Housing home user guide

Ceilings
The ceilings are constructed using plasterboard. They are plastered and decorated
Insulation.
The house is thermally insulated to a high standard
Air tightness.
The house is constructed to a high standard of air tightness. Unless you leave a
window or your entrance door open, the dwelling will not be draughty
Fixings – How to Do It
Please be aware that in particular, the wiring from switches and sockets run upwards
and downwards in the wall in a vertical line behind the plasterboard.
It is therefore recommended that an area approx.. 150mm (6”) on either side of the
switch/socket is avoided when using fixings.
It is recommended that a Cable Tracker, available from most DIY shops, be used to
identify the position of all cables/pipes. Please note however, that the major
pipework in your home is made of plastic that cannot be detected by a cable tracker.
The system relies on 15mm or 22mm plastic pipework between fittings/equipment (in
the Airing Cupboard these are visible as copper pipes).
The Code for Sustainable Homes
The Code is the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new
homes. The Code aims to reduce our carbon emissions and create homes that are
more sustainable.
The Code measures the sustainability of a home against key design categories,
rating the 'whole home' as a complete package. The minimum standards for Code
compliance have been set above the requirements of Building Regulations New
homes can achieve a rating on a scale of one to six 'Code Levels' depending on the
standard achieved.
The key design categories included within the Code are:
Energy
Water
Materials
Surface water run-off
Waste
Pollution
Health & Well-being