Scottish Passivhaus Equivalent
The Scottish Government intend to make legislation by December 2024 to deliver a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard.
Applying to both new homes and new non-domestic buildings, the requirements are expected to be less prescriptive and more flexible than the traditional Passivhaus standard. This suggests the current regulatory approach will be retained, based on a notional building specification but with limiting ('back stop') U values. Products with lower U values are likely to be needed to help deliver the new standard.
The process is already underway, with a working group convened to define an equivalent Passivhaus standard for Scotland and offer advice and expertise to the Scottish Government. This group will also be engaging with other stakeholders for the rest of the year prior to a consultation in the first half of 2024.
The anticipated timescale for the process is as follows:
| Stage |
Timescale |
| Working group engagement (commenced) |
Q2 2023 – Q2 2024 |
| Consultation |
Q1 – Q2 2024 |
| Analysis |
Q3 – Q4 2024 |
| Announcement of regulation |
Q4 2024 (December) |
We will report on more details, as and when they emerge, particularly related to glass and glazing. In the meantime, parties interested in attending the engagement sessions can register their interest via the
working group webpage.
If you have any questions on changes and what the implications might be for glass, please complete our
online contact form, selecting 'Architect' or 'Trade' as the Nature of Enquiry and 'Other' as the Enquiry Type.
Please state 'Scottish Passivhaus'
in the Question / Comment box when completing the form.