Since May 2005 all building warrant applications are processed under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 are the current legal requirements laid down by the Scottish Parliament to provide a standard for conserving fuel and power in Scotland. There is a series of technical handbooks to assist in complying with the regulations.

Section 6 of the Act intends to ensure that dwellings and buildings consisting of dwellings incorporate measures for the conservation of fuel and power. Its approach is broadly the same as that in England and Wales (The Building Regulations 2000, Approved Document L1, Conservation of fuel and power in dwellings, 2002 Edition).

In order to comply with the mandatory standard that "Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that provision is made for energy conservation", the elemental, target U-value or carbon index methods can be used in design of the building fabric.

The Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) has started on a new version of Section 6 and went to consultation in March 2006. It is anticipated that the revised requirements will be implemented in 2007. Find out more.