The Future Buildings Standard Guide is an independent, practitioner-led resource covering non-domestic building compliance in England. It exists because the Future Buildings Standard represents one of the most significant changes to non-domestic building regulations in a generation – and practitioners deserve clear, accessible guidance to navigate it.
Who writes this guide?
This guide is written by Guy Smith, a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA), SAP assessor, and SBEM assessor with nearly two decades of experience in energy assessment across both domestic and non-domestic buildings.
Guy is the founding director of Every Property Certificate Ltd (trading as Easy EPC), established in 2007. The company has produced thousands of energy assessments, BRUKL calculations, and compliance reports for buildings ranging from small offices to large commercial developments.
His qualifications include Level 3 and Level 4 energy assessment certifications, and he holds active registrations for both domestic (SAP/RdSAP) and non-domestic (SBEM) assessment methodologies.
Why does this guide exist?
When the Future Buildings Standard was published in March 2026, it introduced sweeping changes to Part L Volume 2 – new solar PV requirements, tighter fabric standards, mandatory low-carbon heating, and updated SBEM compliance thresholds. The official Approved Documents are comprehensive but dense, and practitioners need practical interpretation they can act on.
This guide bridges that gap. Every page is written from a practitioner's perspective, with factual claims verified against the official source documents. We explain not just what the regulations say, but what they mean for real projects.
Sister site: HEM Guide
The Future Buildings Standard Guide focuses exclusively on non-domestic buildings. For domestic building compliance under the Future Homes Standard, visit our sister site, the HEM Guide. The two sites maintain clean separation – non-domestic here, domestic there – with cross-links where topics intersect, such as the FBS vs FHS comparison.
Content integrity
Every factual claim on this site traces to a specific section of an official source document – primarily the Approved Document L Volume 2 (2026 edition), Building Circular 01/2026, and the government's consultation response. We include inline citations so you can verify any claim against the original source.
Pages display a “Verified against” indicator showing which document and sections were used, along with the date of last review.
Need professional help?
If you need BRUKL calculations, non-domestic energy performance certificates, or compliance support for your project, visit Easy EPC to discuss your requirements.
Get in touch
Have a question about the guide, spotted an error, or want to suggest a topic? Use the form below or subscribe to the FBS Briefing newsletter for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who writes this guide?
This guide is written by Guy Smith, a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA), SAP assessor, and SBEM assessor with nearly two decades of experience. He is the founding director of Every Property Certificate Ltd (trading as Easy EPC), established in 2007.
Is this guide affiliated with the government?
No. The Future Buildings Standard Guide is an independent, practitioner-led resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced by MHCLG or any government body. All content is sourced from official documents with inline citations so you can verify claims against the originals.
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From Guy Smith, DEA, SAP & SBEM Assessor since 2007.