The Forward March of Global Building Regulations

As distributors and global partners of DANPAL, a company on the forefront of translucent building envelope systems, it is important that we keep up to date on the latest building regulations. In particular, we should pay close attention to the changes in specifications that regulate building efficiency. These changes are shaped by the opinions of lawmakers around the world, who are in-turn, informed by environmentalist’s ‘green’ agenda.

DANPAL has taken note of the impending changes to building codes within the various global markets, and in response, fast-tracked the research and development of ‘greener’ Danpalon based solutions. Some of these innovations can be seen reflected in new DANPAL product launches, such as our RK7 and DPR650 roofing systems. Here, DANPAL has prioritized thermal efficiency by achieving U-Values as low as 0.79 & 0.85 W/m^2k respectively.

Let’s take a moment to look into some of these building code changes, sweeping some of the world’s largest markets. Starting with Europe, the EU has finally ratified the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2018/844, published in the EU Official Journal (L156) and has entered into force as of 9 July 2018. … The new Directive has huge potential for efficiency gains in the EU building sector, the largest single energy consumer in Europe.

As buildings are responsible for approximately 40{5b578bc8adcb4430178b10faf0e9aa5adf0d58c8ca73fed93934f78c0e900111} of energy consumption and 36{5b578bc8adcb4430178b10faf0e9aa5adf0d58c8ca73fed93934f78c0e900111} of CO2 emissions in the EU, more renovation of existing buildings has the potential to lead to significant energy savings, which could reduce the EU’s total energy consumption by 5-6{5b578bc8adcb4430178b10faf0e9aa5adf0d58c8ca73fed93934f78c0e900111} and lower CO2 emissions by about 5{5b578bc8adcb4430178b10faf0e9aa5adf0d58c8ca73fed93934f78c0e900111}. More energy efficient and smarter buildings can also provide higher levels of wellbeing for their occupants and improve their health by reducing illnesses and deaths caused by a poor indoor climate, as well as reducing the energy bills of many households and thus help alleviate energy poverty.

Finally, as the construction industry generates about 9{5b578bc8adcb4430178b10faf0e9aa5adf0d58c8ca73fed93934f78c0e900111} of Europe’s GDP and directly accounts for 18 million direct jobs, boosting construction activities that include renovation work and energy retrofits can foster job creation in the sector and increase economic growth in the EU. With DANPAL’s array of solutions, both for new and existing building projects, we are in a position to supply the industry with systems that will help achieve these new provisions.

DANPAL’s strength is in our ability to produce extremely lightweight building envelope systems that are class-leading in both thermal and solar performance. This core focus, together with our Danpalon panel’s ability to transmit natural daylight, equates to massive saving in energy efficiency.

In other territories outside of the EU, we see similar initiatives in the building industry. Examples such as in Israel, where the new minimum requirement for children’s playgrounds to be shaded is now 70{5b578bc8adcb4430178b10faf0e9aa5adf0d58c8ca73fed93934f78c0e900111} as on the 1st of April 2019. This regulation is to provide children with safer play areas, protected from both harmful cancers producing UV and other extreme weather conditions. Again, DANPAL has an answer, our Compact panel based roofing solution provided in a variety of bright friendly colors provides an excellent solution.

In South Africa, Four of South Africa’s metros – Cape Town, eThekwini, Johannesburg and Tshwane – are working towards the implementation of ambitious policies and innovative programmes that aim for net zero carbon emissions from newly-built buildings by 2050.

This work is supported by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), with Sustainable
Energy Africa (SEA) as the local implementing partner. Within each city, the work is driven by a technical officer, or advisor, funded by C40 and employed by SEA, but based within the city and supported by a city senior city line manager.

The overall programme objective is to achieve building energy performance (through policy, regulations or by-laws); piloting this in some building types (e.g. office buildings), followed by city-wide implementation; and sharing lessons among cities throughout the process. The initiative spearheads the county’s intentions articulated within the National Development Plan: to achieve zero emission building standards by 2030. It supports and leads on the national intentions articulated within the (draft) National Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Strategies, as well as the update of the National Building Codes energy efficiency component currently under review (SANS 10400-XA).

It is clear that weather it is EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2018/844 regulations, the C40 2020 deadline or other more localized green building initiatives – the world is on a fast track of change. This change is taking our industry down a path that leads us all to a brighter greener future. We have all reminded then to future proof our businesses, and invest in building envelope systems capable of delivering on the solar, thermal and energy efficiency requirements demanded by tomorrow.

Dayne ScrowtherBy Dayne Scrowther

Dayne Scrowther is Danpal’s Business Development Specialist, located in South Africa. Dayne looks after the development of our Southern African market, and as at the start of 2019, is providing both our partners in Mauritius and Sri-Lanka with technical/marketing support. He has a background in Interior Design, signage and 3D C.A.D modeling, with specialties in both Brand Management and digital social media marketing.