Airtightness: progress, but are we missing the point?
When I first became involved in shaping the airtightness requirements for Part L of the Building Regulations, the topic was treated as a specialist curiosity. Airtightness was often seen as a compliance hurdle rather than a fundamental element of energy efficiency, comfort, and building durability. Over the last two decades, the industry has come a long way. New homes are now tested, airtightness targets are clearly defined, and there is a growing supply chain of testers and products designed to make compliance achievable. In many respects, this is a positive story: UK homes are significantly more airtight than they were…