NEW BUILDING REGULATIONS
IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FROM 1ST APRIL 2002
Central heating and hot water accounts for 85% of the energy used in the home and the energy used contributes to household carbon dioxide emissions, which is the major cause of global warming. In an effort to reduce these emissions, the Government is encouraging greater energy efficiency in the home and will very soon introduce more stringent requirements through the Building Regulations in England and Wales.
From April 2002, the new Building Regulations for England and Wales - Part L1 – now affect existing homes as well as new properties. This includes complete new heating and hot water systems, as well as changing a boiler, the hot water storage system and the controls.
For anyone working on a domestic heating and hot water system after 1st April this year, there are a number of things of which they should be aware:
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If you are installing new domestic heating or hot water storage equipment, it must comply with Building Regulations Part L1. This grades boilers on a performance efficiency scale called SEDBUK and hot water storage vessels to British Standards.
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If you are installing a new boiler, a new central heating system, or a new hot water storage system in a home, it has to be installed and commissioned by what the regulations term a ‘competent person'.
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In addition when a new boiler or hot water storage system is installed, you must either have the installation approved by the local Building Control body, or leave a fully completed 'commissioning certificate'. This can only be completed by a competent person. For gas boilers, this must only be CORGI registered. For oil boilers this should be an OFTEC registered technician and for solid fuel, a HETAS registered installer.
It is being recommended to householders having work done that they ask the person doing the work to confirm they are able to comply with the new regulations. They will also ask for confirmation that the installer will provide a fully completed Benchmark log book, which comes as standard with nearly all new boilers and hot water storage vessels sold in the UK and is recognised by the Government as being a qualifying 'commissioning certificate'.
If the installer does not provide this or a similar document, the new installation will need to be inspected and approved by the local Building Control body.
A comprehensive Guide has been produced by the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes and prepared by the industry in consultation with the DTLR. Members of the Partnership Heating Strategy Group have prepared details of the affects of the new regulations and a copy of the Guide can be found at the following websites:
and information on SEDBUK efficiencies can be found at www.boilers.org.uk.
For further information, please contact:
Alan Johnson, Director - Central Heating Information Council (CHIC)
01799 543660 (mobile: 07770 752428)
CHIC Information Line - 0845 600 2200
or
Steve Paddock, Market Link PR - 01905 726575
(mobile 07771 966054)
Date of issue: 11th March 2002 |
