The Contract Flooring Association (CFA) has achieved a significant success for its members and the wider sector, following the publication of the new Future Homes and Building Standards in March 2026.
In the original consultation draft, proposed limits on thermal resistance risked creating an unintended but serious consequence: commonly specified floor coverings such as carpet and timber would no longer have been practical options in new build properties. Recognising the potential impact on the entire supply chain, the CFA worked closely with industry partners and government to challenge this approach.
As a result, the final version of Approved Document L, which governs energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings, adopts a far more balanced, holistic, performance-based methodology.
Richard Catt, CEO of the CFA, commented:
“This is a major achievement for our members and the wider sector. In the original draft, an unintended consequence of proposed thermal limits for flooring would have effectively ruled out carpet and timber in many new build applications. By working closely with government and industry partners, we were able to promote a more holistic approach, one that still meets wider energy efficiency targets while maintaining specification flexibility. It is a great example of industry, trade bodies and government working together to deliver a practical outcome.”
At the centre of this success is the updated guidance on underfloor heating within Approved Document L. Subsection 5.38 (please can you make it so that the text ‘Approved Document L Subsection 5.38’ is linked to that actual part of the actual document) now confirms that underfloor heating systems must be designed with full consideration of the thermal resistance of floor coverings, ensuring required heat output is achieved. Importantly, the guidance explicitly directs professionals to the CFA’s Beyond Installation: Guidance on Underfloor Heating, (available from www.cfa.org.uk downloads section) alongside supporting material from BEAMA. This marks a decisive shift away from earlier proposals that sought to impose strict maximum thermal resistance thresholds. Had those limits been adopted, they would have severely restricted the use of many widely used flooring materials.
Instead, the final guidance places responsibility on system design, ensuring that floor coverings, heating systems, and heat sources such as heat pumps are considered together to achieve overall building performance.
This outcome safeguards specification choice across the contract flooring industry. Members can continue to offer a full range of materials for new build projects, provided they are integrated into a well-designed heating system.
Crucially, this avoids what could have been a significant disruption to the sector, preventing potential loss of work and income across multiple product categories. Equally important is the formal recognition of the CFA within national regulation. Being directly referenced in Approved Document L not only raises the profile of the Association but also reinforces its role as a trusted authority influencing policy and best practice. The inclusion of the CFA’s guidance demonstrates the value of proactive engagement with government and highlights the Association’s ability to deliver meaningful outcomes for its members.
This achievement represents more than a short-term win. It establishes a forward-looking framework that supports innovation in heating systems while reflecting the practical realities of flooring specification. With further work already underway, including additional guidance on flooring over underfloor heating for members, the CFA remains at the forefront of shaping standards that are both ambitious and workable. Combined with recent progress on wider industry issues such as payment and retention, this success reinforces the CFA’s growing influence and its commitment to delivering tangible benefits for members and the wider sector.