissions on projects.
CIBSE, along with nine other leading organisations across the industry, have written Part Z and its accompanying Proposed Document Z as a proof of concept of the regulation that’s needed in the UK. If enacted, Part Z would ensure that embodied carbon is assessed on all projects, as part of a comprehensive whole-life carbon assessment.
It would also ensure that the embodied carbon emissions are then capped on all major construction projects – initially through limits on upfront embodied carbon, but over time expanding to cover all aspects of embodied carbon.
The regulation of embodied carbon has been an issue discussed for a number of years by UK policymakers, including Parliamentarians. Most recently, it featured as a recommendation by the Environmental Audit Committee’s report – Environmental Sustainability and Housing Growth. Similar legislation has already been adopted in many other countries across the EU, as well as in some U.S. States.
CIBSE has developed this initiative in partnership with the Institution of Structural Engineers (IstrucE), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Institution of Chemical Engineers (ICE), UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), Construction Industry Council (CIC) and UK Built Environment Declares.
To find out more about the Part Z initiative and read the policy position paper and Proposed Document Z, visit www.part-z.uk.