As the scope of the Building Safety Act starts to take shape, it is becoming increasingly clear that assessing every element of a building will be crucial in creating buildings that are both fit for purpose and futureproofed against potential legislative changes.

The Future Homes Standard aims to boost the energy efficiency of homes across the UK, while the Building Safety Act will force lasting change and transform the law relating to the safety and suitability of all buildings throughout the design, construction and maintenance stages.

Both pieces of legislation will focus on the accumulative impact of many changes, some vast and some relatively small, but each equally important to the bigger picture.

Some changes are already here. For example, new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards came into force on 1st April – rendering non-domestic buildings unlettable unless they have an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of E or above.

In accordance with Part L2 of Building Regulations, specifiers must consider how building envelopes impact energy consumption and the requirement to identify locations where there are opportunities for reducing energy consumption.

One aspect of residential and commercial buildings that could be overlooked as specifiers, architects and construction professionals look to adapt to new changes as they are announced and rolled out is the skylight – a product that can be taken for granted but on closer inspection, offers a great deal of value in line with safety and energy efficiency considerations.

In an individual residential setting, skylights can reduce lighting bills by allowing natural light to filter through, however, this saving can be applied and even increased in a larger residential or commercial setting, where the cost of artificial lighting can be substantial.

However, as there are multiple considerations to simultaneously address when considering a building’s energy efficiency, as well as traditional safety and access issues, it is crucial that a skylight can offer multiple functions.

One solution to this is Bilco UK’s innovative ‘three in one’ SKY Flatglass, which can be utilised as a smoke vent, roof access hatch and rooflight. This is due to its aesthetically pleasing but functional single leaf flat glass construction, where a sliding cover provides an effective approach to natural smoke ventilation, particularly for exposed roof areas where a hinged opening may not be suitable.

This three-in-one element also reduces three roof penetrations into a single one which also helps to improve thermal efficiency.

With a standard size of 1000 mm x 1500 mm, the SKY Flatglass provides a 1m² clear vent area, and when being utilised as a roof access hatch, offers either manual or powered operation, opening to a 180 horizontal opening for safe and secure access.

The SKY Flatglass is fully compliant with all relevant building regulations outlined in Approved Document B and is tested to BS EN 12101-2 to support professionals in achieving compliance in line with the latest legislation.

It is this multi-faceted approach to building safety and energy efficiency, with an eye on future-proofing and the benefits that brings, that will become increasingly crucial to those at the heart of building design over years to come.

As new buildings across commercial and residential sectors are reassessed from the top down in line with generational new legislation, the skylight is as good a place as any to make marginal gains towards compliance and future-proofing against further legislative changes.