Why Measuring Buildings Matters: Stuart Andrew MP Visits Build Test Solutions

The visit provided an opportunity to demonstrate the technologies, expertise and evidence that are helping transform our understanding of how buildings really perform.

More importantly, it allowed us to discuss a challenge that sits at the heart of UK housing, energy and retrofit policy: the gap between how buildings are assumed to perform and how they actually perform.

Following the meeting we have started working through an action plan to better advocate for the use of in-situ measurement to drive better outcomes through policy and Regulation.

The UK's Building Performance Problem

For decades, policy decisions affecting millions of homes and billions of pounds of public and private investment have been based largely on modelled or assumed building performance.

These assumptions underpin everything from Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and retrofit funding decisions to heat pump sizing, building regulations and net-zero strategies.

The problem is that assumptions are often wrong.

Across the housing stock, real-world performance can differ significantly from calculated performance. In many cases, buildings perform better than expected. In many others, they perform substantially worse.

When decisions are based on assumptions rather than measurements, there are consequences:

• Householders may receive inappropriate retrofit recommendations.
• Heating systems can be oversized or undersized.
• Public funding may not deliver the expected outcomes.
• Building defects can go undetected.
• Energy bills remain higher than necessary.
• Problems such as damp, condensation and mould can emerge unexpectedly.

At a time when the UK faces challenges around housing quality, fuel poverty, energy security and decarbonisation, improving the accuracy of building performance data has never been more important.

From Assumption to Measurement

Historically, one of the barriers to widespread building performance measurement has been cost and complexity.

Many measurement techniques required specialist expertise, lengthy surveys or expensive equipment that limited adoption.

At Build Test Solutions, our mission has been to change that.

Over the last decade, we have developed practical, scalable technologies that make it possible to measure real-world building performance quickly, accurately and cost-effectively.

During the visit, Stuart Andrew MP saw demonstrations of technologies including:

Heat3D® – In-Situ U-Value Measurement

Heat3D enables rapid measurement of building fabric performance, helping identify whether walls are performing as expected and providing evidence that can support better retrofit decisions.

Rather than relying solely on assumed construction details, building owners and professionals can understand actual thermal performance.

Pulse® – Low Pressure Air Leakage Testing

Pulse provides a fast and non-disruptive method for measuring building air leakage under normal operating conditions.

Understanding air leakage is critical for energy efficiency, ventilation strategies and overall building performance.

SmartHTC® and SMETER Technologies

One of the most exciting developments in building performance measurement is the emergence of Smart Meter Enabled Thermal Efficiency Ratings (SMETERs).

By combining smart meter data with environmental measurements, it is now possible to assess how a building performs in use and quantify actual heat loss.

This creates opportunities to improve retrofit targeting, optimise heat pump sizing and provide stronger evidence for policy and investment decisions.

Ventilation Measurement Solutions

Effective ventilation is essential for healthy indoor environments.

Our ventilation measurement technologies help ensure systems perform as intended, supporting compliance and helping reduce issues associated with poor indoor air quality.

Why Measurement Matters for Consumers

At its heart, this isn't simply a technical issue.

It's about people.

When buildings perform poorly, occupants experience the consequences through higher energy bills, thermal discomfort, poor indoor air quality and increased risks of damp and mould.

The UK has seen several high-profile examples where assumptions about building performance and condition have had significant consequences for residents. Between the tradgedies of Grenfell and the death of Awaab Ishak, and the more recent failure rates of ECO EWI jobs, it’s all to clear that we need a change in the way quality is managed in buildings.

Improving measurement helps create greater transparency and accountability.

It enables building owners, housing providers, contractors and policymakers to understand what is actually happening rather than what models suggest should be happening.

Better information leads to better decisions.

Supporting Better Policy

During the discussion with Stuart Andrew MP, we explored how building performance measurement could play a greater role in future housing and energy policy.

Potential areas include:

• Greater use of measured data within EPC methodologies.
• Wider adoption of SMETER approaches for retrofit programmes.
• Improved evidence for heat pump sizing and specification.
• Enhanced quality assurance within retrofit delivery.
• Better protection for consumers through performance verification.
• Stronger feedback loops within building regulations and housing standards.

We believe relatively simple policy changes could unlock significant benefits for householders, taxpayers and the wider economy.

A British Innovation Success Story

The visit also provided an opportunity to showcase Build Test Solutions as a growing British technology company.

From our Northamptonshire base, we design, develop and manufacture innovative building performance measurement technologies that are used across the UK and increasingly internationally.

Our team has helped facilitate more than 200,000 building performance measurements, generating one of the largest real-world datasets of its kind. BTS equipment is now in use in five continents, showing the beginnings of a global impact.

As a small but ambitious UK manufacturer, we are proud to contribute to innovation, skills development and employment while helping address some of the country's most important housing and energy challenges.

Looking Ahead

We would like to thank Stuart Andrew MP for taking the time to visit Build Test Solutions and engage with the issues surrounding building performance measurement.

The transition to healthier, safer and more energy-efficient buildings will require better information, better decisions and better outcomes.

We believe measurement has a critical role to play in that journey.

To learn more about Build Test Solutions and our building performance measurement technologies, please contact our team or explore our range of solutions online.