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SECTOR FOCUS FLOORING IN EDUCATION

What you need to know about the DfE’s new requirements
ARLIER this year, the Department for
EEducation released a new construction ©ANDREW LEE
framework for schools being built or
refurbished in the next six to eight years.
The new regulations affect how architects
and main contractors design and build and
what products they can specify.
As a flooring professional, it will help
you to know what type of sport and
multi-purpose flooring is required for each
situation, and how helping specifiers select
the right one can also help them meet the
new environmental limits and targets for
the whole building.
A few years ago, the DfE made area Sports flooring at Kirkmichael Primary School
elastic flooring according to the European To meet the new limit, designers and but when you understand how significant
standard BS EN 14904:2006 compulsory in
all school and educational buildings’ sports main contractors need to select materials a contribution a wooden floor can make
to the environmental impact of the whole
and multi-activity halls. They offer the best that are low in carbon, and one of the best building, and how by selecting a wooden
options to meet the new requirements is
in terms of safety, longevity, performance wood. floor will help meet the new target for
and cost for all types of sports, PE, dance, The difference in environmental terms is school buildings.
performance and multi-use. There are quite staggering – if you install a Junckers Contractors vying for contracts must
several new requirements that affect 22mm solid beech sports floor in a typical demonstrate how they’ll achieve a
sports and multi-purpose flooring selection 690sq m four-court school sports hall it will reduction of -20kg CO2e/sq m for the
and installation. contribute a carbon reduction of -9,660kg whole building. Installing a solid hardwood
ONE – embodied carbon limit CO2e. If the same size hall is fitted with floor from Junckers in a 690sq m four-
The first is the introduction of a maximum a vinyl floor, +9,246 kg CO2e would have court sports hall will contribute a figure of
limit for embodied carbon. As a flooring been released into the atmosphere. It is a -18,699kg CO2e to offset the total figure
contractor, you might wonder how this persuasive argument for using solid wood for the whole building, says the company.
will impact your work – what is it and – and if you have some basic knowledge Needless to say, by installing more wood
why does it matter? Embodied carbon is of embodied carbon figures and how they elsewhere in the school, the figure will be
the energy consumed to extract, refine, impact a building’s carbon footprint, you even higher.
process, transport and fabricate a material, will be able to advise the client, the main THREE – Floors used with FF&E
product or building. Embodied carbon and contractor and the architect. The final new regulation for the type of
operational carbon, the energy used to run TWO – biogenic carbon target floor used with FF&E, furniture, fixtures
a building, make up whole life carbon. Another key measure introduced by the DfE and equipment. For any schools built or
Architects and designers started is a requirement to measure the biogenic refurbished under the new construction
by significantly reduced the energy carbon content of the building. Biogenic framework, floors for multipurpose halls,
consumption of a building, which carbon is carbon stored in biological sports halls and activity studios where
has a direct impact on the building’s materials. Plants, which of course includes FF&E is used within the space must be
environmental impact. In the past few trees, absorb CO2 during growth through timber floors.
years, those working at the forefront photosynthesis. When incorporated into This includes retractable seating, desks
of sustainable design and build have buildings, that carbon is stored and locked and chairs for when the hall is used
identified that when you reduce energy away from the atmosphere. By way of for exams, dining furniture, as well as
usage, the embodied carbon in a building comparison, the carbon released from machinery. The type of timber allowed
can represent as much as 40-70% of a products made from fossil fuels is called is maple, beech or oak; solid hardwood
building’s whole life carbon footprint. non-biogenic carbon. or engineered wood with a minimum
This means reducing the embodied Combustion of products made from oil- hardwood veneered surface of 6mm.
carbon is a very effective way to reduce a based plastics generates significant carbon Vinyl floors are only allowed for use in
building’s whole life carbon footprint – the emissions and increases global warming. dedicated dance and activity studios
reason why government bodies and other This is why the DfE and other organisations with no FF&E use.
organisations are working hard to reduce are seeking to include more materials that Familiarising yourself with the new
embodied carbon. contain biogenic carbon, such as wood. regulations will help you quote for jobs with
Specific to school buildings, the UK is The DfE CF 25 Technical Manual outlines confidence. You may even find yourself
taking steps to move closer to a net zero that designs should use natural materials in a position to be able to provide help
built environment by setting an embodied to create a healthy learning environment, and advice – these limits, targets and
carbon limit of 550kg/CO2e/sq m for targeting biogenic carbon of - 20kg CO2e/ requirements are new to everyone. 
new and refurbished schools. Awarded m2 from sequestration (carbon capture) for 01376 534700
contracts are dependent on meeting this the whole building. sales@junckers.co.uk
embodied carbon limit. Again, this may sound a tad scientific, www.junckers.co.uk

92 CFJ July 2026 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
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