Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide

2013 edition for use in England*
Domestic Building Services

Compliance Guide
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* Note: Any reference to the Building Regulations in this guide is to the Building Regulations 2010 in
England (as amended). These Regulations also apply to the following building work in Wales:
(a) work on an excepted energy building as defined in the Schedule to the Welsh Ministers
(Transfer of functions) (No 2) Order 2009 (SI 2009/3019); and
(b) work that is subject to provisions of the regulations relating to energy efficiency specified
in regulation 34 of the Regulations and is carried out to educational buildings, buildings of
statutory undertakers and Crown buildings, or carried out by Crown authorities.
This guidance comes into effect on 6 April 2014. Work started before this date remains subject to
the earlier edition of the guidance. Work subject to a building notice, full plans application or initial
notice submitted before this date will also remain subject to the earlier edition of the guidance,
provided it is started before 6 April 2015.
For other jurisdictions in the UK, it will be necessary to consult their own building regulations and
guidance.
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Contents
Contents
Section 1: Introduction 5
1.1 Scope 5
1.2 Innovative systems 5
1.3 European directives 6
1.4 Status of guide 7
1.5 How to use this guide 8
1.6 Key terms 8
1.7 Work on existing systems 9
1.8 Replacement of primary heating appliances 9
1.9 Summary of recommended minimum energy efciency standards 10
Section 2: Gas-red space and water heating 14
2.1 Scope of guidance 14
2.2 Gas-red wet central heating systems 14
2.3 Gas-red range cookers with integral central heating boiler 21
2.4 Gas-red warm air heating 21
2.5 Gas-red xed independent space heating appliances 23
2.6 Gas-red xed decorative fuel-effect res 25
2.7 Gas res for secondary space heating provided as part of a combined re and
back boiler unit 25
Section 3: Oil-red space and water heating 27
3.2 Oil-red wet central heating systems 27
3.3 Oil-red range cookers with integral central heating boilers 34
3.4 Continuously-burning oil-red vaporising appliances providing secondary
heating or hot water 35
3.5 Oil-red xed independent space heating appliances 36
Section 4: Electric heating 37
4.2 Electric boilers serving central heating systems 37
4.3 Electric heating systems (other than electric boilers serving central heating) 41
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* Note: Any reference to the Building Regulations in this guide is to the Building Regulations 2010 in
England (as amended). These Regulations also apply to the following building work in Wales:
(a) work on an excepted energy building as defined in the Schedule to the Welsh Ministers
(Transfer of functions) (No 2) Order 2009 (SI 2009/3019); and
(b) work that is subject to provisions of the regulations relating to energy efficiency specified
in regulation 34 of the Regulations and is carried out to educational buildings, buildings of
statutory undertakers and Crown buildings, or carried out by Crown authorities.
This guidance comes into effect on 6 April 2014. Work started before this date remains subject to
the earlier edition of the guidance. Work subject to a building notice, full plans application or initial
notice submitted before this date will also remain subject to the earlier edition of the guidance,
provided it is started before 6 April 2015.
For other jurisdictions in the UK, it will be necessary to consult their own building regulations and
guidance.
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Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide: 2013 Edition
Section 5: Solid fuel heating 43
5.2 Solid fuel appliances for primary heating 43
5.3 Central heating systems using certain types of solid fuel appliances 46
5.4 Solid fuel appliances for secondary heating 51
Section 6: Community heating 53
6.2 New and existing community heating schemes 53
Section 7: Underoor heating 60
7.2 Underoor heating in new dwellings 60
Section 8: Mechanical ventilation 64
8.2 Energy efciency of mechanical ventilation systems 64
Section 9: Heat pumps 65
9.2 Key terms 67
9.3 Warm water and hot water heat pumps 67
Section 10: Comfort cooling 73
1 0.1 Scope of guidance 73
10.2 Air-cooled and water-cooled air conditioners 73
Section 11: Solar water heating 74
11.2 Indirect systems 74
Section 12: Lighting 81
12.2 Key terms 81
12.3 Internal and external lighting 81
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Contents
Section 13: Micro-combined heat and power 83
1 3.2 Key terms 83
1 3.3 Micro-CHP systems 83
Section 14: Heating system circulators 85
1 4.1 Scope of guidance 85
14.2 Circulators 85
Appendix A: Abbreviations 86
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Section 1: Introduction
1.1 Scope
This guide provides detailed guidance for the installation of xed building services in new and existing
dwellings to help compliance with the energy efciency requirements of the Building Regulations.
This edition covers the design, installation and commissioning of:
conventional means of providing primary and secondary space heating, domestic hot water,
mechanical ventilation, comfort cooling and internal and external lighting
low carbon generation of heat by heat pumps, solar thermal panels, and micro-combined heat and
power systems.
The guide sets out recommended minimum energy efciency standards for components of building
services systems, including the use of controls. For systems installed in new dwellings, the standards are
design limits (or backstop values). For new or replacement systems and components installed in existing
dwellings, the standards represent reasonable provision for complying with the Building Regulations.
It is important to note that standards higher than many of these recommended minimum standards
will need to be achieved if:
new dwellings are to meet the the Building Regulations target carbon dioxide emission rate (TER)
calculated using SAP
1
systems are to comply with the Microgeneration Certication Scheme standards
2
that enable
building owners to receive payments under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and qualify for
Green Deal funding
products are to be recognised as renewable technologies under the Renewable Energy Directive.
The guide includes some supplementary information that identies good practice design and installation
standards that exceed the minimum standards in this guide. Microgeneration Certication Scheme
standards are an example of good practice standards.
A summary of recommended minimum energy efciency standards is presented in Table 1 at the end of
this section.
1.2 Innovative systems
It is also important to note that this guide covers a range of frequently occurring situations and deals
with the most commonly used xed building services technologies. In doing so it neither endorses
these methods and technologies nor excludes other more innovative technologies that may offer an
alternative means of meeting the functional requirements of the Building Regulations.
Where the alternative technology has been the subject of a recognised testing procedure that assesses
its energy performance, this may be used to indicate that the system is adequately efcient. In the event
that there is no recognised testing standard, suitable calculations or modelling methods may be used to
show the carbon performance of the system.
1 Standard Assessment Procedure, www.bre.co.uk/SAP2012
2 http://www.microgenerationcertication.org/mcs-standards
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1.3 European directives
The design and installation of xed building services products, such as boilers, circulators and heat
pumps, shall at the appropriate time comply with all relevant requirements of EU directives as
implemented in the United Kingdom. There are a number of directives with requirements that directly or
indirectly control the energy efciency of building services.
The Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC provides a framework for establishing requirements for energy-
related products placed on the EU market. Current requirements cover energy-using products such as
boilers, light bulbs and washing machines. In the future, requirements will also cover products such as
windows, insulation material and shower heads whose use has an impact on energy consumption.
The requirements are set out in Commission Regulations listed in the document http://ec.europa.
eu/energy/efciency/ecodesign/doc/overview_legislation_eco-design.pdf. Products covered by the
regulations can only be CE marked and placed on the market if they meet the ecodesign standards
specied.
At the time of preparation of this guide, Commission Regulations existed or were being developed for:
space heaters and combination heaters
water heaters and hot water storage tanks
glandless standalone circulators and glandless circulators integrated in products
water pumps
air conditioners and comfort fans
fans driven by motors with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 W
lighting products in the domestic and tertiary sectors
electric motors.
The intention is that the recommended minimum product standards in this guide should at least match
the energy efciency standards set out in Commission Regulations as they come into force. For example,
although the implementing regulations for hot water storage tanks were published in September 2013,
the standards do not come into force until September 2017.
If in any doubt as to whether a product is subject to minimum ecodesign standards, check the
Commission document above.
The Energy Labelling Directive 2010/30/EU complements the Ecodesign Directive by providing
a framework for labelling of energy-related products including lamps, luminaires, household air
conditioners and washing machines. The Energy Label classies products on an A to G scale, pulling
the market towards more efcient products by better informing consumers. The Ecodesign Directive, by
contrast, uses regulation to push the market away from the worst performing products.
The Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC provides a framework for the promotion of energy from
renewable resources. It sets a mandatory UK target of 15% energy generation from renewable sources by
2020 the renewable energy obligation as a contribution to meeting the EUs overall target of 20%.
Of relevance to building services is that the directive identies criteria for training and certication of
installers of renewables. The directive also species in Annex VII the standards that heat pumps must
achieve to be recognised as renewable technologies by the directive.
The Energy Efciency Directive 2012/27/EU establishes a common framework of measures for the
promotion of energy efciency within the EU in order to ensure that the EU meets its target of a 20%
reduction in primary energy consumption by 2020. Legislation to implement the directive in the UK
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will be published by 5 June 2014. Included will be requirements for public authorities to purchase only
energy-efcient products, services and buildings; and requirements for heat meters to be tted in
apartments and buildings connected to a central source of heating or a district heating network. For
more information on the specic requirements and technical standards, see the DECC website
3
.
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU is a recast of the original 2002/91/EC
directive, which in 2002 introduced requirements for:
the establishment of a methodology for calculating the integrated energy performance of buildings
minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings, and, where feasible, for larger
buildings undergoing major renovation
energy performance certication of buildings, and
inspections of heating and air conditioning systems.
The recast directive includes a new requirement to consider in the design of new buildings the feasibility
of using renewables and other high-efciency alternative systems. There is no mandatory format for
this assessment, but it will now be necessary to declare (through a new eld in the energy performance
calculation software) that it has been carried out.
The Building Regulations, which already met the original requirements in many ways (for example by
setting standards for new buildings), have been amended in some places to reect the new requirements
of the directive. For guidance on the changes affecting new dwellings, see Approved Document L1A.
For guidance on the changes affecting major renovations, see Approved Document L1B. For guidance
on other requirements relating to building certication and inspection of heating and air conditioning
systems, see the DCLG website
4
.
1.4 Status of guide
The Building Regulations contain functional requirements, such as requirements that buildings must
be structurally stable, constructed and tted to ensure re protection, and energy efcient. These
functional requirements are often drafted in broad terms, and so it may not always be immediately
clear to a person carrying out work how to comply with the relevant requirements. Consequently, the
Department for Communities and Local Government issues documents, known as approved documents,
which provide practical guidance on ways of complying with specic aspects of the Building Regulations
in some of the more common building situations.
Approved documents are not always comprehensive and may contain references to other documents
which will provide more detailed information and assistance on parts of the guidance. This guide is one
of those documents: it provides more detailed information on the guidance contained in Approved
Documents L1A and L1B about compliance with the energy efciency requirements which apply when
installing xed building services in new and existing dwellings.
If you follow the relevant guidance in an approved document, and in any document referred to in the
approved document (such as this guide) which provides additional information to help you follow that
guidance, there is a legal presumption that you have complied with the Building Regulations. However, in
each case it is for the building control body (local authority or approved inspector) to decide whether
work complies with the requirements of the Building Regulations. It is therefore sensible that you check
with the building control body before starting work what they consider it is necessary for you to do to
comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations.
3 https://www.gov.uk/decc
4 https://www.gov.uk/dclg
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1.5 How to use this guide
The guide comprises four fuel-based sections and nine technology-specic sections:
Fuel-based
Section 2: Gas-red space and water heating
Section 3: Oil-red space and water heating
Section 4: Electric heating
Section 5: Solid fuel heating
Technology-specic
Section 6: Community heating
Section 7: Underoor heating
Section 8: Mechanical ventilation
Section 9: Heat pumps
Section 10: Comfort cooling
Section 11: Solar water heating
Section 12: Lighting
Section 13: Micro-combined heat and power
Section 14: Heating system circulators
For any particular application, reference may need to be made to more than one section.
Supplementary information is shown against a blue background. This may be further information to
help with interpreting the minimum energy efciency provisions needed to comply with the Building
Regulations. Or it may be guidance on best practice that goes beyond the recommended minimum
standards.
Key terms are printed in blue at appropriate points throughout the guide.
1.6 Key terms
Fixed building services means any part of, or any controls associated with:
a. xed internal or external lighting systems, but does not include emergency escape lighting or
specialist process lighting
b. xed systems for heating, domestic hot water, air conditioning or mechanical ventilation, or
c. any combination of systems of the kinds referred to in sub-paragraph a. or b.
New system means a xed building services system installed:
a. in a new building
b. for the rst time in an existing building
c. as a complete replacement for a system in an existing building.
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Seasonal efciency means the efciency value used by SAP for a heating appliance. For gas, LPG and oil
boilers that have been tested for efciency, this is SEDBUK
5
.
1.7 Work on existing systems
A requirement of the Building Regulations is that work on existing buildings should be carried out in such
a way that when the work is complete:
a. the work itself complies with the applicable requirements of the Building Regulations
b. the parts of the building not affected by the work are no more unsatisfactory in relation to the
requirements of the Regulations than before the work was started.
This means that when a system component like a boiler or a room thermostat is replaced, only the new
component is expected to comply with the standards in this guide (which in some cases may be lower
than for new systems).
It is not a general requirement to upgrade the rest of the existing system, but this guide does include
some recommendations on minor upgrades for compliance with the Building Regulations where they
would be cost-effective and may be necessary to ensure efcient operation of the new component.
Some of the supplementary information is guidance on good practice that, while not essential for
compliance with the Building Regulations, would help to save energy. For example, it is convenient and
timely to t thermostatic radiator valves when replacing a boiler and the system has been drained down.
1.8 Replacement of primary heating appliances
When replacing an existing appliance, the efciency of the new appliance should not be signicantly
less than the efciency of the appliance being replaced. If the replacement involves a fuel switch, then
the relative carbon emissions associated with the new and existing fuels should be considered when
assessing the reasonableness of the proposed new appliance. The aim is to discourage replacement of an
existing appliance by a signicantly less carbon efcient one.
Replacement not involving fuel or energy switch
Where the primary heating appliance is replaced by one using the same fuel or energy supply, the
seasonal efciency of the new equipment should be:
a. as stated in the relevant fuel-based section of this guide, and
b. not worse than 2 percentage points lower than the seasonal efciency of the controlled service
being replaced. If the efciency of the appliance to be replaced is not known, efciency values may
be taken from Table 4a or 4b of SAP 2012.
Replacement involving fuel or energy switch
If the new heating appliance uses a different fuel, the efciency of the new service should be multiplied
by the ratio of the carbon dioxide emission factor of the fuel used in the service being replaced to that of
the fuel used in the new service, to obtain the carbon equivalent efciency. The checks described in sub-
paragraphs a. and b. above should then be made. The carbon dioxide emission factors should be taken from
Table 12 of SAP 2012.
Electric ow boilers
It will not normally be possible to replace a gas boiler with an electric ow boiler and meet the standard
above for replacements involving an energy switch. However, if it is not practicable or permissible
5 The SAP Product Characteristics Database (PCDB) at www.ncm-pcdb.org.uk/sap displays separate SAP winter and summer seasonal efciencies for boilers held within it. SAP 2012
(available at www.bre.co.uk/sap2012) uses these values to calculate the carbon dioxide emission rate for a dwelling. SAP winter and summer seasonal efciencies are derived from
SEDBUK 2009 values.
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to t a replacement gas boiler in a dwelling for example because the boiler installation would not
comply with relevant British Standards or the Building Regulations, or listed building consent has not
been granted to install a new ue or gas supply then, provided there is no possible alternative, tting
an electric ow boiler in accordance with the guidance on electric heating systems in Section 4 of this
guide would be acceptable, and count as making reasonable provision for the purposes of complying
with the requirements of the Building Regulations.
Example
An old oil-red boiler with a seasonal efciency of 72% is to be replaced by a dual solid fuel boiler. The
new dual solid fuel boiler should have:
a. a seasonal efciency not less than 65% (from Table 21 in this guide), and
b. a carbon equivalent efciency not less than 70%.
A dual solid fuel boiler with a seasonal efciency of 65% will meet condition b. as its carbon equivalent
efciency is:
65%(0.2980.226)85.7%
where 0.298 and 0.226 kgCO
2
/kWh are the emission factors for oil and dual solid fuels respectively.
1.9 Summary of recommended minimum energy efficiency standards
Table 1 Recommended minimum energy efficiency standards for building services
6
Gas-fired wet central heating
Seasonal efficiency
SEDBUK 2009
7
SEDBUK 2005/SEDBUK
Condensing boilers 88% 90%
Non-condensing boilers (where permitted): natural gas/LPG 78%/80% 78%/80%
Range cooker boilers 75% 75%
Gas-fired warm air heating Efficiency
See Table 6
Gas-fired fixed independent space heaters Efficiency (gross)
8
Gas and LPG primary heating 63%
Gas and LPG secondary heating 63% (new build) 45% (existing build)
Decorative fuel-effect Not specied (set to 20% in SAP 2012)
Gas fires in combined fire/backboilers
(replacements)
Efficiency (gross)
Natural gas LPG
Inset live fuel-effect 45% 46%
All types except inset live fuel-effect 63% 64%
6 Emerging European regulations implementing the Ecodesign Directive will set minimum standards for the efciency of energy-using products that can be placed on the market. Products should
also comply with these standards as they come into effect. Current regulations are listed at http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efciency/ecodesign/doc/overview_legislation_eco-design.pdf.
7 Seasonal Efciency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK). The boiler efciency should meet either the SEDBUK 2009 or SEDBUK 2005 standard. If the SEDBUK efciency in a boiler
manufacturers literature does not state whether it is SEDBUK 2009 or SEDBUK 2005, it should be assumed to be SEDBUK 2005.
8 Efciency is heat output divided by caloric value of fuel. The net caloric value of a fuel excludes the latent heat of water vapour in the exhaust, and so is lower than the gross
caloric value. European standards normally use net caloric values while SAP 2012 uses gross values. SAP Table E4 gives factors for converting net efciency to gross efciency.
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Table 1 Recommended minimum energy efficiency standards for building services (continued)
Oil-fired wet central heating
Seasonal efficiency
SEDBUK 2009
7
SEDBUK 2005/SEDBUK
Condensing regular boilers 88% 90%
Condensing combination boilers 86% 86%
Non-condensing regular boilers (where permitted) 84% 85%
Non-condensing combination boilers (where permitted) 82% 82%
Range cooker boilers 80% 80%
Oil-fired appliances Efficiency (gross)
Continuously-burning vaporising for secondary heating or hot water See Section 3.4
Fixed independent for primary and secondary space heating 60%
Electric heating Efficiency
Boilers serving central heating N/A
Warm air N/A
Panel heaters N/A
Storage, including integrated storage/direct N/A
Solid fuel heating Efficiency (gross) Feed
B1 Simple open re inset 37% Batch
B2 Open re freestanding convector 47% Batch
B3 Open re inset convector 45% mineral fuels
43% wood fuels
C1/2 Open re and boiler (inset or freestanding) 50% Batch
D1/2/3 Open re + high output boiler
(trapezium and rectangular grates)
63% Batch
D4 Open re + high output boiler (rectangle) 63% Batch
E 1 Dry room heater (dry stove) 65% Batch/
auto
E 2 Dry room heater wood logs only 65% Batch
E 3 Dry room heater multi-fuel 65% Batch
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E 4 Dry room heater pellet stove 65% part load
70% nominal load
Auto
F Room heater with boiler 67% mineral fuels and wood logs
70% wood pellets part load
75% wood pellets nominal load
Batch/
auto
G1 Cooker without boiler not exceeding 3.5 kW 65% mineral fuels
55% wood fuels
Batch
G2 Cooker with heating boiler exceeding 3.5 kW 65% mineral fuels
60% wood fuels
Batch
J2 Independent boiler wood logs only 75% Batch
J3 Independent boiler multi-fuel 65% mineral fuels
75% wood logs
Batch
J4 Independent boiler anthracite 70% up to 20.5 kW
75% above 20.5 kW
Auto
J5 Independent boiler wood/pellets/chips 75% nominal load
70% part load
Auto
Slow heat release appliances 65% Batch
One-off tiled/mortared stoves 70% Batch
Community heating Seasonal efficiency
Boilers See Non-Domestic Building Services Compliance
Guide
Mechanical ventilation Specific fan power (SFP) (W/(l
.
s))
Intermittent extract 0.5
Continuous extract 0.7
Continuous supply 0.5
Continuous supply and extract with heat recovery 1.5
Heat recovery Dry heat recovery efficiency
Balanced mechanical ventilation systems 70%
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Heat pumps electrically driven Coefficient of performance (COP)
New build
9
Existing build
Air-to-air Space heating 12 kW Seasonal COP D rating for the median
temperature range in BS EN 14825
10
All others Space heating 2.5 at rating conditions
in BS EN 14511
11
2.2 at rating conditions
in BS EN 14511
Domestic hot water 2.0 at rating conditions in BS EN 14511
Comfort cooling Energy efficiency ratio (EER)
Air-cooled air conditioners working in cooling mode 2.4
Water-cooled air conditioners working in cooling mode 2.5
Fixed air conditioners Class C in Schedule 3 of the labelling scheme
(The Energy Information (Household Air
Conditioners) (No 2) Regulations, SI 2005/1726)
Solar water heating Circulation pump power
50 W
2% of peak thermal power of collector
Fixed lighting Lighting efficacy
Internal light ttings (75%) 45 lamp lumens per circuit-watt
External lighting automatic presence and daylight control Lamp capacity 100 lamp-watts per light tting
External lighting manual switching and automatic daylight control 45 lumens per circuit-watt
Micro-CHP Heating plant emission rate (HPER)
See Section 13.3 a.
Heating system circulators Energy Efficiency Index
Glandless standalone
Glandless, standalone and integrated
0.27 until 31 July 2015
0.23 from 1 August 2015
9 SAP 2012 calculations use the heat pump seasonal performance factor (SPF) either measured values for products listed in the Product Characteristics Database, or the default values
in Table 4a for products not listed.
10 Seasonal coefcient of performance (SCOP) is the current Ecodesign Directive measure for space heating air-to-air heat pumps with an output of up to 12 kW. Eventually, the measure
used will be the seasonal primary energy efciency ratio (SPEER), with testing and rating to BS EN 14825:2013 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps with electrically
driven compressors for space heating and cooling. Testing and rating at part load conditions and calculation of seasonal performance. Energy labelling with the SPEER rating will be
mandatory from 2015.
11 Rating conditions are standardised conditions for determining performance specied in BS EN 14511:2013 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps with electrically
driven compressors for space heating and cooling.
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Section 2: Gas-fired space and water heating
2.1 Scope of guidance
This section provides guidance on the specication of gas-red space heating and hot water systems
12

in dwellings to meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations. The guidance
applies to systems fuelled by natural gas and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and covers:
wet central heating systems
range cookers with integral central heating boilers
warm air heating systems
xed independent space heating devices.
2.2 Gas-fired wet central heating systems
New systems
New systems for gas-red wet central heating in new and existing dwellings should meet the minimum
standards for:
a. boiler efciency, system circulation, hot water storage, system preparation and commissioning
in Table 2
b. boiler interlock, zoning, and time and temperature control of the heating and hot water circuits
in Table 3
c. pipework insulation in Table 5.
Existing systems
Components installed as replacements in existing systems should meet the same standards as for new
systems, except where indicated otherwise in Table 4.
Table 4 in addition identies good practice upgrades to the rest of the system (beyond the requirements
of the Building Regulations) when making planned and emergency replacements.
12 All gas appliances must be installed by a competent person in accordance with the current issue of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations. The installation should follow the
manufacturers instructions and should comply with all relevant parts of the Building Regulations and, for wet systems, the Water Regulations.
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Table 2 Recommended minimum standards for efficiency, system circulation, hot water storage,
system preparation and commissioning for gas-fired wet central heating systems
Minimum standard Supplementary information
1.0
Efciency
a. The boiler SEDBUK 2009 efciency should be not
less than 88%.
b. In existing dwellings, in the exceptional
circumstances dened in the DCLG Guide to
the condensing boiler installation assessment
procedure for dwellings
13
, the boiler SEDBUK 2009
efciency should be not less than 78% if natural
gas-red, or not less than 80% if LPG-red.
c. The boiler efciency for heating boilers that
are combined with range cookers should be as
dened in Section 2.3.
The SAP Product Characteristics Database (PCDB)
at www.ncm-pcdb.org.uk/sap displays separate
SAP winter and summer seasonal efciencies for
boilers held within it. SAP 2012 (available at www.
bre.co.uk/sap2012) uses these values to calculate
the carbon dioxide emission rate for a dwelling.
SAP winter and summer seasonal efciencies are
derived from SEDBUK 2009 values.
SEDBUK 2009 and SEDBUK 2005 efciency values
are different. If the SEDBUK efciency in a boiler
manufacturers literature does not state whether
it is SEDBUK 2009 or SEDBUK 2005, it should be
assumed to be SEDBUK 2005. Minimum SEDBUK
2005 efciency values for boilers are set out in
Table 1 and in the 2010 edition of this guide.
The DCLG Guide to the condensing boiler
installation assessment procedure for dwellings
sets out the approved procedure for establishing
the exceptional circumstances in which boilers
may be of the non-condensing type.
Systems with condensing boilers should be
designed to have low primary return water
temperatures, preferably less than 55C, to
maximise condensing operation. Low return
water temperatures can be obtained through
techniques such as weather compensation and
the use of low temperature heat emitters (for
example correctly-sized radiators and underoor
heating elements).
Low temperature heat emitters will also
be compatible with low temperature heat
generators, such as heat pumps, that might be
installed as replacements in the future.
2.0
System
circulation
a. Space heating systems and domestic hot water
primary circuits should have fully pumped
circulation.
b. If the boiler manufacturers instructions advise
installation of a bypass, an automatic bypass
valve should be provided and the manufacturers
instructions on minimum pipe length followed.
13 Guide to the condensing boiler installation assessment procedure for dwellings, ODPM, 2005. Available from www.planningportal.gov.uk/approveddocuments
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system preparation and commissioning for gas-fired wet central heating systems (continued)
3.0
Hot water
storage
a. Vented copper hot water storage cylinders should
comply with the heat loss and heat exchanger
requirements of BS 1566:2002 Part 1.
b. Copper hot water storage combination units
should comply with BS 3198:1981.
c. Primary storage systems should meet the
insulation requirements of the Hot Water
Association Performance specication for
thermal stores.
d. Unvented hot water storage system products
should comply with BS EN 12897:2006 or an
equivalent standard.
e. The standing heat loss for all hot water storage
vessels in a., b., c. and d. above should not exceed
Q1.15(0.20.051V
2/3
) kWh/day, where V is the
volume of the cylinder in litres.
f. All hot water vessels should carry a label with the
following information:
i. type of vessel (vented, unvented, combination
unit or thermal store)
ii. nominal capacity in litres
iii. standing heat loss in kWh/day
iv. heat exchanger performance in kW
v. reference to product compliance with relevant
standard (e.g. BS 1566, BS EN 12897) and logos
of accreditation bodies as required.
For labelling requirements for other heat inputs, see
relevant sections (e.g. Section 11 for solar).
If a vented cylinder is not made from copper
then the heat loss and heat exchange
characteristics should be tested in accordance
with BS EN 12897:2006.
The HWA thermal storage specication is
available for free download from
www.hotwater.org.uk.
British Standards
BS 1566-1:2002 Copper indirect cylinders for
domestic purposes. Open vented copper
cylinders. Requirements and test methods.
BS EN 12897:2006 Water supply. Specication for
indirectly heated unvented (closed) storage water
heaters.
BS 3198:1981 Copper hot water storage
combination units for domestic purposes.
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system preparation and commissioning for gas-fired wet central heating systems (continued)
4.0
System
preparation
and water
treatment
a. Central heating systems should be thoroughly
cleaned and ushed out before installing a new
boiler.
b. During nal lling of the system, a chemical water
treatment inhibitor meeting the manufacturers
specication or other appropriate standard
should be added to the primary circuit to control
corrosion and the formation of scale and sludge.
c. Installers should also refer to the boiler
manufacturers installation instructions for
appropriate treatment products and special
requirements for individual boiler models.
d. Where the mains total water hardness exceeds
200 parts per million, provision should be made
to treat the feed water to water heaters and the
hot water circuit of combination boilers to reduce
the rate of accumulation of limescale.
e. For solar thermal systems, see Section 11.
Inhibitors should be BuildCert approved or
equivalent.
Limescale can be controlled by the use of
chemical limescale inhibitors, combined corrosion
and limescale inhibitors, polyphosphate dosing,
electrolytic scale reducers or water softeners.
The relevant standard for water treatment is BS
7593:2006 Code of practice for treatment of water
in domestic hot water central heating systems.
BS 7593 notes that naturally soft waters of low
alkalinity or those supplied via a base-exchange
resin softener have an increased potential for
corrosion, and, if they are used in any central
heating system, a corrosion inhibitor specically
formulated for the purpose should be added and
properly maintained. Manufacturers should be
consulted for advice, paying particular attention
to dosage levels.
Special radiator valves are available that will seal
off the radiator as well as the heating circuit
to prevent loss of inhibitor when removing a
radiator for service or maintenance.
A lter can also be tted to the central heating
circuit to help maintain the efciency and
reliability of the system.
5.0
Commiss-
ioning
a. On completion of the installation of a boiler
or hot water storage system and associated
equipment such as pipework, pumps and controls,
the equipment should be commissioned in
accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
These instructions will be specic to the
particular boiler or hot water storage system.
b. The installer should explain fully to the user
how to operate the system in an energy efcient
manner, and leave behind any user manuals
provided by manufacturers.
The Benchmark System
The Benchmark Commissioning Checklist can
be used to show that commissioning has been
carried out satisfactorily. Benchmark licence-
holders provide a checklist with the appliance
for completion by the persons commissioning
the system so that they can record that all
the checks have been made and the results
show efcient operation of the equipment in
compliance with the Building Regulations. The
Benchmark checklist should be provided to the
builder, or the householder in the case of work in
existing dwellings, an appointed agent, or the end
user. A Benchmark Commissioning Checklist will
be included in all HHIC gas boiler manufacturer
members installation manuals to help installers
record information about the installation in order
to assist with servicing and repairs. For example,
details of system cleaners and inhibitors can be
recorded. Only manufacturing companies who
hold a Benchmark licence will be eligible to use
the Benchmark logo and the approved log book
wording and layout. (Benchmark is registered as
a European Collective Mark by the Heating and
Hot Water Industry Council, and the content is
copyright.)
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Table 3 Recommended minimum controls for gas-fired wet central heating systems
[1]
Control type Minimum standard
1.0
Boiler interlock
a. System controls should be wired so that when there is no demand for space heating or hot
water, the boiler and pump are switched off.
2.0
Zoning
a. Dwellings with a total oor area 150 m
2
should have at least two space heating zones, each
with an independently controlled heating circuit
[2]
.
b. Dwellings with a total oor area
[3]
150 m
2
may have a single space heating zone
[4]
.
3.0
Control of space
heating
a. Each space heating circuit should be provided with:
i. independent time control, and either:
ii. a room thermostat or programmable room thermostat located in a reference room
[5]
served
by the heating circuit, together with individual radiator controls such as thermostatic
radiator valves (TRVs) on all radiators outside the reference rooms, or
iii. individual networked radiator controls in each room on the circuit.
4.0
Control of hot water
a. Domestic hot water circuits supplied from a hot water store (i.e. not produced instantaneously
as by a combination boiler) should be provided with:
i. independent time control, and
ii. electric temperature control using, for example, a cylinder thermostat and a zone valve
or three-port valve. (If the use of a zone valve is not appropriate, as with thermal stores, a
second pump could be substituted for the zone valve.)
Notes
[1] Always also follow manufacturers instructions.
[2] A heating circuit refers to a pipework run serving a number of radiators that is controlled by its own zone valve.
[3] The relevant oor area is the area within the insulated envelope of the dwelling, including internal cupboards and
stairwells.
[4] The SAP notional dwelling assumes at least two space heating zones for all oor areas, unless the dwelling is single
storey, open plan with a living area 70% of the total oor area.
[5] A reference room is a room that will act as the main temperature control for the whole circuit and where no other
form of system temperature control is present.
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Table 4 Recommended minimum standards when replacing components of gas-fired wet central
heating systems
[1]
Component Reason Minimum standard Good practice
[2]
1.0
Hot water
cylinder
Emergency a. For copper vented cylinders and
combination units, the standing
losses should not exceed
Q1.28(0.20.051V
2/3
) kWh/day,
where V is the volume of the cylinder in
litres.
b. Install an electric temperature control,
such as a cylinder thermostat. Where
the cylinder or installation is of a type
that precludes the tting of wired
controls, install either a wireless or
thermo-mechanical hot water cylinder
thermostat or electric temperature
control.
c. If separate time control for the heating
circuit is not present, use of single time
control for space heating and hot water
is acceptable.
a. Upgrade gravity-fed systems to fully
pumped.
b. Install a boiler interlock and
separate timing for space heating
and hot water.
Planned d. Install a boiler interlock and separate
timing for space heating and hot water.
c. Upgrade gravity-fed systems to fully
pumped.
2.0
Boiler
Emergency/
planned
a. The efciency of the new appliance
should be as specied for new systems
in Table 2 and not signicantly less than
the efciency of the appliance being
replaced as set out in paragraph 1.8.
b. To ensure reasonable seasonal efciency,
install a boiler interlock as dened for
new systems.
a. Upgrade gravity-fed systems to fully
pumped.
b. Fit individual radiator controls such
as thermostatic radiator valves
(TRVs) on all radiators except those
in the reference room.
3.0
Radiator
Emergency a. Fit a TRV to the replacement
radiator if in a room without a
room thermostat.
Planned b. Fit TRVs to all radiators in rooms
without a room thermostat.
4.0
New heating
system
existing
pipework
retained
Planned a. Install a boiler interlock as dened for
new systems.
b. Fit individual radiator controls such as
TRVs on all radiators except those in the
reference room.
a. In dwellings with a total oor
area 150 m
2
, install at least
two heating circuits, each with
independent time and temperature
control, together with individual
radiator controls such as TRVs on
all radiators except those in the
reference rooms.
Notes
[2] Best practice would be as for a new system.
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Table 5 Recommended minimum standards for insulation of pipework in gas-fired wet central
heating systems
a. Pipes should be insulated to comply with the maximum
permissible heat loss indicated in the Supplementary
information column, and labelled accordingly, as follows:
i. Primary circulation pipes for heating circuits should
be insulated wherever they pass outside the heated
living space or through voids which communicate
with and are ventilated from unheated spaces.
ii. Primary circulation pipes for domestic hot water
circuits should be insulated throughout their length,
subject only to practical constraints imposed by
the need to penetrate joists and other structural
elements.
iii. All pipes connected to hot water storage vessels,
including the vent pipe, should be insulated for at
least 1 metre from their points of connection to the
cylinder (or they should be insulated up to the point
where they become concealed).
iv. If secondary circulation is used, all pipes kept hot by
that circulation should be insulated.
b. Whenever a boiler or hot water storage vessel is
replaced in an existing system, any pipes that are
exposed as part of the work or are otherwise accessible
should be insulated as recommended above or to
some lesser standard where practical constraints dictate.
Pipe outside diameter (mm)
8
10
12
15
22
28
35
42
54
Maximum heat loss (W/m)
7.06
7. 23
7. 35
7.89
9. 1 2
10.07
1 1 .08
12. 1 9
14. 1 2
In assessing the thickness of insulation required, standardised
conditions should be assumed in all compliance calculations,
based on a horizontal pipe at 60C in still air at 15C.
Further guidance on converting heat loss limits to insulation
thickness for specic thermal conductivities is available in
TIMSA HVAC guidance for achieving compliance with Part L
of the Building Regulations.
Insulation of pipework in unheated areas
It may be necessary to protect central heating and hot water
pipework in unheated areas against freezing. Guidance is
available in:
BS 5422:2009 Method for specifying thermal insulating
materials for pipes, tanks, vessels, ductwork and
equipment operating within the temperature range
-40C to +700C.
BRE Report No 262 Thermal insulation: avoiding risks,
2002 edition.
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2.3 Gas-fired range cookers with integral central heating boiler
Note: This section does not apply to appliances with fully independent boiler and cooker parts within a
shared case. For these, the standards for the boiler are as set out in Section 2.2.
Where gas-red range cookers with an integral central heating boiler (within a single appliance body) are
provided as part of a new system or as a replacement component:
a. The appliance should have two independently controlled burners (one for the cooking function and
one for the boiler).
b. The SEDBUK 2009 efciency of the integral boiler should be not less than 75%. The manufacturers
declaration of appliance performance and SEDBUK value should include the following words:
i. Seasonal efciency (SEDBUK) = xx %
ii. Case heat emission value = yy kW
iii. Heat transfer to water at full load = zz kW
iv. The values are used in the UK Governments Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for the energy
rating of dwellings. The test data from which the values have been calculated has been certied
by {insert name and/or identication of Notied Body}. See: www.rangeefciency.org.uk.
If the integral boiler is a condensing boiler, the declaration should make clear whether the efciency
has been calculated in accordance with SEDBUK 2005 or SEDBUK 2009. If it does not, then SEDBUK
2005 must be assumed.
c. The integral boiler should meet the minimum standards for system circulation, hot water storage,
system preparation, commissioning, controls and insulation in Tables 2, 3 and 5 (gas-red central
heating systems).
2.4 Gas-fired warm air heating
New systems and replacement components for gas-red warm air heating should meet the minimum
standards for:
a. efciency and installation in Table 6
b. zoning, time control and temperature control for (a) space heating without hot water and (b) space
heating combined with water heating in Table 7.
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Table 6 Recommended minimum standards for efficiency and installation of gas-fired warm air
heating systems
1.0
Efciency
a. Gas-red warm air units should meet the
requirements, as appropriate to the design of the
appliance, of:
i. BS EN 778:2009, or
ii. BS EN 1319:2009.
b. If a gas-red circulator is incorporated in the warm
air unit to provide domestic hot water, it should be
able to deliver full and part load efciency at least
equal to that prescribed by BS EN 483:1999+A4:2007.
c. The manufacturers declaration of appliance
performance should include the following words:
i. Combined warm air unit and circulator
This product has been assessed against the
test methods set out in BS EN 778:2009/BS EN
1319:2009/BS EN 483* and certied as meeting
those minimum requirements by {insert name
and/or identication of Notied Body}.
ii. Warm air unit alone
This product has been assessed against the
test method set out in BS EN 778:2009/
BS EN 1319:2009* and certied as meeting the
minimum requirements by {insert name and/or
identication of Notied Body}.
*Delete as appropriate
British Standards
BS EN 778:2009 Domestic gas-red forced
convection air heaters for space heating
not exceeding a net heat input of 70 kW,
without a fan to assist transportation
of combustion air and/or combustion
products.
BS EN 1319:2009 Domestic gas-red forced
convection air heaters for space heating,
with fan-assisted burners not exceeding a
net heat input of 70 kW.
BS EN 483:1999+A4:2007 Gas-red central
heating boilers. Type C boilers of nominal
heat input not exceeding 70 kW.
2.0
Installation
a. The system should be installed in accordance with
BS 5864:2010.
b. Ductwork that is newly installed or replaced
should be insulated in accordance with the
recommendations of BS 5422:2009.
BS 5864:2010 Installation and maintenance
of gas-red ducted air heaters of rated
input not exceeding 70 kW net (second and
third family gases). Specication.
BS 5422:2009 Method for specifying
thermal insulating materials for pipes,
tanks, vessels, ductwork and equipment
operating within the temperature range
-40C to +700C.
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Table 7 Recommended minimum controls for gas-fired warm air heating systems
(a) Without hot water Minimum standard
1.0
Time and temperature control
a. Where controls are external to the heater, the system should be provided with a time
switch/programmer and room thermostat, or programmable room thermostat.
b. Where controls are integrated in the heater, the system should be provided with a
time switch/programmer and room temperature sensor linked to heater ring and fan
speed control.
2.0
Zoning
2
should be divided into at least two space
heating zones with independent temperature controls, one of which is assigned to the
living area.
b. Dwellings with a total oor area 150 m
2
should be provided with at least two space
heating zones with independent time and temperature controls.
(b) With hot water
1.0
System circulation
a. There should be pumped primary circulation to the hot water cylinder.
2.0
Time and temperature control
a. The space heating and hot water circuits should be provided with independent time
control.
b. Independent temperature control of the hot water circuit should be implemented
with a cylinder thermostat and a timing device, wired such that when there is no
demand for hot water both the pump and circulator are switched off.
3.0
Zoning
2
should have at least two space heating
zones with independent time controls, one of which is assigned to the living area.
2
should have at least two space heating
zones with independent time and temperature controls.
2.5 Gas-fired fixed independent space heating appliances
Fixed independent space heating appliances may be installed as a means of primary or secondary space
heating.
Gas-red xed independent appliances for primary space heating
Where gas-red xed independent space heating appliances in new and existing dwellings are provided
as the primary heat source:
a. The appliance should be one of the types described in Table 8.
b. The efciency of the appliance (gross caloric value) should be not less than 63% (70% net).
c. The appliance manufacturers declaration of appliance performance should include the following words:
The efciency of this appliance has been measured as specied in {insert appropriate entry from Table
8} and the result after conversion to gross using the appropriate factor from Table E4 of SAP 2012 is
[x]%. The test data has been certied by {insert name and/or identication of Notied Body}. The
gross efciency value may be used in the UK Governments Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for
energy rating of dwellings.
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d. In new dwellings, each appliance should be capable, either independently or in conjunction with
room thermostats or other suitable temperature sensing devices, of controlling the temperatures
independently in areas that have different heating needs (e.g. separate sleeping and living areas). In
existing dwellings, wherever practical, temperature controls should be upgraded to the standards
required for new dwellings.
Table 8 Acceptable types of natural gas and LPG-fired fixed independent appliance for primary
space heating
British Standard designation (appliance type)
BS EN 1266:2002 Independent gas-red convection heaters incorporating a fan to assist transportation of combustion air
and/or ue gases.
BS 7977-1:2009+A1:2013 Specication for safety and rational use of energy of domestic gas appliances. Radiant/convectors.
BS EN 613:2001 Independent gas-red convection heaters.
BS EN 13278:2013 Open fronted gas-red independent space heaters.
Gas-red xed independent appliances for secondary space heating
Where gas-red xed independent space heating appliances are provided as the secondary heat source:
a. In new dwellings, the appliance efciency (gross caloric value) should be not less than 63% (70% net).
b. In existing dwellings, the appliance efciency (gross caloric value) should be not less than 45% (50% net).
9} and the result after conversion to gross using the appropriate factor from Table E4 of SAP 2012 is
[x]%. The test data has been certied by {insert name and/or identication of Notied Body}. The
efciency value may be used in the UK Governments Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for energy
rating of dwellings.
Table 9 Acceptable types of natural gas and LPG-fired fixed independent appliance for
secondary space heating
BS EN 1266:2002 Independent gas-red convection heaters incorporating a fan to assist transportation of combustion air
and/or ue gases.
BS 7977-1:2009+A1:2013 Specication for safety and rational use of energy of domestic gas appliances. Radiant/convectors.
BS EN 613:2001 Independent gas-red convection heaters.
BS EN 13278:2013 Open fronted gas-red independent space heaters.
Flueless
BS EN 14829:2007 Independent gas-red ueless space heaters for
nominal heat input not exceeding 6 kW.
Thermal efciency requirements for this type of
appliance are not specied as all the heat produced
by the combustion process is released into the space
to be heated. In SAP 2012 the efciency of these
appliances is classed as 90% and an adjustment is
made for ventilation in the space heating requirement
calculation.
BS EN 449:2002+A1:2007 Specication for dedicated liqueed
petroleum gas appliances. Domestic ueless space heaters
(including diffusive catalytic combustion heaters).
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2.6 Gas-fired fixed decorative fuel-effect fires
This type of appliance is intended for decorative purposes and therefore a minimum thermal efciency
is not specied. Note that for the purposes of SAP 2012 the efciency of decorative fuel-effect res is
classed as 20% in the space heating requirement calculation. See Table 4a of SAP 2012.
Gas-red decorative res in new and existing dwellings should:
a. meet the product standards in BS EN 509:2000 Decorative fuel-effect gas appliances
b. number not more than one appliance per 100 m
2
of dwelling oor area.
2.7 Gas fires for secondary space heating provided as part of a combined fire
and back boiler unit
Where gas res are provided as a secondary heat source as part of a combined re and back boiler unit in
an existing system:
a. The appliance should be one of the types described in Table 10.
b. The efciency (gross caloric value) of the appliance should be not less than the value in Table 10 for
that type of appliance.
10} and the result after conversion to gross using the appropriate factor from Table E4 of SAP 2012
is [x]%. The test data from which it has been calculated has been certied by {insert name and/or
identication of Notied Body}. The efciency value may be used in the UK Governments Standard
Assessment Procedure (SAP) for energy rating of dwellings.
Table 10 Minimum appliance efficiencies for gas fires in a combined fire and back boiler unit
British Standard designation (appliance type)
Minimum efficiency %
(gross calorific value)
Natural gas LPG
Inset live fuel-efect
BS 7977-2:2003 Specication for safety and rational use of energy of domestic gas
appliances. Combined appliances. Gas re/back boiler.
45 46
All types except inset live fuel-efect
BS 7977-2:2003 Specication for safety and rational use of energy of domestic gas
appliances. Combined appliances. Gas re/back boiler.
63 64
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Supplementary information
Energy Efciency Best Practice in Housing
CE30 Domestic heating by gas: boiler systems.
CE51 Central heating system specications (CHeSS).
CE54 Whole house boiler sizing method for houses and ats.
SBGI publications on gas boilers and gas res
See www.sbgi.org.uk.
CORGI Domestic Manual Series
GID1 Essential gas safety.
GID2 Gas cookers and ranges.
GID3 Gas res and space heaters.
GID5 Water heaters.
GID7 Central heating wet and dry.
CORGI Design Guides
WCH1 Wet central heating system design guide.
WAH1 Warm air heating system design guide.
British Standards
BS 5440-1:2008 Flueing and ventilation for gas appliances of rated input not exceeding 70 kW net (1st, 2nd and 3rd family
gases). Specication for installation of gas appliances to chimneys and for maintenance of chimneys.
BS 5440-2:2009 Flueing and ventilation for gas appliances of rated input not exceeding 70 kW net (1st, 2nd and 3rd family
gases). Specication for the installation and maintenance of ventilation provision for gas appliances.
BS EN 12828:2012 Heating systems in buildings. Design for water-based heating systems.
BS EN 12831:2003 Heating systems in buildings. Method for calculation of the design heat load.
BS EN 14336:2004 Heating systems in buildings. Installation and commissioning of water-based heating systems.
BS 6798:2009 Specication for installation and maintenance of gas-red boilers of rated input not exceeding 70 kW net.
BS 5871-1:2007 Specication for the installation and maintenance of gas res, convector heaters, re/back boilers
and decorative fuel effect gas appliances. Gas res, convector heaters, re/back boilers and heating stoves (2nd and
3rd family gases).
BS 5871-2:2005 Specication for the installation and maintenance of gas res, convector heaters, re/back boilers and
decorative fuel effect gas appliances. Inset live fuel effect gas res of heat input not exceeding 15 kW, and re/back boilers
(2nd and 3rd family gases).
decorative fuel effect gas appliances. Decorative fuel effect gas appliances of heat input not exceeding 20 kW (2nd and 3rd
family gases).
decorative fuel effect gas appliances. Independent gas-red ueless res, convector heaters and heating stoves of nominal
heat input not exceeding 6 kW (2nd and 3rd family gases).
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Section 3: Oil-fired space and water heating
This section provides guidance on the specication of oil-red space heating and hot water systems
14

in dwellings to meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations. The guidance
applies to the following types of oil-red heating system:
wet central heating systems
range cookers with integral central heating boilers
vaporising appliances providing secondary heating or hot water
xed independent space heating devices.
3.2 Oil-fired wet central heating systems
New systems
New systems for oil-red central heating in new and existing dwellings should meet the minimum
standards for:
a. boiler efciency, system circulation, hot water storage, system preparation and commissioning in
Table 11
b. boiler interlock, zoning, and time and temperature control of the heating and hot water circuits in
Table 12
c. pipework insulation in Table 14.
Work on existing systems
Components installed as replacements in existing systems should meet the same standards as for new
systems, except where indicated otherwise in Table 13.
Table 13 in addition identies good practice upgrades to the rest of the system when making planned and
emergency replacements that go beyond the requirements of the Building Regulations.
14 All oil appliances must be installed by a competent person. The installation should follow the manufacturers instructions and should comply with all relevant parts of the Building
Regulations and, for wet systems, the Water Regulations.
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system preparation and commissioning for oil-fired wet central heating systems
1.0
Efciency
Regular boilers
a. The boiler should be of the condensing type.
b. The boiler SEDBUK 2009 efciency should be
not less than 88%.
c. In existing dwellings, compliance with the
requirements for boiler efciency can be
demonstrated by following the guidance in
the DCLG Guide to the condensing boiler
installation assessment procedure for
dwellings. The boiler SEDBUK 2009 efciency
should be not less than 84%.
Combination boilers
d. The boiler should be of the condensing type.
The boiler SEDBUK 2009 efciency should be
not less than 86%.
e. In existing dwellings, compliance with the
requirements for boiler efciency can be
demonstrated by following the guidance in
the DCLG Guide to the condensing boiler
installation assessment procedure for
dwellings. The boiler SEDBUK 2009 efciency
should be not less than 82%.
Range cooker boilers
f. The boiler efciency for heating boilers that
are combined with range cookers should be
as dened in Section 3.3 Oil-red cookers
with integral central heating boilers.
The Boiler Efciency Database at www.boilers.
org.uk is part of the SAP Product Characteristics
Database (PCDB) and displays separate SAP winter
and summer seasonal efciencies for boilers
held within it. SAP 2012 (available at www.bre.
co.uk/sap2012) uses these values to calculate
the carbon dioxide emission rate for a dwelling.
SAP winter and summer seasonal efciencies are
derived from SEDBUK 2009 values.
SEDBUK 2009 and SEDBUK 2005 efciency values
are different. If the SEDBUK efciency in a boiler
manufacturers literature does not state whether
it is SEDBUK 2009 or SEDBUK 2005, it should be
assumed to be SEDBUK 2005. Minimum SEDBUK
2005 efciency values for boilers are set out in
Table 1 and in the 2010 edition of this guide.
The DCLG Guide to the condensing boiler
installation assessment procedure for dwellings
sets out the approved procedure for establishing
the exceptional circumstances in which boilers
may be of the non-condensing type.
Systems with condensing boilers should be
designed to have low primary return water
temperatures, preferably less than 55C, to
maximise condensing operation. Low return
water temperatures can be obtained through
techniques such as weather compensation and
the use of low temperature heat emitters (for
example correctly-sized radiators and underoor
heating elements).
Low temperature heat emitters will also
be compatible with low temperature heat
generators, such as heat pumps, that might be
installed as replacements in the future.
2.0
System circulation
a. Space heating systems and domestic hot
water primary circuits should have fully
pumped circulation.
b. If the boiler manufacturers instructions
advise installation of a bypass, an automatic
bypass valve should be provided and the
manufacturers instructions on minimum pipe
length followed.
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system preparation and commissioning for oil-fired wet central heating systems (continued)
3.0
Hot water storage
a. Vented copper hot water storage cylinders
should comply with the heat loss and heat
exchanger requirements of BS 1566-1:2002.
b. Copper hot water storage combination units
should comply with BS 3198:1981.
c. Primary storage systems should meet the
insulation requirements of the Hot Water
Association Performance specication for
thermal stores.
d. Unvented hot water storage system products
should comply with BS EN 12897:2006 or an
equivalent standard.
e. The standing heat loss for all hot water storage
vessels in a., b., c. and d. above should not
exceed Q1.15(0.20.051V
2/3
) kWh/day,
where V is the volume of the cylinder in litres.
f. All hot water vessels should carry a label with
the following information:
i. type of vessel (vented, unvented,
combination unit or thermal store)
iv. heat exchanger performance in kW
v. reference to product compliance
with relevant standard (e.g. BS 1566-1,
BS EN 12897) and logos of accreditation
bodies as required.
For labelling requirements for other heat
inputs, see relevant sections (e.g. Section 11
for solar).
If a vented cylinder is not made from copper
then the heat loss and heat exchange
characteristics should be tested in accordance
with BS EN 12897:2006.
available from www.hotwater.org.uk.
British Standards
BS EN 12897:2006 Water supply. Specication for
indirectly heated unvented (closed) storage water
heaters.
BS 3198:1981 Copper hot water storage
combination units for domestic purposes.
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4.0
System
preparation and
water treatment
cleaned and ushed out before installing a
new boiler.
b. During nal lling of the system, a chemical
water treatment inhibitor meeting the
manufacturers specication or other
appropriate standard should be added to the
primary circuit to control corrosion and the
formation of scale and sludge.
d. Where the mains total water hardness
exceeds 200 parts per million, provision
should be made to treat the feed water to
water heaters and the hot water circuit of
combination boilers to reduce the rate of
accumulation of limescale.
e. For solar thermal systems, see Section 11.
equivalent.
chemical limescale inhibitors, combined
corrosion and limescale inhibitors,
polyphosphate dosing, electrolytic scale reducers
or water softeners. The relevant standard for
water treatment is BS 7593:2006 Code of practice
for treatment of water in domestic hot water
central heating systems. BS 7593 notes that
naturally soft waters of low alkalinity or those
supplied via a base-exchange resin softener
have an increased potential for corrosion, and,
if they are used in any central heating system,
a corrosion inhibitor specically formulated
for the purpose should be added and properly
maintained. Manufacturers should be consulted
for advice, paying particular attention to dosage
levels.
Special radiator valves are available that will seal
off the radiator as well as the heating circuit
to prevent loss of inhibitor when removing a
radiator for service or maintenance.
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5.0
Commissioning
a. On completion of the installation of a boiler
or a hot water storage system, together with
associated equipment such as pipework,
pumps and controls, the equipment should
be commissioned in accordance with
the manufacturers instructions. These
instructions will be specic to the particular
boiler or hot water storage system.
how to operate the system in an energy
efcient manner, and leave behind any user
manuals provided by manufacturers.
The Oil Controlled Document System (as
produced and managed by OFTEC) can be used
to show that oil-red appliances and related
systems have been installed and commissioned
satisfactorily by listing and recording works and
checks which are deemed necessary for the
efcient operation of the appliance and system
in compliance with the Building Regulations. A
copy of each completed form is left with the
householder or agent for record and/or Building
Control inspection purposes, and a copy is
retained by the issuing installer and engineer.
OFTEC branded forms are provided for the
use of OFTEC Registered Competent Persons
and non-OFTEC branded forms are available
for others carrying out oil-red installation
and commissioning works. To assist installers
OFTEC oil appliance manufacturing members
may provide forms CD/10 and CD/11 with their
equipment.
Controlled Document CD/10
Installing engineers should complete OFTEC
Form CD/10 to show that they have completed
the installation of an oil-red appliance and
controls and wet system commissioning prior
to nal appliance commissioning.
Controlled Document CD/11
Commissioning engineers of oil-red appliances
should complete OFTEC Form CD/11 to record
and show that they have completed the
commissioning of the appliance and that
they have left it operating in a safe and
efcient manner.
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Table 12 Recommended minimum controls for oil-fired wet central heating systems
[1]
1.0
Boiler interlock
a. System controls should be wired so that when there is no demand for space heating or hot water,
the boiler and pump are switched off.
2.0
Zoning
2
should have at least two space heating zones, each with
an independently controlled heating circuit
[2]
.
[3]
150 m
2
[4]
.
3.0
Control of space
heating
i. independent time control, and either:
[5]
served
by the heating circuit, together with individual radiator controls such as thermostatic radiator
valves (TRVs) on all radiators outside the reference rooms, or
4.0
Control of hot
water
a. Domestic hot water circuits supplied from a hot water store (i.e. not produced instantaneously as
by a combination boiler) should be provided with:
ii. electric temperature control using, for example, a cylinder thermostat and a zone valve or
three-port valve. (If the use of a zone valve is not appropriate, as with thermal stores, a second
pump could be substituted for the zone valve.)
Notes
stairwells.
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Table 13 Recommended minimum standards when replacing components of oil-fired wet central
heating systems
[1]
Component Reason Minimum standard Good practice
[2]
1.0
Hot water cylinder
Emergency a. For copper vented cylinders and
combination units, the standing
losses should not exceed
Q1.28(0.20.051V
2/3
) kWh/day, where
V is the volume of the cylinder in litres.
b. Install an electric temperature control,
such as a cylinder thermostat. Where the
cylinder or installation is of a type that
precludes the tting of wired controls,
install either a wireless or thermo-
mechanical hot water cylinder thermostat
or electric temperature control.
c. If separate time control for the heating
circuit is not present, use of single time
control for space heating and hot water is
acceptable.
a. Upgrade gravity-fed systems
to fully pumped.
b. Install a boiler interlock and
separate timing for space
heating and hot water.
Planned d. Install a boiler interlock and separate timing
for space heating and hot water.
c. Upgrade gravity-fed systems
to fully pumped.
2.0
Boiler
Emergency/
planned
a. The efciency of the new appliance should
be as specied for new systems in Table 11
and not signicantly less than the efciency
of the appliance being replaced as set
out in paragraph 1.8.
b. To ensure reasonable seasonal efciency,
install a boiler interlock as dened for new
systems.
a. Upgrade gravity-fed systems
to fully pumped.
b. Fit individual radiator
controls such as thermostatic
radiator valves (TRVs) on all
radiators except those in the
reference room.
3.0
Radiator
Emergency a. Fit a TRV to the replacement
radiator if in a room without
a room thermostat.
Planned b. Fit TRVs to all radiators
in rooms without a room
thermostat.
4.0
New heating
system existing
pipework retained
Planned a. Install a boiler interlock as dened for new
systems.
b. Fit individual radiator controls such as
TRVs on all radiators except those in the
reference room.
a. In dwellings with a total
oor area 150 m
2
, install
at least two heating circuits,
each with independent time
and temperature control,
together with individual
radiator controls such as
TRVs on all radiators except
those in the reference rooms.
Notes
[2] Best practice would be as for a new system.
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Table 14 Recommended minimum standards for insulation of pipework in oil-fired wet central
heating systems
elements.
8
10
12
15
22
28
35
42
54
7.06
7. 23
7. 35
7.89
9. 1 2
10.07
1 1 .08
12. 1 9
14. 1 2
available in:
equipment operating within the temperature range -40C
to +700C.
2002 edition.
3.3 Oil-fired range cookers with integral central heating boilers
This section provides guidance on the specication of oil-red range cookers with integral central
heating boilers for space heating and hot water in dwellings.
Note: The guidance applies only to twin-burner cooker boilers, which should not be confused with the
type of range cooker described as a single burner dry heat range cooker. The latter is intended only to
provide a cooking function, is not included in SAP 2012 calculations, and does not come within the scope
of the Building Regulations energy efciency requirements.
Where oil-red range cookers with an integral central heating boiler are provided as part of new systems
or as replacement components in existing systems:
a. The appliance should have two independently controlled burners (one for the cooking function and
one for the boiler).
b. The SEDBUK 2009 efciency of the integral boiler should be not less than 80%.
c. The manufacturers declaration of appliance performance and SEDBUK value should include the
following words:
i. Seasonal efciency (SEDBUK) = xx%
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ii. Case heat emission value = yy kW
iii. Heat transfer to water at full load = zz kW
iv. The efciency values may be used in the UK Governments Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP)
for the energy rating of dwellings. The test data from which they have been calculated has been
certied by {insert name and/or identication of Notied Body}.
If the integral boiler is a condensing boiler, the declaration should make clear whether the efciency
has been calculated in accordance with SEDBUK 2005 or SEDBUK 2009. If it does not, then SEDBUK
2005 must be assumed. See www.rangeefciency.org.uk.
d. The integral boiler should meet the minimum standards for oil-red central heating systems in Tables
11, 12 and 14 for system circulation, hot water storage, system preparation, commissioning, controls
and insulation.
3.4 Continuously-burning oil-fired vaporising appliances providing secondary
heating or hot water
This section provides guidance on the specication of oil-red vaporising appliances providing
secondary heating or hot water for dwellings. The guidance does not apply to appliances which have
been converted from another fuel (for example from solid fuel to oil).
Oil-red vaporising appliances provided with new systems or as replacement components in existing
systems should meet the minimum standards for controls in Table 15.
Table 15 Recommended minimum controls for continuously burning oil-fired vaporising
appliances
Appliance type Minimum standard
Supplementary
information
a. Manually operated appliance, e.g. room
heater.
The integral manual controls as provided by
appliance manufacturer.
Information about the
use of controls should
be clearly stated in
the manufacturers
literature.
b. Electrically operated (modulating)
appliance, e.g. room heater.
The integral or remote thermostatic controls
as provided (or specied) by the appliance
manufacturer.
Automatic on/off vaporising appliances
c. Room heater providing (secondary) space
heating.
The integral thermostatic controls as provided
by the appliance manufacturer.
d. Room heater providing domestic hot water
and (secondary) space heating.
The integral or remote thermostatic controls
as provided (or specied) by the appliance
manufacturer.
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3.5 Oil-fired fixed independent space heating appliances
This section provides guidance on the specication of oil-red xed independent appliances for primary
or secondary space heating in dwellings.
Oil-red xed independent appliances for primary heating
Where oil-red xed independent space heating appliances are provided as the primary heat source in
new dwellings:
a. The efciency of the appliance (gross caloric value) should be not less than 60%. The appliance
manufacturers declaration of appliance performance should include the following words:
The net efciency of this appliance has been measured as specied in OFS A102:2004 and the result
after conversion to gross using the appropriate factor from Table E4 of SAP 2012 is [x]%. The test data
has been certied by {insert name and/or identication of Notied Body}. The efciency value may
be used in the UK Governments Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for energy rating of dwellings.
b. Each appliance should be capable, either independently or in conjunction with room thermostats or
other suitable temperature sensing devices, of controlling the temperatures independently in areas
that have different heating needs (e.g. separate sleeping and living areas).
Oil-red xed independent appliances for secondary heating
Oil-red xed independent space heating appliances in new dwellings which are provided as the
secondary heat source should have an efciency (gross caloric value) of not less than 60%.
Supplementary Information
Energy Efciency Best Practice in Housing publications:
CE29 Domestic heating by oil: boiler systems.
CE51 Central heating system specications (CHeSS).
CE54 Whole house boiler sizing method for houses and ats.
OFTEC Technical Books 2, 3, 4 and 5 (see www.oftec.org).
BS EN 12828:2012 Heating systems in buildings. Design for water-based heating systems.
BS 5410-1:1997 Code of practice for oil ring installations up to 45 kW output capacity for space heating and hot water
supply purposes.

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This section provides guidance on the specication of xed electric heating systems for dwellings to
meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations.
The guidance given in this section covers the following types of xed electric heating systems:
electric boilers serving central heating systems
electric warm air systems
electric panel heaters
electric storage systems including integrated storage/direct systems.
Portable, plug-in appliances are not covered by the Building Regulations or by this guide.
4.2 Electric boilers serving central heating systems
Electric boilers serving wet central heating provided with new systems or as replacement components in
existing systems should meet the minimum standards for:
a. system circulation, system preparation and commissioning in Table 16
b. boiler interlock, zoning, and time control and temperature control of heating and hot water circuits
in Table 17
c. hot water storage systems in Table 18
d. pipework insulation in Table 19.
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Table 16 Recommended minimum standards for system circulation, preparation and
commissioning for electric wet central heating systems
1.0
System circulation
a. Systems for space heating and domestic hot
water primary circuits in new dwellings should
have fully pumped circulation.
b. If the boiler manufacturers instructions advise
installation of a bypass, then an automatic
bypass valve should be used.
2.0
System
preparation and
water treatment
cleaned and ushed before installing a new
boiler.
b. During nal lling of the system a chemical
water treatment formulation should be added
to the primary circuit to control corrosion and
the formation of scale and sludge.
200 parts per million, provision should be made
to treat the feed water to water heaters and
the hot water circuit of combination boilers to
reduce the rate of accumulation of limescale.
equivalent.
chemical limescale inhibitors, combined
corrosion and limescale inhibitors,
polyphosphate dosing, electrolytic scale
reducers or water softeners. The relevant
standard for water treatment is BS 7593:2006
Code of practice for treatment of water in
domestic hot water central heating systems.
BS 7593 notes that naturally soft waters of low
alkalinity or those supplied via a base-exchange
resin softener have an increased potential
for corrosion, and, if they are used in any
central heating system, a corrosion inhibitor
specically formulated for the purpose
should be added and properly maintained.
Manufacturers should be consulted for advice,
paying particular attention to dosage levels.
Special radiator valves are available that will
seal off the radiator as well as the heating
circuit to prevent loss of inhibitor when
removing a radiator for service or maintenance.
3.0
Commissioning
a. Manufacturers instructions for commissioning
should be followed and a commissioning record
should be completed to show compliance.
how to operate the system in an energy
efcient manner, and leave behind any user
manuals provided by manufacturers.
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Table 17 Recommended minimum controls for electric wet central heating systems
[1]
1.0
Boiler
temperature
control
a. The boiler should be tted with a ow temperature control and be capable of modulating the
power input to the primary water depending on space heating conditions.
2.0
Boiler interlock
a. If the boiler supplies domestic hot water, system controls should be wired so that when there is
no demand for space heating or hot water, the boiler and pump are switched off.
3.0
Zoning
2
should have at least two space heating zones, each with
an independently controlled heating circuit
[2]
.
[3]
150 m
2
[4]
.
4.0
Control of space
heating
i. independent time control and either:
[5]
served
by the heating circuit, together with individual radiator controls such as thermostatic radiator
valves (TRVs) on all radiators outside the reference rooms, or
5.0
Control of hot
water
a. Domestic hot water circuits supplied from a boiler and hot water store should be provided with:
ii. electric temperature control using, for example, a cylinder thermostat and a zone valve or
three-port valve. (If the use of a zone valve is not appropriate, as with thermal stores, a second
pump could be substituted for the zone valve.)
Notes
stairwells.
More details on control systems can be found in manufacturers literature and on The Association of Controls
Manufacturers (TACMA) website at www.heatingcontrols.org.uk.
Controls may be provided by any boiler management control system that meets the specied zoning, timing and
temperature and boiler interlock control requirements.
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Table 18 Recommended minimum standards for hot water storage in electric wet central
heating systems
Minimum standard
1.0
Vented systems,
including cylinders
heated primarily
by electricity
a. Vented copper hot water storage vessels should comply with BS 1566-1:2002 or BS 3198:1981.
b. Vented cylinders in materials other than copper should also be labelled as complying with the
heat loss requirements of BS 1566-1:2002.
c. For vented replacements, electrically heated combination units should be insulated such that the
heat loss does not exceed the value Q1.28(0.20.051V
2/3
) kWh/day, where V is the nominal
cylinder volume in litres. This applies to electrically heated combination units as well as other
electrically heated cylinders.
d. In vented new systems, electrically heated combination units should be insulated such that the
heat loss does not exceed the value Q1.15(0.20.051V
2/3
) kWh/day, where V is the nominal
cylinder volume in litres. This applies to electrically heated combination units as well as other
electrically heated cylinders.
2.0
Unvented systems,
including cylinders
heated primarily
by electricity
a. Products should comply with BS EN 12897:2006 or an equivalent standard.
b. Cylinders heated primarily by electricity should be insulated such that their heat loss does not
exceed Q1.15(0.20.051V
2/3
) kWh/day, where V is the nominal cylinder volume in litres. This
applies to electrically heated combination units as well as other electrically heated cylinders.
3.0
Vented and
unvented systems,
including cylinders
heated primarily
by electricity
a. Cylinders should either be factory tted with, or have provision for, two thermostatically
controlled electrical heating elements or immersion heaters.
b. The lower element should be capable of heating up at least 85% of the cylinder contents.
c. The upper element should be capable of heating at least 60 litres of water.
d. The lower element should be connected to utilise the off peak electricity tariff and the upper for
boost operation.
e. The vessel should be designed such that following reheating to 60C from the off peak element, at
least 80% of the contents can be drawn off at 45C or above at a ow rate of 0.25 l/s.
4.0
Primary stores
a. Primary storage systems should meet the insulation requirements of the Hot Water Association
Performance specication for thermal stores.
b. Unvented hot water storage products should comply with a relevant standard as set by an
accredited test body such as the British Board of Agrment, the Water Research Council or KIWA.
5.0
Labelling
a. All hot water storage vessels should carry a label with the following information:
i. type of vessel
iv. heat exchanger performance in kW.
b. Vented copper hot water cylinders should carry clear labelling on the product such as a BSI
Kitemark, registered rm status or reference to an equivalent quality control scheme.
c. Vented cylinders which are not of copper construction should be labelled as complying with the
heat loss and heat exchanger requirements of BS 1566-1.
d. For labelling of hot water storage vessels in solar thermal systems, see Section 11.
BS 1566-1:2002 Copper indirect cylinders for domestic purposes. Open vented copper cylinders. Requirements and test methods.
BS 3198:1981 Specication for copper hot water storage combination units for domestic purposes.
BS EN 12897:2006 Water supply. Specication for indirectly heated unvented (closed) storage water heaters.
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Table 19 Recommended minimum standards for insulation of pipework in central heating
systems with electric boilers
elements.
8
10
12
15
22
28
35
42
54
7.06
7. 23
7. 35
7.89
9. 1 2
10.07
1 1 .08
12. 1 9
14. 1 2
available in:
to +700C.
2002 edition.
4.3 Electric heating systems (other than electric boilers serving central heating)
This section provides guidance on the following types of xed electric heating systems:
electric warm air systems
electric panel heaters
electric storage systems including integrated storage/direct systems.
Portable, plug-in appliances are not covered by this guide.
Fixed electric heating systems (other than with electric boilers) should meet the minimum standards for
time and temperature control in Table 20.
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Table 20 Recommended minimum controls for primary and secondary electric heating systems
(other than with electric boilers)
System Control type Minimum standard
Supplementary
information
Warm air 1.0
Time and
temperature
control, integral
to the heater or
external
a. Systems should be provided with:
i. a time switch/programmer and room thermostat, or
ii. a programmable room thermostat.
2.0
Zone control
2
should have
at least two space heating zones with independent
temperature control, one of which is assigned to the
living area.
2
should have
at least two space heating zones with independent
temperature and time control. Time control may be
provided using:
i. multiple heating zone programmers, or
ii. a single multi-channel programmer, or
iii. programmable room thermostats, or
iv. separate timers to each circuit, or
v. a combination of (iii) and (iv) above.
c. In single-storey, open-plan dwellings in which the living
area is greater than 70% of the total oor area, sub-
zoning of temperature control is not appropriate.
Panel heaters 3.0
Local time and
temperature
control
a. Time control should be by a programmable time switch
integrated into the appliance or by a separate time
switch.
b. Individual temperature control should be by integral
thermostats or by separate room thermostats or
programmable room thermostats.
Panel heaters provide
instantaneous heat.
Storage
heaters
4.0
Charge control
a. Automatic control of input charge should be provided. Charge control is the
ability to detect the
internal temperature
and adjust the
charging of the
heater accordingly.
5.0
Temperature
control
a. Temperature control should be by adjusting the rate
of heat release from the appliance, using an adjustable
damper or other thermostatically-controlled method.
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This section provides guidance on meeting the energy efciency standards in the Building Regulations
for the following types of solid fuel heating appliances and systems used to deliver primary and
secondary heating:
batch-fed open res
batch-fed and automatic-feed dry room heaters/stoves
batch-fed log and multi-fuel appliances
automatic-feed pellet stoves with and without boilers
batch-fed and automatic-feed room heaters with boilers
batch-fed cookers with boilers not exceeding 7.5 kW
batch-fed independent boilers and automatic-feed anthracite, wood pellet, wood chip and wood log
red independent boilers
central heating systems using certain types of solid fuel appliances.
The guidance covers the following types of solid fuel: coal, anthracite, manufactured smokeless fuel,
dual-fuel, wood logs, wood pellets and wood chips.
5.2 Solid fuel appliances for primary heating
Solid fuel appliances provided with new systems or as replacements in existing systems for primary
heating in dwellings should have an efciency (gross caloric value) not less than specied in Table 21 for
that category of appliance.
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Table 21 Solid fuel appliance categories and recommended minimum efficiencies
Category Appliance description
Minimum efficiency
(gross calorific value) Feed
B1 Simple open re inset 37% Batch
B2 Open re freestanding convector 47% Batch
B3 Open re inset convector 45% (mineral fuels)
43% (wood fuels)
C1/2 Open re and boiler inset or freestanding 50% Batch
D1/2/3 Open rehigh output boiler trapezium and
rectangular grates
63% Batch
D4 Open rehigh output boiler rectangle 63% Batch
E1 Dry room heater (dry stove) 65% Batch/
auto
E2 Dry room heater wood logs only 65% Batch
E3 Dry room heater multi-fuel 65% Batch
E4 Dry room heater pellet stove 65% part load
70% nominal load
Auto
F Room heater with boiler 67% (mineral fuels and wood logs)
70% (wood pellets part load)
75% (wood pellets nominal load)
Batch/
auto
G1 Cooker without boiler not exceeding 3.5 kW 65% (mineral fuels)
55% (wood fuels)
Batch
G2 Cooker with heating boiler exceeding 3.5 kW 65% (mineral fuels)
60% (wood fuels)
Batch
J2 Independent boiler wood logs only 75% Batch
J3 Independent boiler multi-fuel 65% (mineral fuels)
75% (wood logs)
Batch
J4 Independent boiler anthracite 70% up to 20.5 kW
75% above 20.5 kW
Auto
J5 Independent boiler wood/pellets/chips 75% nominal load
70% part load
Auto
Slow heat release appliances 65% Batch
One-off tiled/mortared stoves 70% Batch
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Minimum efciencies
Minimum efciencies for solid fuel appliances are published in the Ofcial guide to HETAS approved solid fuel products
and services, and on the website www.hetas.co.uk. Manufacturers efciency gures may be higher than those indicated and
should be used where independently certied against the harmonised European Standards now in place.
Carbon emission factors
Solid fuels include wood in various forms, different types of coal, and manufactured solid fuels, and consequently there is
a range of associated CO
2
emission factors. These factors are as important as appliance efciency when selecting a boiler.
CO
2
emission factors (kgCO
2
/kWh) for generic types of solid fuel given in SAP 2012 Table 12 are:
House coal: traditional British coal, burns with smoky ame
Anthracite: mineral fuel with high carbon content, burns very cleanly
Manufactured smokeless fuel: mineral fuel usually made from anthracite
Wood logs: renewable wood logs either purchased or from own land
Wood pellets in bags: mechanically compressed sawdust
Bulk wood pellets: as above, delivered in bulk
Wood chips: chipped wood, processed on site
Dual-fuel: UK typical blend of logs and mineral fuel as burnt on a dual-fuel stove
0.394
0.394
0.433
0.019
0.039
0.039
0.016
0.226
Smoke control
Within local authority smoke control areas, only anthracite or other authorised smokeless fuels may be used, unless the
property is tted with an exempted appliance. An exempted appliance is one that has been approved by Parliamentary
Statutory Instrument for installation in smoke control areas and prospective purchasers should check that the appliance
and intended fuel are permitted. A list of currently authorised fuels and exempted appliances is given on the web site
www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk.
Outside a smoke control area, house coal or wood can be burnt on non-exempted appliances. Wood should always
be seasoned to a moisture content appropriate to the design and performance of the appliance, for example not exceeding
20% in log wood, to ensure maximum performance and limit the occurrence of condensation and deposits in the chimney
system.
All solid fuel appliances require appropriate soot-re resistant chimneys discharging at high level locations as dened
within the Building Regulations. Details of HETAS-approved chimney products independently tested and approved to
accepted standards can be found on the HETAS website. The natural ventilation rates of these chimneys may be less than
the default values listed within SAP 2012; the use of these more accurate values will reduce SAP calculated CO
2
emissions.
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5.3 Central heating systems using certain types of solid fuel appliances
This section provides guidance on the following types of solid fuel appliance used to deliver primary
heating as part of a central heating system:
batch-fed open res with high output boilers (appliance types D1 to D4 in Table 21)
batch-fed and automatic-feed room heaters and stoves with boilers (appliance type F in Table 21)
batch-fed cookers with boilers (appliance type G2 in Table 21)
batch-fed independent boilers and automatic-feed anthracite, wood log, wood pellet and wood
chip-red independent boilers (appliance types J2 to J5 in Table 21).
Unless stated otherwise, the guidance applies equally to appliances that burn wood, wood pellets, house
coal, manufactured smokeless fuels and anthracite.
For central heating systems with a solid fuel appliance installed as part of a new system or as a
replacement component in an existing system:
a. the appliance should be from HETAS categories D, F, G and J in Table 21 and have a minimum
efciency (gross caloric value) which is not less than the value specied for its category
b. the ratio of room heat to water heat should be appropriate for the room and total property. This will
require reference to installation practice guidelines and calculation of room and property heat loss.
Advice on this is given in the HETAS guide and website referred to earlier
c. circulation, fuel storage, hot water storage, system preparation, water treatment and commissioning
should be to the standards in Table 22
d. control of heating and hot water circuits should be to the standards in Table 23
e. pipework should be insulated to the standards in Table 24.
Turn-down values (i.e. the ratio of high to low output)
Turn-down ratios are generally very good (10:1) for automatic-feed appliances with small re beds.
Turn-down ratios are less good with large batch-fed appliances unless the latter are used in conjunction with a hot water
accumulator.
Automatic appliances are likely to require less frequent refuelling. Automatic (e.g. electric or gas) ignition is now available for
certain designs and reduces energy usage at times of low demand by allowing boiler interlock.
Some boilers have both auto-ignition and re-extinguishing features.
Link-up systems
It is possible to connect together two or more heating appliances with boilers (at least one of which can be solid fuel-red) to
maximise exibility and efciency. For example, an oil or gas boiler could be combined with a wood burning stove with boiler
sited in the living room. This combination with wood burning appliances will reduce overall carbon emissions. Both systems
should be designed to appropriate installation codes.
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Table 22 Recommended minimum standards for system circulation, fuel storage, hot water
storage, system preparation and commissioning for solid fuel central heating
1.0
System circulation
a. Where boiler interlock is available, fully pumped
circulation should be chosen.
b. The manufacturers instructions on the sizing and
positioning of heat leak radiators should be followed.
c. Solid fuel appliances should not be tted to sealed
heating systems with expansion vessels, except where
specically permitted by the manufacturer or where
a thermal storage interface device is used.
Most solid fuel central heating systems
require a heat leak radiator to dissipate
heat from the smouldering re bed. This
is commonly the bathroom towel-rail and
a thermosiphon system may be used for
this circuit. In some cases a fully pumped
system reduces efciency and should not
be used.
2.0
Fuel storage
a. Provision should be made for storage of reasonable
quantities of fuel in a convenient and dry location.
The size of the storage will depend upon the
requirement of the house.
No minimum quantity of fuel is specied
for solid mineral fuel but bunkers greater
than 250 kg are preferred as below this
householders are likely to pay a delivery
premium.
3.0
Hot water storage
a. Vented copper hot water storage vessels should
comply with the heat loss and heat exchanger
requirements of BS 1566-1:2002 or BS 3198:1981.
b. Vented cylinders in materials other than copper
should comply with the heat loss and heat exchanger
requirements of BS 1566-1.
c. Unvented hot water storage system products should
comply with BS EN 12897:2006 or an equivalent
standard.
d. Unvented systems should not be used with gravity
circulation.
e. Primary storage systems should meet the insulation
requirements of section 4.3.1 or 4.3.2 of the Hot Water
Association Performance specication for thermal stores.
f. Combination cylinders should comply with BS 3198
and in addition have a heat loss not exceeding
1.6(0.20.51V
2/3
) kWh/day, where V is the volume
of the hot water part of the cylinder in litres.
g. All hot water storage vessels should carry a label with
the following information:
i. type of vessel
iv. type of vessel
v. heat exchanger performance in kW.
h. Vented copper hot water cylinders should carry
clear labelling on the product such as a BSI Kitemark,
registered rm status or reference to an equivalent
quality control scheme.
Primary hot water stores
These can have a major role to play in
the installation of solid fuel. The main
reason for their use is to store the heat
generated during slumber periods but
where unvented storage cylinders are
used they also provide mains pressure hot
water and possible frost protection (via
electric immersion heaters) for the solid
fuel system. Domestic hot water outlet
temperature is to be controlled at a safe
level. Because of the higher than normal
storage temperatures it is very important
that stores are well insulated.
available for free download from
www.hotwater.org.uk.
British Standards
BS 3198:1981 Specication for copper
hot water storage combination units for
domestic purposes.
BS EN 12897:2006 Water supply.
Specication for indirectly heated
unvented (closed) storage water heaters.
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Table 22 Recommended minimum standards for system circulation, fuel storage, hot water
storage, system preparation and commissioning for solid fuel central heating
4.0
System
preparation and
water treatment
cleaned and ushed out before installing a new
boiler.
b. During nal lling of the system a chemical water
treatment formulation should be added to the
primary circuit to control corrosion and the
formation of scale and sludge. Reasonable provision
would be to follow the guidance on how to prepare
and commission systems given in BS 7593:2006 Code
of practice for treatment of water in domestic hot
water central heating systems.
200 parts per million, provision should be made to
treat the feed water to water heaters and the hot
water circuit to reduce the rate of accumulation of
limescale.
BS 7593 notes that naturally soft waters
of low alkalinity or those supplied via
a base-exchange resin softener have an
increased potential for corrosion, and,
if they are used in any central heating
system, a corrosion inhibitor specically
formulated for the purpose should
be added and properly maintained.
Manufacturers should be consulted for
advice, paying particular attention to
dosage levels.
Special radiator valves are available that
will seal off the radiator as well as the
heating circuit to prevent loss of inhibitor
when removing a radiator for service or
maintenance.
A lter can also be tted to the central
heating circuit to help maintain the
efciency and reliability of the system.
5.0
Commissioning
a. On completion of the installation of a boiler or
hot water storage system, together with associated
equipment such as pipework, pumps and controls,
the equipment should be commissioned in
accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
These instructions will be specic to the particular
boiler or hot water storage system used.
b. The installer should explain fully to the user how to
operate the system in an energy efcient manner,
and leave behind any user manuals provided by
manufacturers.
Only persons who are competent should
carry out the installation, e.g. installers
who are registered with HETAS. Such
persons will certify that they have carried
out installation and commissioning
in accordance with requirements in
the Building Regulations and in the
manufacturers instructions (which may
be more stringent).
Note that the delivery of wood or coal
without appropriate documentation into
a smoke-control area is an offence under
the Clean Air Act.
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Table 23 Recommended minimum controls for solid fuel central heating systems
Minimum standard
All appliances, except open res
1.0
Burning rate
a. Thermostatic control of the burning rate.
Automatic-feed appliances
2.0
Zoning
2
should have at least two space heating zones with
independent temperature control, one of which is assigned to the living area.
2
should have at least two space heating zones with
independent temperature and time control.
c. For single-storey, open-plan dwellings in which the living area is greater than 70% of the total
oor area, sub-zoning of temperature control is not appropriate.
3.0
Time control of
space and water
heating
a. Time control of space and water heating should be provided by:
i. a full programmer with separate timing to each circuit, or
ii. two or more separate timers providing timing control to each circuit, or
iii. programmable room thermostats to the heating circuits, with separate timing of the hot
water circuit.
4.0
Temperature control
of space heating
a. Separate temperature control of zones within the dwelling should be provided using:
i. room thermostats or programmable room thermostats in all zones, or
ii. a room thermostat or programmable room thermostat in the main zone, and individual
radiator controls such as thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), or
iii. a combination of (i) and (ii) above.
5.0
Temperature control
of domestic hot
water
a. A cylinder thermostat and a zone valve or three-port valve should be tted to control the
temperature of stored hot water.
b. Non-electric hot water controllers should not be used.
c. Where permitted by the manufacturer, the cylinder thermostat should be wired to provide a
boiler interlock.
Boiler interlock, provided by a wiring arrangement to prevent the system from operating when there is no demand for heat,
should only be tted if recommended by the manufacturer.
In some simple batch-fed or automatic appliances (without heat stores or without automatic ignition), it is not possible
to switch off the heat output completely, but the appliance output can be lowered to a minimum to reduce fuel
consumption.
In most solid fuel systems the room thermostat will switch off the pump, which in turn will cause the boiler to operate at
minimum output.
Some automatic solid fuel systems can be tted with weather compensation, and incorporate multi-zone control. It is
important to seek guidance from the manufacturer, especially if the heating package is to include other fuels.
Controls may be provided by any boiler management control system that meets the specied zoning, timing and
temperature, and boiler interlock control requirements.
The level of sophistication should generally be appropriate to and compatible with the appliance. The highest levels are
only appropriate to appliances with automatic ignition.
As far as it is practicable and economic to do so when working on existing systems, controls should be upgraded to the
levels dened for new systems.
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Table 24 Recommended minimum standards for insulation of pipework in solid fuel central
heating systems
i. Primary circulation pipes for heating circuits should be
insulated wherever they pass outside the heated living
space or through voids which communicate with and
are ventilated from unheated spaces.
elements.
b. Whenever a boiler or hot water storage vessel is replaced
in an existing system, any pipes that are exposed as
part of the work or are otherwise accessible should be
insulated as recommended above or to some lesser
standard where practical constraints dictate.
8
10
12
15
22
28
35
42
54
7.06
7. 23
7. 35
7.89
9. 1 2
10.07
1 1 .08
12. 1 9
14. 1 2
In assessing the thickness of insulation required,
standardised conditions should be assumed in all
compliance calculations, based on a horizontal pipe at 60C
in still air at 15C.
It may be necessary to protect central heating and hot
water pipework in unheated areas against freezing.
Guidance is available in:
to +700C.
2002 edition.
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5.4 Solid fuel appliances for secondary heating
Solid fuel appliances in new and existing dwellings that provide secondary heating and are not part of a
central heating system should have the minimum efciency (gross caloric value) specied in Table 21 for
the category of appliance.
Minimum efciencies
Minimum efciencies for solid fuel appliances are published in the Ofcial guide to HETAS approved solid fuel products
and services, and on the website www.hetas.co.uk. Manufacturers gures may be higher but should be used only where
independently certied against the harmonised European Standards now in place.
Appliance types
The types of appliance most suitable for providing secondary heating are:
Open-re with high output boiler, when used with link-up
Small solid fuel room heaters (stoves), especially wood-red
These can be a dedicated wood burner or burn logs in a multi-fuel appliance or use pellets. They can be matched with
a main heating system red by the same or a different primary fuel or off-peak electricity to reduce carbon emissions,
especially wood-red, with or without thermostatic control. Many designs can provide heating during power cuts. Mineral
fuel appliances can be chosen but the attention of designers is drawn to the probable need to supply additional measures,
as the carbon emission values of these tend to be high. Mineral fuel appliances may often have slightly higher efciencies
than their wood burning counterparts. Multi-fuel room heaters can enable the user to burn renewable wood as well as an
alternative to mineral fuels outside smoke control areas.
Small solid fuel stoves with boilers
The efciency of these can be higher than that of dry appliances. They can be integrated with the primary wet heating
system. Multi-fuel appliances enable the householder to burn renewable wood outside smoke control areas.
Range cookers
Typically appliances which are installed in a living area and are designed to provide some useful heat from their case into
the space in which they are located. They are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and can incorporate a boiler which
can be connected to dual-fuel integrated systems (e.g. link-up). Multi-fuel versions are also available.
Open res (HETAS categories B1, B2 and B3)
Where requested, these can be tted. They do not have thermostatic control of the burning rate and so have lower
efciencies, but they are able to burn wood logs with correspondingly low net carbon emissions. It must be stressed that
large open res with a large free face area (opening width times opening height) usually have a need for ventilation well in
excess of that available in a property built to modern standards of air tightness. This is likely to lead to severe operational
problems unless special steps are taken to provide the required air supply. The use of such large (simple) open res is
penalised in the SAP calculations.
Controls
Wherever possible, solid fuel appliances should have thermostatic control. (These are usually integral to appliances in
categories E, F and G.) Controls should be appropriate to the level of sophistication of the appliance; automatic appliances
can benet from advanced controls.
Provision of fuel storage
The quantity of fuel consumed by secondary heating appliances is likely to be less than 1 tonne per year. However it should
be stored in a dry and convenient location.
Smoke control areas
The location of the appliance within or without a smoke control area is critical to the process of optimising the choice of
appliance and fuel.
For further information on solid fuel appliances, see CE47 Energy Efciency Best Practice in Housing Domestic heating by
solid fuel: Boiler systems.
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Standards
BS EN 12809:2001+A1:2004+AC:2006/2007 Residential independent boilers red by solid fuel. Nominal output up to 50 kW.
Requirements and test methods.
BS EN 12815:2001+A1:2004/2006/2007 Residential cookers red by solid fuel. Requirements and test methods.
BS EN 13229:2001+A1:2003+A2:2004+AC:2006/2007 Inset appliances including open res red by solid fuel.
BS EN 13240:2001+A2:2004+AC2006/2007 Room heaters red by solid fuel. Requirements and test methods.
BS EN 15250:2007 Slow heat release appliances red by solid fuel. Requirements and test methods.
BS EN 15544:2009 One-off tiled/mortared stoves. Calculation method.
BS EN 14785:2006 Residential space heating appliances red by wood pellets.
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This section provides guidance on the specication of community heating systems for dwellings to meet
relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations.
A community heating system is one that supplies heat to a number of dwellings from a common heat
source. A system may heat a small block of ats or a large number of buildings.
The guidance in this section applies to systems that:
supply 15 or more dwellings from a central boiler, or from a low carbon source such as combined heat
and power (CHP), biofuels, heat pumps and solar panels
distribute heat from the central source using a wet radiator system (although warm air heating and
underoor heating systems may also be used).
Metering requirements for community heating schemes are being introduced, starting in June 2014,
as a result of the EU Energy Efciency Directive. See the DECC website for details of the requirements
and the technical standards that apply (for example on meter specications):
https://www.gov.uk/decc.
6.2 New and existing community heating schemes
The central heat source should comply with the requirements in the Non-Domestic Building Services
Compliance Guide except where specied in this section.
Guidance is provided for two scenarios:
connecting dwellings to a new community heating scheme
connecting dwellings to an existing community heating scheme.
Connecting dwellings to a new community heating scheme
New community heating systems for both new and existing dwellings should meet the minimum
standards for:
a. energy efciency in Table 25
b. low carbon heat sources in Table 26
c. system control in Table 27
d. hot water production, storage and treatment, heat metering and commissioning in Table 28
e. insulation of pipework in Table 29 and Table 30.
Connecting dwellings to an existing community heating scheme
Where existing community heating systems are connected to new or existing dwellings:
a. If the existing community heating system is in need of replacement or improvement, a study should
be carried out to assess the economic and environmental benets of a range of options, including
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the use of CHP and other low carbon heat sources, especially where individual heating systems are
being considered as an alternative to continuing with the community heating system.
b. Replacement boilers should meet the minimum standards for boiler efciency in the Non-
Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide (available from www.planningportal.gov.uk/
approveddocuments/PartL > Associated documents).
c. If thermal energy is purchased from an existing district or community heating system, an assessment
of the carbon intensity of the scheme should be carried out. Emission factors should be determined
based on the particular details of the scheme, but should take account of the annual average
performance of the whole system that is, of the distribution circuits and all the heat generating
plant, including any CHP, and any waste heat recovery or heat dumping. The calculation of the
dwelling carbon dioxide emission rate should be carried out by a suitably qualied person, who
should explain how the emission factors were derived.
d. Controls should meet the minimum standards in Table 27.
e. Pipework insulation should meet the minimum standards in Table 29 and Table 30.
Table 25 Recommended minimum standards for the design of community heating systems to
maximise efficiency of heat generation and minimise energy use by pumps
1.0
Boilers
a. Boiler-only community heating
systems for new dwellings may
be used provided that the target
carbon dioxide emission rate (TER)
for the dwelling is not exceeded.
b. Boilers should be selected to
comply with the boiler efciency
requirements of the Non-Domestic
Building Services Compliance Guide.
When calculating the carbon dioxide emission rate, the type
and quantity of fuel used and also the electricity needed to
operate the central plant and pumps should be taken into
account.
For systems using condensing boilers:
To achieve high boiler efciency, return temperatures from
radiator circuits should be below 50C.
Where instantaneous plate heat exchangers are used
to produce hot water in individual dwellings the return
temperature selected should be less than 40C.
Where hot water cylinders are used the coil size should
be such as to require a ow rate that results in a nominal
return temperature of less than 40C while meeting the
required heat-up time.
Where hot water is produced centrally (e.g. in each block
of dwellings) return temperatures should be below 40C.
2.0
Controlling the
sequencing and
ring of boilers
a. Controls for boilers should follow
the guidance in the Non-Domestic
Building Services Compliance Guide,
but without optimum start.
Setting occupation times is not generally possible for a
group of dwellings and so optimum start controls are not a
recommendation.
3.0
Minimising
energy use by
pumps
a. For new community heating systems,
the design temperature difference
for the community heating primary
circuit should be greater than 20C.
b. Variable volume control systems
should be used to reduce the
volume of water and the pressure
difference required from the pumps
under part load.
Pumping energy can be minimised by optimising operating
temperatures and pipe sizes to reduce installed pump power.
To take full advantage of variable volume systems, variable
speed pumps should be installed and controlled to deliver
the required pressure difference to suit the load.
Further guidance is provided in BSRIA Application Guide AG
16/2002 Variable-ow water systems: design, installation
and commissioning guidance.
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Table 26 Recommended minimum standards for design of low carbon heat sources where these
are included in community heating systems
1.0
Low carbon heat
sources
a. No minimum standard, but see
Supplementary information.
Community heating systems can be designed to use low
carbon heat sources to meet all or part of the heat demand,
which may enable some relaxation of the U-values that would
otherwise be required.
2.0
Biofuels
Biofuels can be used to provide heat from boiler systems or as
a fuel for CHP systems.
Consideration should be given to operation and maintenance
of the plant to ensure a long life and to prevent a later
replacement by a conventional fuel system.
Where a biofuel boiler is to be used in conjunction with
conventionally fuelled heating boilers or electric heating, a
reasonable minimum proportion of the annual heat supply
from biofuels would be 45% of the annual heat demand (space,
domestic hot water and process heating).
3.0
Combined heat
and power (CHP)
a. Where CHP is used in
conjunction with boiler
plant, the control system
should ensure that, as far as
is practicable, the CHP plant
operates as the lead heat
source.
CHP capacity should be optimised to meet the required
economic and environmental objectives.
A reasonable minimum proportion of the annual heat supply
from CHP would be 45% of the annual heat demand (space and
domestic hot water heating).
To maximise the use of CHP heat over the year, consideration
should be given to the use of thermal storage to meet peaks,
especially in the early morning period.
The procedure given in SAP 2012 should be used to calculate
the carbon dioxide emissions from CHP systems.
4.0
Heat pumps
Heat pumps can be used as a heat source for community
heating systems. Selection of operating temperatures to
optimise the efciency of the community heating system and
achieve high COPs is important if carbon dioxide emissions are
to be reduced. This may involve the use of underoor heating
and the provision of domestic hot water by other means.
Where heat pumps are installed in conjunction with heating
boilers, a reasonable minimum proportion of the annual heat
supply from the heat pump would be 45% of the annual space
heating demand.
5.0
Solar
Solar thermal panels can be used as the heat source for a
centralised domestic hot water system.
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Table 27 Recommended minimum controls for community heating systems within dwellings
Control type Minimum standard Supplementary information
1.0
Zoning
2
should
have at least two space heating zones with
independent temperature control, one of which is
assigned to the living area.
2
should
have at least two space heating zones with
independent temperature and time control.
In single-storey, open-plan dwellings in
which the living area is greater than 70%
of the total oor area, sub-zoning of
temperature control is not appropriate.
2.0
Time control of
space heating
a. Time control of space heating may be provided by:
i. a full programmer, or
ii. two or more separate timers providing timing
control to each zone, or
iii. programmable room thermostats to the heating
circuits.
b. For dwellings with a total oor area 150 m
2
, time
control for the separate space heating zones can be
provided using:
i. multiple heating zone programmers, or
ii. a single multi-channel programmer.
Where the hot water is produced
instantaneously, such as with a plate heat
exchanger, time control is only required
for space heating zones.
Time control of domestic hot water
heating using a cylinder is not considered
essential for community heating and
could be a disadvantage with CHP-based
systems, increasing the morning peak
demand and hence causing more use of
the boiler than necessary.
3.0
Temperature
control of space
heating
a. Separate temperature control of zones within the
dwelling should be provided using:
i. room thermostats or programmable room
thermostats in all zones, or
ii. a room thermostat or programmable room
thermostat in the main zone, and individual
radiator controls such as thermostatic radiator
valves (TRVs) on all radiators in the other zones, or
iii. a combination of (i) and (ii) above.
Control valves and TRVs should be two-
port type to reduce ow rates under
part load.
Differential pressures across control valves
and TRVs should be limited to ensure that
the control valves work effectively and
maintain shut-off.
4.0
Temperature
control of
domestic hot
water
a. Temperature control of the domestic hot water
service should be provided using two-port control
valves, either electrically operated or direct-acting.
Where instantaneous heat exchangers are
used the control valve should be selected
to maintain steady temperatures
( 5C) for a range of draw-off rates and
primary differential pressures. To reduce
the incidence of scaling, the control valve
should shut off the primary ow when
there is no domestic hot water draw off.
A small intermittent ow is an advantage
to maintain the temperature within the
heat exchanger so as to provide more
rapid heat up.
5.0
Limitation of
maximum ow
rate into building
or dwelling
a. The maximum design ow rate into the dwelling
heating system should be limited by suitable
control and balancing valves to maintain the overall
balance in the network and to avoid excessive
pumping energy.
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Table 28 Recommended minimum standards for domestic hot water (DHW) production, storage
and water treatment, heat meters and commissioning for community heating
1.0
DHW production
and storage
a. The hot water system should be
controlled using variable volume control
principles and be designed to maintain
low return temperatures in the primary
community heating circuit.
Hot water can be produced in four ways in
community heating systems:
in individual dwellings using indirect storage
cylinders
in individual dwellings using instantaneous plate
heat exchangers
centrally using storage caloriers with either an
indirect coil or an external plate heat exchanger
centrally using an instantaneous plate heat
exchanger.
In selecting the system, consideration should be
given to:
the impact on return temperatures in the
community heating system
the impact on ow rates in the community
heating system
the impact on heat demand proles and
compatibility with the heat source
standing losses from storage cylinders/caloriers
and the impact on energy use
the quality of service provided in terms of ow
rate and temperature control
the advantages of having local storage in terms of
security of supply.
Where the network is extensive and hot water
production is centralised, a two-stage water
heating system can be used to deliver low return
temperatures. In this design the return water from
the space heating circuit is used to pre-heat the cold
feed to the domestic hot water.
2.0
Water treatment
a. A suitable system for introduction of
water treatment chemicals into the
community heating system in a controlled
manner with facility for monitoring of
water quality should be provided.
A suitable long-term programme of water treatment
is essential to preserve the life of the community
heating system by limiting internal corrosion.
Additional chemical and physical treatment should
be evaluated especially for larger systems, including:
removal of oxygen by physical means
softened water supply
side-stream ltration
biocide.
3.0
Heat meters
a. Provision should be made in the design for
including heat meters either at the time
of installation or at a later date without
major pipework changes.
The Energy Efciency Directive will set stronger
requirements. For up-to-date information, see
https://www.gov.uk/decc
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Table 28 Recommended minimum standards for domestic hot water (DHW) production, storage
and water treatment, heat meters and commissioning for community heating (continued)
4.0
Commissioning
a. The community heating system should be
commissioned so that the design volume
ow rates are supplied to each dwelling
and there is no excessive bypassing of
water that would lead to higher pumping
energy use.
b. The ow rates in individual heat emitters
should be balanced using appropriate
return temperatures or by using calibrated
control valves.
c. The systems within the dwellings should
be demonstrated to the resident and
suitable information provided on the
operation of the controls.
Where the central heat source includes a low carbon
heat source, the control system should be proven by
demonstrating that the low carbon heat source will
normally act as the lead heat source.
Table 29 Recommended minimum standards for insulation of internal pipework in
community heating systems
i. Primary circulation pipes for heating circuits should be
insulated wherever they pass outside the heated living
space or through voids which communicate with and
are ventilated from unheated spaces.
elements.
b. Whenever a boiler or hot water storage vessel is replaced
in an existing system, any pipes that are exposed as
part of the work or are otherwise accessible should be
insulated as recommended above or to some lesser
standard where practical constraints dictate.
8
10
12
15
22
28
35
42
54
7.06
7. 23
7. 35
7.89
9. 1 2
10.07
1 1 .08
12. 1 9
14. 1 2
In assessing the thickness of insulation required,
standardised conditions should be assumed in all
compliance calculations, based on a horizontal pipe at 60C
in still air at 15C.
It may be necessary to protect central heating and hot
water pipework in unheated areas against freezing.
Guidance is available in:
to +700C.
2002 edition.
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Table 30 Recommended minimum standards for insulation of external pipework in
community heating systems
a. Community heating
pipework should
be insulated to the
standards dened in
BS EN 253 for pre-
insulated pipes or to an
equivalent performance
for conventionally
insulated pipes.
Community heating pipework typically uses pre-insulated buried pipe systems. Minimum
insulation thicknesses are dened in European standards. Where pipework is run above
ground the pipe insulation performance should be at least as high as that used in the buried
part of the system. Enhanced insulation standards should be evaluated where community
heating is supplied only from fossil-fuelled boilers or where ow temperatures over 100C
are being used.
Designing for minimum heat losses
Heat losses can be reduced by optimising operating temperatures in conjunction with the
need to minimise pumping energy. Variable volume control systems will assist in maintaining
low return temperatures. While some bypasses may be needed to maintain the system in a
hot condition ready to meet the demand, these should be controlled to the minimum ow
needed. The use of temperature controlled bypass valves where the bypass only operates
when ow temperature has dropped below a set level is recommended.
All pipework should be insulated to prevent uncontrolled heat loss when passing through
communal spaces that may otherwise suffer from overheating.
Good Practice Guide GPG 234 Guide to community heating and CHP Commercial, public and domestic applications.
Available from the Carbon Trust.
BS EN 13941:2009+A1:2010 Design and installation of pre-insulated bonded pipe systems for direct heating.
BS EN 14419:2009 District heating pipes. Pre-insulated bonded pipe systems for directly buried hot water networks.
Surveillance systems.
BS EN 253:2009+A1:2013 District heating pipes. Pre-insulated bonded pipe systems for directly buried hot water networks.
Pipe assembly of steel service pipe, polyurethane thermal insulation and outer casing of polyethylene.
BS EN 448:2009 District heating pipes. Pre-insulated bonded pipe systems for directly buried hot water networks. Fitting
assemblies of steel service pipes, polyurethane thermal insulation and outer casing of polyethylene.
BS EN 488:2011 District heating pipes. Pre-insulated bonded pipe systems for directly buried hot water networks. Steel valve
assembly for steel service pipes, polyurethane thermal insulation and outer casing of polyethylene.
BS EN 489:2009 District heating pipes. Pre-insulated bonded pipe systems for directly buried hot water networks. Joint
assembly for steel service pipes, polyurethane thermal insulation and outer casing of polyethylene.
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Section 7: Underfloor heating
This section provides guidance on the specication of underoor heating systems in new dwellings
to meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations.
The guidance covers the use of hot water pipes or electric heating elements as the underoor
heat source.
7.2 Underfloor heating in new dwellings
Underoor heating in new dwellings should meet the minimum standards for:
a. system control and safe operating temperatures in Table 31
b. oor insulation and system design to minimise distribution losses in Table 32
c. in the case of electric underoor heating systems in new dwellings, construction and controls
in Table 33.
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Table 31 Recommended minimum standards for control of wet and electric underfloor
heating systems
1.0
System
temperature
control:
wet and electric
underoor
heating systems
a. All oor heating systems, whether warm water or
electric, should be tted with controls to ensure safe and
comfortable operating temperatures.
b. To prevent damage to oors and occupant discomfort, the
temperature of the ow water from warm water systems
connected to a high temperature (60C) heat source
should be controlled using:
i. multi-port mixing valves and thermo-mechanical or
thermo-electric actuators
ii. a separate high-limit thermostat.
c. Electric oor heating systems should comply with the
rules in BS 7671:2008+A1:2011 Requirements for electrical
installations, Section 753, Floor and ceiling heating systems,
for protection against electric shock and thermal effects,
and for selection and installation of equipment.
Mixed systems with radiators and
underoor heating connected to
a common high temperature heat
source may benet from being
operated at the same low water
temperature.
For optimum long-term
efciency, consider using weather
compensating controllers with
thermo-electric mixing valves.
2.0
Room
temperature
control:
wet and electric
underoor
heating systems
a. Each room should have its own thermostat, sensor or
programmable thermostat.
b. Where two adjacent rooms have a similar function for
example a kitchen and a utility room it may be appropriate
for both rooms to share a single temperature control.
3.0
Time control:
wet and electric
underoor
heating systems
a. Dwellings with a total oor area up to 150 m
2
should
have at least two space heating zones with independent
temperature control, one of which is assigned to the
living area.
2
should have at
least two space heating zones with independent on/off time
and temperature control.
c. For single-storey, open-plan dwellings in which the living
area is greater than 70% of the total oor area, sub-zoning of
temperature control is not appropriate.
d. Thick screed oor heating systems (65 mm) should have
facilities for automatic setback of room temperature to a
lower level at night or during unoccupied periods.
Facilities for automatic setback of
room temperature to a lower level
at night or during unoccupied
periods are recommended for
both electric and warm water
systems.
4.0
Boiler control:
wet underoor
heating systems
only
a. The heating system controls should be connected so that
when there is no demand for heat, the heat source and
pump are switched off.
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Table 32 Recommended minimum standards for floor insulation and minimising distribution
losses in wet and electric underfloor heating systems
1.0
Exposed ground
oors
a. Ground oors on earth, or suspended oors in contact with
outside air, should be insulated to limit downward heat loss,
due to the thermal resistance of the applied oor nish, to not
more than 10 W/m
2
.
b. When heat output is not known but the oor nish is
specied, the amount of system thermal insulation needed
may be calculated based on the sum of the thermal resistance
of the oor nish and the underlying heated layer, multiplied
by 10.
c. Floor heating systems intended for cyclical operation or
installed over unheated rooms should be separated from the
structural oor by a layer of thermal insulation with a thermal
resistance of at least 1.25 (m
2
.
K)/W.
2.0
Intermediate
oors with heated
rooms below: wet
systems
a. The intermediate oor should have a separating layer of
system thermal insulation with thermal resistance as in 1.0 b
above, or not less than 0.75 (m
2
.
K)/W as specied in BS EN
1264-4.
Party oors of apartments
with underoor heating are
directly coupled to the heating
elements, so thermal insulation
is important. In high-rise
apartments, resistance values
may need to exceed those
specied.
3.0
Intermediate
oors with heated
rooms below:
electric systems
a. The intermediate oor should have a separating layer of
system thermal insulation with thermal resistance as in 1.0 b
above, or not less than 0.5 (m
2
.
K)/W.
4.0
System design
to minimise
distribution losses
a. Underoor heating distribution boards or warm water
distribution manifolds should be located centrally between
the rooms being heated, thus minimising the length of
interconnecting services.
b. Service pipes carrying hot water to more distant rooms should
be insulated or routed through conduits to reduce distribution
losses and the risk of overheating the room or oor nish.
5.0
System
commissioning
and corrosion
protection
Control of
oxidation, biolm,
scale and sludge
in warm water
heating systems
a. Commissioning warm water oor heating systems should
be carried out in accordance with BS EN 1264-4. Even where
plastic tubes contain oxygen gas barriers, the control of
corrosion in mixed product heating systems must be addressed
carefully.
b. After testing and ushing with clean water, the system
circulating uid should be treated with a suitable corrosion
inhibitor approved by the tube manufacturer and complying
with BS 7593:2006 or DIN 4726 (2008-2010), and applied
strictly in accordance with the additive manufacturers
instructions.
Standards
BS EN 1264-4:2009 Water based
surface embedded heating and
cooling systems. Installation.
BS 7593:2006 Code of practice
for treatment of water in
domestic hot water central
heating systems.
DIN 4726 (2008-2010) Warm
water surface heating systems
and radiator connecting
systems. Plastic piping systems
and multi layer piping systems.
Inhibitors should be BuildCert
approved or equivalent.
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Table 33 Recommended minimum standards for construction and control of electric underfloor
heating systems
Minimum standard
Electric storage systems
with individual room
or programmable
thermostats and low
tarif anticipatory
controls
1.0
Construction
a. Electric cable underoor heating low tariff night energy storage
systems should have a 65 mm minimum thickness screed for correct
operation.
b. Principal rooms containing 80% oor area should be assigned to low
tariff heating cables and 20% of the oor area should be assigned to
either direct-acting perimeter heating cables or systems such as ceiling
or panel heaters in order to maximise energy efciency.
Other areas should be assigned as low tariff heating cables only (subject
to heat requirements).
Bathrooms and separate kitchens may have direct-acting heating cables
(subject to heat requirements).
2.0
Controls
a. Anticipatory controllers should be installed controlling low tariff
input charge with external temperature sensing and oor temperature
sensing.
b. Programmable room thermostats with an override feature should be
provided for all direct-acting zones of the system with air and oor
temperature sensing capabilities to be used individually or combined.
Anticipatory controllers (i.e. weather compensators) reduce night energy
storage as a function of external temperature.
Electric cable, direct-
acting (non-storage)
systems with individual
room timer or
thermostat control in
screeded oors
3.0
Construction
a. Direct-acting electric underoor heating cables should be installed
within screeds of thickness not exceeding 60 mm.
b. All heated oors should be insulated in accordance with Table 32.
4.0
Controls
a. Programmable room thermostats with a manual override feature for all
heating zones with air or oor temperature sensing capabilities should
be used individually or combined.
Electric cable, direct-
acting systems with
individual room timer
or thermostat control in
timber oors
5.0
Construction
a. Direct-acting electric underoor heating cables installed below oor
boards in voids between oor joists should be insulated in accordance
with Table 32.
6.0
Controls
a. Programmable room thermostats with a manual override feature
should be provided to control space temperature and limit oor void
temperature for safety and comfort in each area.
Under-tile electric oor
heating systems
7.0
Construction
a. Direct-acting electric underoor heating cables should be provided
with a pre-fabricated mattress, or equivalent IEC 60800:2009 approved
heating cable product, of thickness less than 4 mm encapsulated in tile
bedding adhesive or mortar, below a ceramic or other equivalent oor
nish on a thermally resistive insulation layer as in Table 32 1.0 b.
8.0
Controls
a. Programmable room thermostats with a manual override feature should
be provided to control space temperature and limit oor temperature
for safety and comfort in each area.
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This section provides guidance on the specication of mechanical ventilation systems in dwellings to
meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations.
The guidance covers the following types of mechanical ventilation:
intermittent extract
continuous extract
continuous supply
continuous supply and extract with heat recovery.
8.2 Energy efficiency of mechanical ventilation systems
Mechanical ventilation systems should:
a. follow the guidance in the DCLG Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide
(available at www.planningportal.gov.uk/approveddocuments/PartF)
b. meet the minimum standards for specic fan power, heat recovery efciency and controls in Table 34
c. comply with European Commission Regulation No 327/2011 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC
with regard to ecodesign requirements for fans driven by motors with an electric input power
between 125 W and 500 kW.
Table 34 Recommended minimum standards for mechanical ventilation systems
Minimum standard
1.0
Fan power
a. Mechanical ventilation systems should be designed to minimise electric fan power. The specic
fan power (SFP) should be not worse than:
i. 0.5 W/(l
.
s) for intermittent extract ventilation systems
ii. 0.7 W/(l
.
s) for continuous extract ventilation systems
iii. 0.5 W/(l
.
s) for continuous supply ventilation systems
iv. 1.5 W/(l
.
s) for continuous supply and extract with heat recovery ventilation systems.
2.0
Heat recovery
efciency
a. The heat recovery efciency of balanced mechanical ventilation systems incorporating heat
recovery should be not worse than 70%.
3.0
Controls
a. Controls may be manual (i.e. operated by the occupant) or automatic.
GPG 268 Energy efcient ventilation in dwellings a guide for speciers.
British Standards
BS EN 15232:2012 Energy performance of buildings. Impact of building automation, controls and building management.
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This section provides guidance on the specication of heat pump systems in dwellings for the provision
of space heating and domestic hot water to meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building
Regulations.
A heat pump is a device which takes heat energy from a low temperature source and upgrades it to
a higher temperature at which it can be usefully employed for heating or hot water. Heat pumps may
supply all or part of the heating load.
The guidance in this section applies to the types of electrically-driven heat pump in Table 35 used as the
heat generator in underoor, warm air and medium temperature radiator heating systems, etc.
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Table 35 Heat pump technologies
Heat pump type
Warm water and
hot water systems Warm air systems
Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems
Heat energy is extracted from the ground using closed pipe loops buried
horizontally in trenches or in vertical boreholes that are connected back
to the GSHP. The uid circulating in the closed loop is normally a water/
propylene glycol antifreeze mixture or accepted equivalent but some
direct expansion GSHPs use refrigerant. Open loops may also be used
to collect water from an aquifer and discharge via a separate aquifer
downstream of the water table ow; systems of this type normally require
permits from the Environment Agency. Heat extracted from the ground
may be supplied to a dwelling either by a water-based heating system
(ground-to-water heat pump) or by an air distribution system (ground-to-
air heat pump).
Ground-to-water Ground-to-air
Water source heat pump (WSHP) systems
Heat energy is extracted indirectly from a water source using closed pipe
loops as a heat exchanger. The closed loop is connected back to the
water-to-water heat pump. The water source may be a lake, pond or river
or other stable water source. The uid circulating in the closed loop will
normally be water but a water/propylene glycol or accepted equivalent
antifreeze mixture may be used, depending on operating temperatures.
Open loops may also be used subject to the permits being obtained from
the Environment Agency. Heat may be supplied to the dwelling either by
a water-based heating system (water-to-water heat pump) or by an air
distribution system (water-to-air heat pump).
Water-to-water Water-to-air
Air source heat pump (ASHP) systems
Air source heat pumps extract heat directly from the ambient air. Heat is
supplied to the dwelling either by a water-based heating system (air-to-
water heat pump) or by an air distribution system (air-to-air heat pump). Air
source heat pumps may be single package or split systems.
Air-to-water Air-to-air
All heat pump systems are at their most efcient when the source temperature is as high as possible, the heat distribution
temperature is as low as possible and pressure losses in air and water systems are kept to a minimum. If installed in
a new dwelling, heat pumps should use refrigerants complying with the provisions of EC Regulation No 2037/2000.
Heat pumps should be CE marked in accordance with applicable EU directives: e.g. the machinery safety, low voltage,
pressure equipment and electromagnetic compatibility directives. If summer cooling is provided by the heat pump, it is
recommended that condensate drainage from the indoor units is provided.
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9.2 Key terms
Coefcient of performance (COP) is a measure of the efciency of a heat pump at specied source and
sink temperatures, but may not accurately represent installed performance:
Heating COPheat output / power input
% COP (COP100) is the heat generator efciency.
COP is measured in accordance with the procedures in BS EN 14511:2013, Air conditioners, liquid chilling
packages and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for space heating and cooling.
Seasonal coefcient of performance (SCOP) is the overall coefcient of performance of the heat pump
over the designated heating season. It makes general assumptions about the amount of auxiliary heating
needed to top up the space and water heating available from the heat pump.
SCOP is measured in accordance with the procedures in BS EN 14825:2013, Air conditioners, liquid chilling
packages and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for space heating and cooling. Testing and
rating at part load conditions and calculation of seasonal performance.
The National Calculation Methodology for calculating carbon dioxide emission rates from buildings uses
SCOP.
Seasonal performance factor (SPF) is another measure of the operating performance of an electric heat
pump over the season. It is the ratio of the heat delivered to the total electrical energy supplied over
the season, but there are up to seven different ways to draw the system boundaries. For example, SPF
H2

(which is SCOP) excludes auxiliary resistance heating whereas SPF
H4
includes it making a large
difference.
SAP 2012 calculations use SPF either measured values for products listed in the Product Characteristics
Database, or the default values in Table 4a for products not listed there.
The Microgeneration Certication Scheme installation standard, MIS 3005, uses SPF to calculate system
performance (although the heat pump product standard, MCS 007, currently species a minimum COP).
Seasonal primary energy efciency ratio (SPEER) is an emerging rating gure reecting the use of primary
energy for all types of heat pump, fossil fuel boiler and gas-driven cogeneration technologies, as well
as hybrid systems where solar heating or a heat pump is backed up with electric heating or a fossil fuel
boiler.
Energy labelling with the SPEER will be mandatory from 2015 under the Energy Labelling Directive. Testing
and rating will be in accordance with BS EN 14825, as for SCOP.
9.3 Warm water and hot water heat pumps
At the time of preparation of this guide, European Commission Regulation No 206/2012 sets standards
for the SCOP of electrically-driven air-to-air heat pumps with an output 12 kW. There are currently
no European test standards for part-load testing of air-to-air heat pumps with an output 12 kW or for
other types of heat pump, and the performance of these must be specied using COP obtained at the
heating system rating conditions.
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The current recommendations in this guide are that electrically-driven heat pumps should:
a. if air-to-air with an output 12 kW, have at least a SCOP D rating for the median temperature range
in BS EN 14825
b. or else have a COP which is not less than:
i. 2.5 for space heating in new dwellings
ii. 2.2 for space heating in existing dwellings
iii. 2.0 for heating domestic hot water
c. meet the minimum standards for supply temperature, wet system radiator efciency, installation and
commissioning, hot water and controls in Table 36 for warm water and hot water heat pumps
d. meet the minimum standards for installation and controls in Table 37 for warm air heat pumps.
Table 36 Recommended minimum standards for warm water and hot water heat pumps
(ground-to-water, water-to-water and air-to-water systems)
1.0
Supply
water temp-
eratures and
efciency
Underoor heating
a. Supply water temperatures to the underoor
heating system should be in the range 30C to
40C for new buildings and 30C to 55C for
existing systems.
See Section 7 of this guide on underoor heating.
Radiators
b. High-efciency radiators with high water
volume should be utilised.
c. Supply water temperature to the radiators
should be in the range 40C to 55C.
Space heating may be sized to meet all or part of
the space heating load. Secondary heating will be
required if the heat pump is sized to meet part of
the space heating load.
Fan coil units
d. Supply water temperature to the fan coil units
should be in the range 35C to 45C.
Fan coil units may be utilised for heating only or for
winter heating and summer cooling.
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(ground-to-water, water-to-water and air-to-water systems) (continued)
2.0
Installation
and
commission-
ing
a. The water distribution system should be
arranged for reverse return operation or
arranged with a low loss manifold system to
maximise efciency and ease commissioning
and future maintenance.
b. Pipework not contributing to the space heating
should be insulated to prevent heat loss,
following the guidance in the TIMSA guide.
c. If summer cooling is provided by the heat
pump, all water distribution pipework should
be insulated to prevent condensation, following
the guidance in the TIMSA guide.
d. External pipework between the dwelling and
the ground heat exchanger should be insulated,
following the TIMSA guidance.
e. The ground loop water circuit should be
protected with an antifreeze solution and
inhibitor as recommended by the heat pump
manufacturer.
f. Ground loops should be cleaned with a
cleaning uid and biocide as part of the
commissioning process.
g. The internal water distribution circuit should
contain an inhibitor and may be protected by
an antifreeze solution as recommended by the
heat pump manufacturer.
h. Ground loops should be lled with a heat
transfer uid. Installers should also refer to
the equipment manufacturers installation
instructions for appropriate treatment products
and special requirements for individual
appliance models.
Design
A pressurised water distribution system with
expansion vessel is recommended.
Constant water ow should be maintained through
the heat pump.
Pipe sizes should be in accordance with the
manufacturers recommendations.
Installation
Installation should be carried out by an installer
approved by the manufacturer.
If during installation access to the refrigeration
circuit is needed, a competent refrigeration and air
conditioning engineer holding a refrigerant handling
certicate and an Engineering Services Skillcard
should carry out the work.
Exposed refrigeration pipework should be insulated
and enclosed in protective trunking to limit
accidental damage.
Installation of the dwellings water distribution
system should be undertaken by a competent central
heating specialist.
Guidance and standards
TIMSA HVAC guidance for achieving compliance with
Part L of the Building Regulations.
BS EN 378:2008 Refrigerating systems and heat
pumps. Safety and environmental requirements.
TR30 Guide to good practice heat pumps, HVCA,
July 2007.
MIS 3005 Requirements for contractors undertaking
the supply, design, installation, set to work,
commissioning and handover of microgeneration
heat pump systems, DECC.
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(ground-to-water, water-to-water and air-to-water systems) (continued)
3.0
Domestic
hot water
(DHW)
a. For full heating, the heat pump and any
supplementary domestic hot water heating
should be capable of supplying water in the
range 60C to 65C. This is applicable to ground-
to-water, water-to-water and air-to-water type
heat pumps.
b. If the heat pump is not capable of supplying
water at these temperatures, supplementary
heating should be provided and controlled
as described in other sections of this guide.
Controls should include an auxiliary heating
regime to 60C or more for disinfection
purposes.
c. The domestic hot water system should have
temperature control (e.g. a tank thermostat) and
time control to optimise the time taken to heat
the water.
The heat pump may be utilised for all or part of the
DHW load. During the DHW heating period the heat
pump may not necessarily be providing heated water
to the space heating system.
4.0
Controls
a. Heat pump unit controls should include:
i. control of water pump operation
(internal and external as appropriate)
ii. control of water temperature for the
distribution system
iii. control of outdoor fan operation for
air-to-water units
iv. defrost control of external airside heat
exchanger for air-to-water systems
v. protection for water ow failure
vi. protection for high water temperature
vii. protection for high refrigerant pressure
viii. protection for air ow failure on
air-to-water units.
b. External controls should include:
i. weather compensation or internal
temperature control
ii. timer or programmer for space heating.
c. Minimum heat pump ow rates or volume
requirements should be met. If all zones are
thermostatically controlled, then a buffer
would be an acceptable method of compliance.
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Table 37 Recommended minimum standards for warm air heat pumps
(ground-to-air, water-to-air and air-to-air systems)
1.0
Installation
a. Minimum clearances adjacent to all airow paths,
as recommended by the manufacturer, should be
maintained.
b. Pipe sizes should be in accordance with the
manufacturers recommendations.
c. The refrigerant pipework on split systems should
be insulated in line with the manufacturers
recommendations.
d. If summer cooling is provided by the heat pump,
provision should be made for condensate drainage from
the indoor terminal units.
e. For ground-to-air and water-to-air systems all external
pipework between the dwelling and the external heat
exchanger should be insulated following TIMSA guidance.
f. For ground-to-air and water-to-air systems constant water
ow should be maintained through the heat pump.
Installation should be carried out
by an installer approved by the
manufacturer.
Installation that requires access
to the refrigeration circuit, or the
connection of split systems, should
be carried out by a competent
refrigeration and air conditioning
engineer holding a refrigerant
handling certicate and an
Engineering Services Skillcard.
TIMSA HVAC guidance for achieving
compliance with Part L of the
Building Regulations.
2.0
Controls
a. Heat pump unit controls should include:
i. control of room air temperature (if not provided
externally)
ii. control of outdoor fan operation for air-to-air units
iii. defrost control of external airside heat exchanger for
air-to-air systems
iv. control for secondary heating (if tted) on air-to-air
systems
v. control of external water pump operation for ground-
to-air and water-to-air systems
vi. protection for high refrigerant pressure
vii. protection for indoor air ow failure
viii. protection for external air ow failure on air-to-air
units
ix. protection for water ow failure on ground-to-air
and water-to-air systems.
b. External controls should include:
i. weather compensation or internal temperature
control
ii. timer or programmer for space heating.
c. Minimum heat pump ow rates or volume requirements
should be met. If all zones are thermostatically
controlled, then a buffer would be an acceptable method
of compliance.
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Guidance
Microgeneration Certication Scheme standard MIS 3005 Requirements for contractors undertaking the supply, design,
installation, set to work, commissioning and handover of microgeneration heat pump systems.
Microgeneration Certication Scheme standard MIS 3007 Product certication scheme requirements heat pumps.
Heat emitter guide for domestic heat pumps.
Available from http://www.microgenerationcertication.org/mcs-standards/installer-standards.
Design of low-temperature domestic heating systems A guide for system designers and installers. FB59, IHS BRE Press.
Available from www.brebookshop.com.
CE 82 Energy Efciency Best Practice in Housing: Domestic ground source heat pumps: design and installation of closed-
loop systems.
Heat Pump Association data sheet Air-to-water heat pumps.
HVCA TR30 Guide to good practice: Heat pumps.
Standards
BS EN 15450:2007 Heating systems in buildings. Design of heat pump heating systems.
BS EN 15316-4-2:2008 Heating systems in buildings. Methods for calculation of system energy requirements and system
efciencies. Space heating generation systems, heat pump systems.
BS EN 378-1:2008+A2:2012 Refrigerating systems and heat pumps. Safety and environmental requirements. Basic
requirements, denitions, classication and selection criteria.
BS EN 378-2:2008+A2:2012 Refrigerating systems and heat pumps. Safety and environmental requirements. Design,
construction, testing, marking and documentation.
BS EN 378-3:2008+A1:2012 Refrigerating systems and heat pumps. Safety and environmental requirements. Installation site
and personal protection.
BS EN 378-4:2008+A1:2012 Refrigerating systems and heat pumps. Safety and environmental requirements. Operation,
maintenance, repair and recovery.
ISO 13256-1:1998 Water-source heat pumps. Testing and rating for performance. Water-to-air and brine-to-air heat pumps.
ISO 13256-2:1998 Water-source heat pumps. Testing and rating for performance. Water-to-water and brine-to-water heat
pumps.
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1 0.1 Scope of guidance
This section provides guidance on the specication of xed mechanical comfort cooling systems and
fans in dwellings to meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations.
(Dwellings should always be designed to avoid or minimise the need for cooling through the appropriate
use of solar control, secure ventilation and thermal mass.)
10.2 Air-cooled and water-cooled air conditioners
Cooling systems in new and existing dwellings should:
a. meet the minimum standards for efciency in Table 38
b. be controlled to prevent simultaneous heating and cooling of the same space within the dwelling
c. comply with European Commission Regulation No 327/2011 for fans driven by motors with an
electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW, and Regulation No 206/2012 for systems with a
cooling capacity of up to 12 kW, both implementing Directive 2009/125/EC with regard to ecodesign
requirements for energy-related products.
Table 38 Recommended minimum standards for air conditioner efficiency
a. Air-cooled air conditioners working in cooling mode should have an
EER greater than 2.4.
b. Water-cooled air conditioners working in cooling mode should have
an EER greater than 2.5.
c. Fixed air conditioners should have an energy efciency classication
equal to or better than Class C in Schedule 3 of the labelling
scheme adopted under The Energy Information (Household Air
Conditioners) (No 2) Regulations, SI 2005/1726.
Installation should be carried out by an installer
approved by the manufacturer or supplier. The
installer should be a competent refrigeration and
air conditioning engineer with a valid refrigerant
handling certicate.
Exposed refrigeration pipework should be
insulated and enclosed in protective trunking to
limit accidental damage.
See: www.eurovent-certication.com
British Standards
BS EN 14511-2:2013 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for space
heating and cooling. Test conditions.
BS EN 14511-4:2013 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages and heat pumps with electrically driven compressors for space
heating and cooling. Requirements.
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This section provides guidance on the specication of solar water heating for dwellings to meet relevant
energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations.
The guidance in this section covers indirect solar systems with a collector area of less than 20 m
2
and
solar heated water storage of less than 440 litres. It does not cover direct solar systems
15
or systems
intended to contribute exclusively to space heating or systems providing heat exclusively to heat
swimming pools. It should be used in conjunction with the guidance on water heating contained in the
fuel-based sections of this guide.
11.2 Indirect systems
Indirect solar heating systems installed as new systems and replacement systems should meet the
minimum standards for:
a. collector certication, identication and testing, collector primary loop transfer uid, circulation
pump power, heat-exchanger sizing, system control, solar pre-heated water storage and system
preparation in Table 39
b. system labelling and commissioning in Table 40
c. insulating pipes in a solar primary system in Table 41.
When work is carried out on an existing indirect solar hot water system, it is recommended that the system
controls and insulation should be upgraded in line with the standards for new systems.
Table 39 Recommended minimum standards for indirect solar water heating
1.0
Allowance for
collector shading
a. No minimum provision. Solar collectors should be sited
in unshaded locations wherever
possible. Where this is unavoidable
or in cases of signicant or heavy
shading or signicant variance to the
optimum orientation and tilt (i.e.
normal pitch roofs facing between
SE and SW), then an allowance for
the loss of performance should be
made when sizing the collector area
according to the factors indicated in
SAP 2012 Appendix H.
15 The Microgeneration Certication Scheme Standard MIS 3001 includes guidance on solar heating systems with a dedicated solar volume that is below the minimum recommended for
indirect systems. SAP 2012 Appendix H sets out rules for estimating the annual energy performance of solar heating systems, including direct systems.
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Table 39 Recommended minimum standards for indirect solar water heating (continued)
2.0
Solar collector
certication
a. Collectors should be independently certied to
comply with all required tests for safety and thermal
performance, and for reporting and identication
according to BS EN 12975-1:2006+A1:2010 Thermal solar
systems and components. Solar collectors. General
requirements.
Copies of the full test report should
be made available upon request.
3.0
Primary circuit
uid
a. The transfer uid in the collector primary loop should
be chosen so as not to deposit limescale, sludge, ice
or other solids that could either restrict circulation or
impair the rate of heat transfer within the absorber.
In secondary systems, measures to
reduce the formation of limescale
should be considered so that
performance is not signicantly
affected.
4.0
Circulation pump
power
a. The electrical input power of the primary pump in the
solar system should be less than 50 W or 2% of peak
thermal power of collector, whichever is the higher.
5.0
Heat-exchanger
sizing
a. The heat exchanger between a solar primary and
secondary system should be sized so that not less than
0.1 m
2
or equivalent of heat exchanger area is provided
per 1 m
2
of solar collector net absorber area.
A heat exchanger reduces the
possibility of clogging and deposition
due to dirt, scale or similar impurities
that could reduce the system
performance.
Heat exchangers and store
connections should be sized and
located to promote a low return
temperature to the solar collector.
Solar heat exchangers are often sized
larger than those usually used on gas-
or oil-based primary systems owing to
the lower temperature of transfer.
6.0
System control
a. Solar domestic hot water (DHW) system controls should
be tted to:
i. maximise the useful energy gain from the solar
collectors into the systems dedicated storage
ii. minimise the accidental loss of stored energy by the
solar DHW system, whether originating from solar
collectors, cold intake or auxiliary heat sources
iii. ensure that hot water produced by back-up (auxiliary)
heat sources is not used when adequate grade solar
pre-heated water is available
iv. provide a means of control consistent with the solar
system being hydraulically (inherently) secure against
the adverse effects of excessive primary temperatures
and pressures
v. where a separate DHW heating appliance is pre-
heated by a solar system, control the appliance where
possible such that no extra heat is added if the target
temperature is already satised from the pre-heat
vessel
vi. inform the end user of the systems correct function
and performance at all times.
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7.0
Solar pre-heated
water storage
a. Vented copper hot water storage vessels should comply
with the heat loss and back-up heating heat exchanger
requirements of BS 1566-1:2002 Copper indirect cylinders
for domestic purposes. Open vented copper cylinders.
b. Unvented hot water storage system products should
comply with BS EN 12897:2006 or an equivalent standard.
c. Primary storage systems should meet the insulation
requirements of sections 4.3.1 or 4.3.2 of the Hot Water
Association Performance specication for thermal stores.
Vented copper hot water cylinders
should carry clear labelling on the
product such as a BSI Kitemark,
registered rm status or reference to
an equivalent quality control scheme.
Vented cylinders which are not
of copper construction should be
labelled as complying with the heat
loss and heat exchanger requirements
of BS 1566-1:2002.
Due to the higher than normal storage
temperatures in primary stores, it is
very important that they are well
insulated.
8.0
Volume of solar
pre-heated water
a. The ratio of solar heated water storage volume to
collector area should be as follows:
i. The dedicated solar storage volume, V
s
, should be at
least 25 litres (or equivalent heat capacity) per net
square metre of the solar collector absorber area.
ii. Alternatively, V
s
should be a volume (or equivalent
heat capacity) which is equivalent to at least 80%
of the daily hot water demand, V
d
(as dened by
SAP 2012).
Collector area is measured as
effective aperture or net absorber
area, whichever is smaller.
A separate pre-heat storage vessel
should be considered wherever
possible.
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9.0
System
preparation and
water treatment
New build
a. Solar primary circuits should be thoroughly cleaned
with an appropriate cleaner and ushed through with
solar heat transfer uid before lling with the solar heat
transfer uid.
b. Systems should be lled with a heat transfer uid
containing a volatile inhibitor package, capable of
protecting the system from frost and corrosion at all
operating temperatures.
c. Installers should refer to the equipment manufacturers
installation instructions for appropriate treatment
products and special requirements for individual
appliance models.
d. Where mains water is used to ll the solar primary
circuit and the total water hardness exceeds 200 parts
per million, provision should be made to reduce the
limescale.
Existing installations
e. Solar thermal systems should be cleaned with an
appropriate cleaner formulated to remove build-up of
degradation lms from exhausted heat transfer uids,
then ushed through with fresh solar heat transfer uid.
f. Systems should be lled with a heat transfer uid
containing a volatile inhibitor package, capable of
protecting the system from frost and corrosion at all
operating temperatures.
g. Installers should refer to the equipment manufacturers
installation instructions for appropriate treatment
products and special requirements for individual
appliance models.
Parts of BS 7593:2006 Code of practice
for treatment of water in domestic
hot water central heating systems
may assist in ushing and cleaning
procedures.
Legionnaires disease: The control of
legionella bacteria in water systems.
Approved code of practice and
guidance, HSE Books.
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Table 40 Recommended minimum standards for labelling, commissioning and documentation
for solar hot water systems
1.0
Labelling
of solar
collectors
and hot
water stores
a. All solar collectors should have a visible and durable label
displaying all information required according to BS EN 12975-
1:2006+A1:2010, and including at least the following:
i. name of manufacturer
ii. collector type
iii. serial number
iv. year of production
v. gross area of collector
vi. aperture area of collector
vii. net absorber area of collector
viii. maximum operation pressure
ix. stagnation temperature at 1000 W/m
2
and
30C ambient
x. volume of heat transfer uid
xi. weight of empty solar collector.
b. All hot water storage vessels should carry a label with the
following information:
i. name of manufacturer
ii. nominal overall capacity in litres
iii. dedicated solar capacity in litres
iv. standing heat loss in kWh/day
v. type of vessel
vi. back-up heating heat exchanger performance in kW
(where present)
vii. solar heating heat exchanger performance in kW.
In addition to the minimum
provision for labelling of hot water
storage vessels, labelling with
the following information is also
recommended:
Total net uid content of
secondary volume normally
heated by each heat exchanger,
where present ( 1.0 litre).
The type, uid content,
maximum pressure and surface
area of all heat exchangers.
2.0
Commis-
sioning
a. A signed and dated commissioning certicate should be
completed to conrm the equipment has been correctly installed
and to record key safety and operational features.
b. As a minimum, the commissioning certicate should record the
following details of the solar system:
i. net or aperture area of solar collector
ii. minimum ambient temperature without freeze damage to
components
iii. location of device and method for controlling over-pressure
iv. location of the electrical isolating switch
v. type of circulation uid
vi. circulation rate of collector circuit
vii. location of device for protecting against overheating of solar
heated water.
A signed commissioning certicate,
certifying that the equipment is
safe, legal and t for its intended
purpose, should be handed over
to the dwelling owner or user as
applicable.
A separate certicate is required
to cover the installation and
commissioning of the hot water
storage vessels and appliances
within a solar DHW system.
A commissioning engineer should
be a competent person who can
personally testify by signature and
date that the equipment has been
commissioned.
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Table 40 Recommended minimum standards for labelling, commissioning and documentation
for solar hot water systems (continued)
3.0
Document-
ation
Information provided to the
dwelling owner or user should
include:
user manual
warranty information
a recommended maintenance
schedule
commissioning certicate
full contact details of the
installer.
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Table 41 Recommended minimum standards for insulation of pipework in solar
hot water systems
a. All pipes of a solar primary system
should be insulated throughout the
length of the circuit.
b. All other pipes connected to hot water
storage vessels, including the vent pipe,
should be insulated for at least 1 metre
from their points of connection to the
cylinder, or insulated up to the point
where they become concealed.
c. Pipes should be insulated with
appropriately labelled materials and in
line with the TIMSA guide.
d. Heat loss values should not exceed the
values in the Supplementary information
column.
The insulation should be suitably rated for the maximum foreseeable pipe
temperature applicable, and where external also be resistant to vermin
attack and climatic degradation.
In a dwelling that already has a solar hot water system, it is recommended
that the insulation should be upgraded in line with these minimum
provisions where signicant work, such as change of solar storage, is
carried out.
A fully-lled or drainback solar hot water system can have a pipe service
temperature of 150C. The insulation material should be specied to
accommodate this temperature. An EPDM based rubber would normally be
a minimum requirement for such an application. Any insulation specied
should be better than 0.044 W/(m
.
K) at 40C mean and the insulation
diameter should be 87% of the pipe diameter.
8
10
12
15
22
28
35
42
54
7.06
7. 23
7. 35
7.89
9. 1 2
10.07
1 1 .08
12. 1 9
14. 1 2
In assessing the thickness of insulation required, standardised conditions
should be assumed in all compliance calculations, based on a horizontal
pipe at 40C in still air at 15 C.
Further guidance on converting heat loss limits to thicknesses of insulation
for specic thermal conductivities is available in the TIMSA HVAC guidance
for achieving compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations.
Insulation for pipework in unheated areas
It may be necessary to protect water-carrying pipework in unheated areas
against freezing. Further guidance is available in:
BS 5422:2009 Method for specifying thermal insulating materials for
pipes, tanks, vessels, ductwork and equipment operating within the
temperature range of -40C to +700C.
BRE Report No 262 Thermal insulation: avoiding risks, 2002 edition.
Further information
Microgeneration Certication Scheme standard MIS 3001 Requirements for contractors undertaking the supply, design,
installation, set to work, commissioning and handover of solar heating microgeneration systems.
Energy Efciency Best Practice in Housing CE131 Solar water heating systems. Guidance for professionals, conventional
indirect models.
CIBSE Solar heating design and installation guide.
CE51/GIL59 Central Heating System Specications (CHeSS), 2005.
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This section provides guidance on the specication of xed internal and external lighting for new and
existing dwellings to meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations.
12.2 Key terms
Circuit-watt means the power consumed in lighting circuits by lamps and, where applicable, their
associated control gear (including transformers and drivers) and power factor correction equipment.
Light tting means a xed light or lighting unit that can comprise one or more lamps and lampholders,
control gear and an appropriate housing. The control gear may be integrated in the lamp or located
elsewhere in or near to the xed light.
Fixed external lighting means lighting xed to an external surface of the dwelling supplied from the
occupiers electrical system. It excludes lighting in common areas of blocks of ats and in other
communal accessways.
12.3 Internal and external lighting
Fixed internal and external lighting should meet the minimum standards for efcacy and controls in
Table 42.
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Table 42 Recommended minimum standards for fixed internal and external lighting
Fixed
internal
lighting
a. In the areas affected by the building work, provide
low energy light ttings (xed lights or lighting
units) that number not less than three per four of
all the light ttings in the main dwelling spaces of
those areas (excluding infrequently accessed spaces
used for storage, such as cupboards and wardrobes).
b. Low energy light ttings should have lamps with a
luminous efcacy greater than 45 lamp lumens per
circuit-watt and a total output greater than 400
lamp lumens.
c. Light ttings whose supplied power is less than 5
circuit-watts are excluded from the overall count of
the total number of light ttings.
Light ttings may be either:
dedicated ttings which will have separate control
gear and will take only low energy lamps (e.g. pin
based uorescent or compact uorescent lamps), or
standard ttings supplied with low energy lamps
with integrated control gear (e.g. bayonet or
Edison screw base compact uorescent lamps).
Light ttings with GLS tungsten lament lamps or
tungsten halogen lamps would not meet the standard.
The Energy Saving Trust publication GIL20 Low
energy domestic lighting gives guidance on identifying
suitable locations for xed energy efcient lighting.
A single switch should normally operate no more
than six light ttings with a maximum total load of
100 circuit-watts.
Fixed
external
lighting
Where xed external lighting is installed, provide light
ttings with the following characteristics:
a. Either:
i. lamp capacity not greater than 100 lamp-watts
per light tting, and
ii. all lamps automatically controlled so as to switch
off after the area lit by the tting becomes
unoccupied, and
iii. all lamps automatically controlled so as to
switch off when daylight is sufcient.
b. Or:
i. lamp efcacy greater than 45 lumens per circuit-
watt, and
ii. all lamps automatically controlled so as to
switch off when daylight is sufcient, and
iii. light ttings controllable manually by occupants.
British Standards
BS EN 15193:2007 Energy performance of buildings. Energy requirements for lighting.
Other related documents
CE80 Domestic lighting innovations, Energy Efciency Best Practice in Housing.
CE61 Energy efcient lighting guidance for installers and speciers, Energy Saving Trust.
EP84 Housing for people with sight loss, Thomas Pocklington Trust Design Guide.
IP412 Making the most of your sight: Improve the lighting in your home, RNIB and Thomas Pocklington Trust.
Energy Saving Trust best practice standards
The Energy Saving Trust sets best practice Energy Saving Recommended (ESR) standards for lamps that cover not only
energy efciency, but also other aspects of quality including colour rendering, warm-up time, product life and power
factor. It is advisable to install only ESR low energy lamps in dwellings.
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This section provides guidance on the specication of micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP)
packages for dwellings to meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building Regulations.
The guidance covers micro-CHP systems with an electrical output less than 5 kWe which are:
heat-led
capable of exporting electricity to the grid, and
controlled in such a way as to avoid heat dumping.
13.2 Key terms
Heating plant emission rate (HPER) is the annual carbon dioxide emissions from fuel and power
consumed by the heating plant, offset by the emissions saved as a result of any electricity generated by
the heating plant, divided by the heat output over a year. It is measured in units of kg of carbon dioxide
per kWh. To calculate HPER it is necessary to know the plant size ratio. Note: The HPER includes any
auxiliary space and water heating that may be necessary, i.e. it represents the performance of all heating
plant needed to provide space and water heating service to the building, assuming a standard demand
pattern.
Plant size ratio (PSR) is dened as the nominal heat output of the heating plant divided by the design
heat loss (the average heat loss of the building on a cold day with a temperature differential of 24.2C).
Note: For a given heat demand, the PSR determines the part-load condition for the heating plant.
1 3.3 Micro-CHP systems
a. For new systems, the HPER of the micro-CHP package (calculated as in sub-paragraph c. below) should
be no greater than the carbon dioxide emission factor for the fuel divided by the minimum efciency
for a regular boiler using that fuel, at the PSR determined as in sub-paragraph b. below. The design
heat loss of the dwelling should be calculated using the Energy Saving Trusts Whole house boiler
sizing method for houses and ats
16
.
b. The PSR for the micro-CHP system when operating in the intended dwelling should be calculated as
dened in paragraph 13.2 above.
c. The HPER of the micro-CHP system should be calculated at the PSR determined in sub-paragraph
b. above, using the methodology set out in DECCs Annual Performance Method (APM)
17
and the
performance data for the micro-CHP package established by testing according to BSI PAS 67
18
.
16 Energy Saving Trust CE54 Whole house boiler sizing method for houses and ats. This is an interactive calculator available from the Energy Saving Trust at www.energysavingtrust.org.
uk/housingbuildings/publications. The design heat loss in kW is the basic design heat loss in box U (from the 2010 edition).
17 Method to evaluate the annual energy performance of micro-cogeneration heating systems in dwellings (APM), SAP 2012 revision, DECC. Available from www.bre.co.uk/sap2012.
18 BSI PAS 67:2008 Laboratory tests to determine the heating and electrical performance of heat-led micro-cogeneration packages primarily intended for heating dwellings.
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British Standards
BS EN 15316-4-4:2007 Heating systems in buildings. Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system
efciencies. Heat generation systems, building-integrated cogeneration systems.
Other documents
Appendix N of SAP 2012 Method to evaluate the annual energy performance of micro-cogeneration heating systems in dwellings.
BSRIA BG 2/2007 CHP for existing buildings: Guidance on design and installation.
Microgeneration Certication Scheme standard, MIS 3007-2 Requirements for contractors undertaking the design, supply,
installation, set to work, commissioning and handover of a domestic hot water system containing an electricity-led micro-
cogeneration package.
Connecting a microgeneration system to a domestic or similar electrical installation (in parallel with the mains supply), Best
Practice Guide, the Electrical Safety Council.
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1 4.1 Scope of guidance
This section provides guidance on the specication of heating system glandless circulators, both
standalone and integrated in products, to meet relevant energy efciency requirements in the Building
Regulations.
14.2 Circulators
Heating system glandless circulators up to 2.5 kW, provided with new systems or as replacements in
existing systems in dwellings, should meet the minimum standards for energy efciency in Table 43.
Table 43 Recommended minimum standards for heating system glandless circulators
In accordance with European Commission Regulation No 622/2012 (amending
641/2009) implementing Directive 2005/32/EC with regard to ecodesign requirements
for glandless circulators up to 2.5 kW:
a. From 1 January 2013, standalone glandless circulators, other than those specically
designed for primary circuits of thermal solar systems and of heat pumps, should
have an Energy Efciency Index (EEI) no greater than 0.27.
b. From 1 August 2015, standalone glandless circulators and glandless circulators
integrated in products should have an Energy Efciency Index (EEI) no greater
than 0.23.
Further information and
guidance, including a list of
approved glandless domestic
circulators, is available at
www.bpma.org.uk.
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Appendix A: Abbreviations
APM Annual Performance Method
ASHP Air source heat pump
BS British Standard
BSI British Standards Institute
CHeSS Central Heating System Specications
CHP Combined heat and power
CO
2
Carbon dioxide
COP Coefcient of performance
DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government
DECC Department of Energy and Climate Change
DHW Domestic hot water
EEI Energy Efciency Index
EER Energy efciency ratio
EN European Norm (standard)
ESR Energy Saving Recommended
GSHP Ground source heat pump
HPER Heating plant emission rate
HVAC Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
LPG Liquied petroleum gas
PAS Publicly Available Specication
PCDB Product Characteristics Database
PSR Plant size ratio
RHI Renewable Heat Incentive
SAP Standard Assessment Procedure
SCOP Seasonal coefcient of performance
SEDBUK Seasonal Efciency of Domestic Boilers in the UK
SEER Seasonal energy efciency ratio
SFP Specic fan power
SI Statutory Instrument
SPEER Seasonal primary energy efciency ratio
SPF Seasonal performance factor
TER Target carbon dioxide emission rate
TRV Thermostatic radiator valve
WSHP Water source heat pump
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