HHIC launches guide to Boiler Plus
A series of guides to the new Boiler Plus legislation has been launched by the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC).
Boiler Plus is additional legislation that has been added to Part L of the Building Regulations. It comes into force on 6 April 2018, introducing new standards that will apply whenever a boiler is installed in an existing heating system anywhere in England.
Under the legislation, any gas boiler installed or replaced in existing dwellings must be a minimum 92 per cent efficient, with appropriate boiler interlock, time and temperature controls also present.
When replacing a gas combi boiler, at least one of the following technologies must also be fitted at the same time:
- Flue gas heat recovery
- Weather compensation
- Load compensation
- Smart thermostat with automation and optimisation.
The HHIC guides are designed to assist heating engineers and consumers in choosing the correct technology to ensure high levels of efficiency and comfort, based on the user’s home and lifestyle.
The first guide to be published covers weather compensation, which can be used to describe any control functions that adjust internal temperatures based on the weather outside.
Martyn Bridges, director of technical communication and product management at Worcester, Bosch Group, and chair of the HHIC Boiler Technical Panel, says: “We know that many installers will be keen to learn more about the four technologies eligible for installation with a replacement gas combination boiler, at least one of which must be specified and fitted alongside the boiler.
“Through discussion at HHIC meetings, and while the policy was at a formative stage, we identified that there was a need to provide a simple and effective way to assist in educating and supporting installers less familiar with the concepts, principles and installation considerations for weather compensation. We decided that an industry factsheet would be the best approach, helping installers grasp the key points, and instilling them with the confidence to undertake more focused training if necessary.
“This document can only help aid the UK installer in their transition to working more frequently with weather compensating controls, particularly as it has been developed in consultation with appliance manufacturers, installation businesses, training providers and other leading industry representatives.”
The HHIC’s weather compensation guide can be found online here.