Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 24 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will urgently consider revising the criteria applied to insulation installations in the Western Isles, in light of reports that Tighean Innse Gall is no longer able to administer government-funded insulation projects due to the PAS 2035 standards causing demand for such schemes to collapse in the islands.
We are keen for Tighean Innse Gall to continue to help deliver insulation improvements as part of our Area Based Schemes. We’re also keen for them to retain their status as an approved installer of insulation with the British Board of Agreement.
Scottish Government officials and officers from the local council have been working with Tighean Innse Gall to find practical solutions to the specific issues in the Western Isles. The Scottish Government will shortly be writing to confirm the actions that have been agreed with the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
These are issues we have raised with the BSI, including the particular challenges of improving the insulation and ventilation of traditionally constructed homes in the Western Isles. We are pleased that the BSI has agreed with us that a greater input from Scottish stakeholders with local experience and knowledge is key to delivering meaningful standards. This will include technical experts from our remote rural and island communities in future.
The PAS2035 and PAS2030 standards for retrofit and installation of energy efficiency measures are published by the British Standards Institution (BSI). Installers of insulation measures must comply with PAS2030:2019 to retain their approved status as part of recognised industry schemes.
We agree that changes to the PAS2030 and PAS2035 standards are needed if they are to better reflect the housing stock, weather and environmental conditions in Scotland. However these are UK standards and the BSI are sponsored by the UK Government.