Future Homes Standard (England) 2025

The Government’s FHS Consultation is considering the following two Options.

Reporting Evidence of compliance, a guide to Photographic evidence requirements

Photographs should be taken for each dwelling on a development as a record during the construction of a property. The photographs should be made available to me as well as the building control body. Anyone may take the photographs.

Photographs should be taken of typical details as listed below and should be unique to each property. One photograph per detail should be recorded. Additional images, such as a closeup detail, should be provided only when necessary (see below). Photographs should be taken at appropriate construction stages for each detail when completed, but prior to closing-up works.

• Foundations/substructure and ground floor, to show thermal continuity and quality of insulation in the following places.
  • At ground floor perimeter edge insulation.
  • At external door threshold.
  • Below damp-proof course on external walls.

• External walls: for each main wall type, to show thermal continuity and quality of insulation for the following.
  • Ground floor to wall junction.
  • Structural penetrating elements.

• Roof: for each main roof type, to show thermal continuity and quality of insulation at the following.
  • Joist/rafter level.
  • Eaves and gable edges.

• Openings: for each opening type (one image per wall or roof type is sufficient), to show thermal continuity and quality of insulation with photographs of the following.
  • Window positioning in relation to cavity closer or insulation line.
  • External door set positioning in relation to cavity closer or insulation line.

• Airtightness: additional photographs for all details 1–4 to show airtightness details (only if not included or visible in continuity of insulation image).

• Building services: for all plant associated with space heating, hot water, ventilation and low or zero carbon technology equipment within or on the building, show the following.
  • Plant/equipment identification label(s), including make/model and serial number.
  • Primary pipework continuity of insulation.
  • Mechanical ventilation ductwork continuity of insulation (for duct sections outside the thermal envelope).

Photographs should be digital and of sufficient quality and high enough resolution to allow a qualitative audit of the subject detail. Close-up photographs may be needed where a long shot image provides insufficient detail.

More than one image of each detail may be needed. Geolocation should be enabled to confirm the location, date and time of each image. Each image file name should include a plot number and detail reference according to the numbers used in paragraph B7. For example, Plot 1 eaves detail would be P1/3b.