What ‘best’ means in best practice never stays still – trends in design, materials and legislation are an ever-evolving matrix for the LABC Warranty Technical Team to consider when outlining the standards that will determine a warranty-compliant new-build home.
It’s also never LABC Warranty’s place to tell builders or developers what to build, but to make sure what is built meets a standard that serves the interests of the resident, builder and warranty provider alike.
As a result, maintaining the LABC Warranty Technical Manual is an ever-evolving task, a living document that reflects the best in knowledge, practice and expertise of that moment.
Some of the broad strokes of the changes from Version 11 to 12 include:
Having been moved to the start of the Technical Manual back Version 11, there are two new changes to Section 1, Ground Conditions.
Guidance itself has been updated to make it easier for readers to understand. This includes a new and easier-to-use flow chart, and new guidance for a basic ground investigation which is required where the phase one site investigation doesn’t flag any hazards.
In addition, the Functional Requirements now ask for site investigations to be dated within five years of construction starting on site.
Functional Requirements on Section 2, Basements, have been updated, requiring an engineer to design integral waterproofing structures such as foundations, walls and floors. They must be designed to support vertical loading, resist horizontal loading and resist surcharges including the influence of trees and nearby topography.
Two subsections of Section 3, Foundations, have been combined. These sections are Mass Fill (sub-section 3.1) and Strip (subsection 3.2). They are now combined into a section called Mass Fill and Strip.
Other changes include:
New advice in Section 4, Ground Floors, outlines guidance on stepped party walls.
Section 6, External Walls, has been updated to include:
A new ‘provision of information’ is added to cladding types in sub-section 6.5.
Clearer guidance on lateral restraint is also included.
Section 8, External Windows and Doors, has been updated to offer new requirements for water tightness for glazing systems in developments over six storeys.
In addition, the section of stacked windows has been renamed to ‘Vertically Stacked Coupled Window Assemblies’ to better reflect the type of window being described in the guidance. This section also includes additional guidance on the aforementioned windows.
Section 9, Stairs, includes new guidance on glazed guarding.
Section 11, Roofs, now states in the functional requirements that, “Means of escape, passive and active systems are not covered by the Warranty”.
Other changes include:
Section 19, Garages, has been updated to add guidance for services within a garage.
New guidance also available for garage floors – we now recommend garage flows should laid to a fall and have a step where they’re integral to the house.
Appendix C provides new guidance around:
The full change log, with all the small details on the changes between the new Technical Manual and old, is available here.
While you’re welcome to download and catch up on the changes in the latest edition, any site already in progress before April 1, 2024 will be held to version 11 or earlier.
If there’s ever any confusion about which edition you should be adhering to, you can check the Extranet for confirmation, or contact your risk management surveyor.
Anyone is welcome to download a copy of the Technical Manual. Access to the full Manual is available here, or you can download the specific sections you’re interested in here.
Physical copies are sent to every site in progress with LABC Warranty, but for a nominal fee, an additional physical copy can be distributed to those who apply. Please contact your Risk Management Surveyor to submit such a request.
If you have an ongoing or upcoming site with LABC Warranty, your first port of call for technical questions should be your risk management surveyor.
For other concerns about your LABC Warranty account, contact your customer experience specialist or account manager.
If you’re not a current customer with LABC Warranty, you’re still welcome to get in touch. For a technical request, you can use technical.referrals@labcwarranty.co.uk. Or, if you’re interested in a warranty for your next development, find your local account manager and contact them here.
For any other enquiries, you’re welcome to get in touch here.