Loft insulation ruling
In the High Court case of May-Lean & Co Limited v The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority [2017], a manufacturer argued that existing loft insulation methods do not meet environmental protection targets. The case focused on the duties of energy suppliers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and ensure that their customers’ homes are energy efficient.
The manufacturer produced a product used to insulate loft hatch covers. It argued that only such a proprietary product could achieve the level of insulation required to comply with environmental rules and the Building Regulations 2010.
The existing method, involved insulating loft covers with plastic pillows filled with the same insulating material as elsewhere in lofts. The manufacturer argued that this left gaps in insulation cover and, therefore, did not meet legal requirements that the entirety of a loft space must be covered by insulation.
The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA), the body that bears responsibility for administering a government scheme whereby energy providers are required to invest heavily in the installation of energy efficient measures – including loft insulation – in clients’ homes, had approved the existing method.
The High Court dismissed the manufacturer’s case, finding that its arguments had no substance.
The relevant regulations could not, said the court, be read as prohibiting any gaps in loft insulation, and the interpretation put upon the regulations by the manufacturer was in other respects wholly unrealistic.
The court stated that, due to the unexplained and considerable delay in launching the challenge it would have refused all but declaratory relief, even if the manufacturer’s case had been successful.
The relief sought, if granted by the court, would have required energy suppliers to carry out further work on a substantial number of lofts that had already been insulated.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.
A brief run down of changes intentions from April in an onwards.