Park homes (also known as mobile homes) and static caravans typically have thin, single skin walls which can make them difficult and costly to keep warm when temperatures drop. Whilst modern versions can be relatively well insulated, with double glazing and energy-efficient boilers, the majority are more likely to be older and built to much worse standards. Whilst the Building Regulations do not apply to these buildings, there are specific rules and requirements for insulating these properties.
What’s the difference between a park home and static caravan?
Park homes and static caravans can look fairly similar from the outside. The key difference is the building standard they are constructed to:
- Park homes have to be built to BS 3632: 2023. This includes insulation requirements which, in theory, are designed to ensure they are “comfortable to live in all year round”.
- Static caravans are manufactured to BS EN 1647: 2018 + A1: 2021. These standards set much laxer requirements in areas such as insulation because static caravans are only recommended for summer use as temporary or seasonal accommodation and not suitable for permanent residence.
How well insulated are park homes?
In order to keep park homes comfortable and affordable to live in, BS 3632: 2023 sets minimum U-values for the floors, walls, roof, windows and doors. U-values are essentially a measure of how easily heat can escape through these different elements. The lower the U-value, the more effective the element is at stopping heat loss.
To meet the requirements of BS 3632: 2023, new park homes must meet the following U-values:
- 0.30 W/m²K for walls
- 0.26 W/m²K for the floor
- 0.20 W/m²K for the roof
- a U-value no greater than 1.6 W/m²K for windows and doors, except where the total area of external openings exceeds 35% of the floor area - in which case, the U-value should not exceed 1.4 W/m²K.
It is important to point out that these values are far worse than those for new homes within the Building Regulations / Standards. In addition, many of the 85,000 park homes currently located in the UK were built prior to the introduction of BS 3632: 2023, meaning that they may be insulated to a much worse level. This can make them extremely difficult and expensive to keep warm during the colder months.
Can you fit insulation in a park home?
Often, the simplest and most effective way to upgrade the thermal performance of a park home is by fitting external cladding on the walls and insulating the underside of the floors. This will modestly increase the overall dimensions of the building, so you’ll need to get the site owner’s permission before having any insulated cladding installed.
Use of insulation with a lower thermal conductivity value can help to keep these increases to a minimum. The lower the thermal conductivity of the insulation, the more effective it is at stopping heat loss through conduction, this means a slimmer thickness can be used to meet the desired U-value.
It is recommended that the refurbishment work is carried out under the retrofit framework. This is laid out in PAS 2035: 2023 which defines a process for dwellings to be assessed and a medium-term improvement plan drawn up. The measures must then be fitted by an installer compliant to PAS 2030: 2023 which includes specific guidance covering the refurbishment of park homes. This whole process is designed to ensure any improvements are appropriate for your property and will deliver the best value for money.
It’s also worth noting that it is a funding requirement for any improvement works on park homes being completed under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) to be carried out to PAS 2035. This will likely also apply to any future government funding schemes.
