Housebuilders who specify Part E compliant robust details can now gain credits for their constructions under Ecohomes standards. New guidance issued from the Building Research Establishment has finally ironed out an apparent inconsistency in environmental standards, whereby RDs qualified for points under the code for sustainable homes, but not under the existing Ecohomes scheme. The new guidance stated: “This recognition [of RDs] has now been applied to earlier versions of Ecohomes: it is now acceptable to specify RDs in Ecohomes 2005/2006 and gain credits under Hea2…Where a RD achieves between a 3dB and 5dB improvement over AD E, three credits can be awarded. Where there is at least a 5dB improvement four credits can be awarded.” Robust Details chief executive Dave Baker commented: “Housebuilders are advised to check with their assessors that they are aware of the change, which should mean that levels of testing for Ecohomes purposes, on dwellings registered with RDL, can be reduced (or dispensed with).”