Low-rise developments seeking structural warranty cover will be required to meet new and updated guidance on parapet walls, balconies and basements from February.

The new 2023 edition of the Technical Manual published by warranty provider Premier Guarantee adds new sections on balconies and parapets, and further guidance covering the increasing use of external wall insulation brick slips.

Where parts of a structure are below external ground level, the developer will be required to submit details of waterproofing and design specification, including a site investigation report, to Premier Guarantee well in advance of works starting.

The new guidance applies to sites offered Premier Guarantee warranty cover on or after February 1.
Founded in 1997, Premier Guarantee and its parent company are owned by HSB, (UK and Ireland), part of one of the world’s leading reinsurers, Munich Re.

It works with house builders, contractors and housing associations across the UK, providing 10 or 12 years of A-rated cover for new homes, homes to rent, social housing, completed homes and commercial projects.

It is just 18 months since the previous version of the manual was published, marking the shortest period between editions in the company’s history.

Technical Manual author and Head of Technical Services John Gilbert said: “The increasing frequency in which we are publishing new versions of the manual and providing new technical guidance via our InSite hub demonstrates the rapid rate of change in the construction sector.

“As well as reflecting design trends in new homes, such as the use of parapet walls on pitched roofs, developers are seeking clearer best-practice guidance on balcony and basement installations.

“The industry’s move to decarbonise coupled with the rising cost of materials mean developers are also seeking to use more innovative products and systems. While innovation is necessary and welcome, it can create its own challenges when insuring buildings for 10 years or more.”

Published in June 2021, the previous manual was downloaded almost 17,000 times in addition to hard copies distributed to every site.

Download a digital copy of the Premier Guarantee Technical Manual v15 here