New Boiler Regulations 2018

To be honest, if you’re not having a new boiler anytime soon and you’re not a gas engineer, then you probably have no idea that a new law came into play in April this year. 

​It’s a new directive called Boiler Plus introduced by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on 6 April 2018.  In a bid to meet the UK’s carbon emissions target by 2020, the main plan of the new ruling is to phase out inefficient boilers, which is not a bad thing, to be fair.  It forms part of a wider plan known as the Clean Growth Strategy which aims to combat climate change and provide UK with warmer homes and lower energy bills.

What does Boiler Plus mean for you?

​There are three areas of change for new gas, LPG and oil boiler installations:
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1.  Efficiency  

​The good news is that manufacturers are now required by law to produce boilers that have an ErP (Energy Related Product) rating of 92%, in other words all new boilers must have a minimum efficiency of 92%.  That’s great news for your pocket.  If, for example, your boiler is only 85% efficient, that means that 15% of the fuel used by the boiler is wasted which in turn means that for every £1 you spend on heating your home, you can wave goodbye to 15p.
This ErP rating applies to all residential as well as commercial heating products across Europe.

2.  Time and temperature controls  

Whilst most homes already have these, controls are now a legal requirement for all new gas and oil boiler installations.  Again, this is not a bad thing as the right controls on your heating system will allow you to keep your home at a comfortable temperature without wasting fuel, heat and money.  Rather than heating the whole house at the same temperature, it can allow you to split your house into zones so that you can select areas of your home to heat, as well as setting the required temperature for each room or zone for specific times of the day.
 
3.  Combi boiler installations
 
In addition to the above, the installation of new combi boilers must also include one of the following energy efficient devices:

• Weather compensation – this is a device that enables your boiler to read the outside temperature via a sensor, in order for the boiler to adjust the temperature of your heating accordingly.

 

• Load compensation – this device measures the response of your heating system and adjusts the radiator temperature to be hotter when your home is cold and cooler when your home is closer to the desired temperature.  If you tend to leave your heating on for long periods of time and have high bills, these types of thermostats are only around £100 more than a standard one, which isn’t so bad when you take account of the cost of a new boiler and could provide significant savings.

 

• Flue Gas Heat Recovery (FGHR) – is a device designed to improve energy efficiency of the boiler.  It re-uses the heat from the flue gases which would otherwise be lost into the atmosphere. Instead this heat is used to preheat domestic hot water.  In many cases, this technology will already be built into the new boiler you are choosing but make sure you check with your qualified heating engineer whether this is the case.

 

• Smart controls – are becoming more and more popular.  They allow you to control your heating and hot water via a tablet or mobile phone either within your home or when you’re away.  They perform many of the same functions as a programmable thermostat and allow different settings for different times of the day.  

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Can I be fined for not complying with Boiler Plus?

​While ErP labelling is the responsibility of manufacturers and retailers, Boiler Plus also requires consumers to be accountable.  Homeowners are required to comply with Building Regulations and anyone who knowingly allows a non-compliant boiler to be installed could face prosecution and fines of up to £5,000.
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​I need a new boiler, what shall I do?

• Get some advice and shop around.  The cheapest isn’t always the best option and could prove costly in the long run.  I have another blog post called How To Choose A New Boiler which you may find useful.

• Don’t even think about trying to install a boiler yourself.  Even if you know how to do it.  First of all it’s illegal for a non-qualified person to mess about with gas and second it will invalidate your warranty.

• Always use a Gas Safe registered plumber or heating engineer – it will give you the peace of mind that they’re properly regulated and of course that they actually know what they’re doing.

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• Qualified gas engineers go through rigorous training.  They are required by law to update their knowledge every five years and to keep up to date with the latest legislation.  

I’m a Gas Safe plumber and heating engineer based in Chichester with 17 years experience under my belt and a wealth of qualifications which keeps me on top of current legislation and all the latest technologies.  Give me a call if you’d like a quote.

Adam Carter
07717 572957
Gas Safe Register No 567589