Are You In the Cold with New Heating Regulations?
Publish Date: Friday, 18 January 2008
Are you still in the cold regarding the new heating regulations?
With words such as pollution, carbon emissions, and global warming constantly being flashed across the news headlines, is it any wonder that millions of people are changing their way of living to make the planet a safer place for us and future generations.
The Government also shares our concern which is why they made a commitment at the Koyoto Conference to reduce the carbon emissions by 20% by 2020.
In this bid to tackle global warming and climate change, old regulations which were previously not environmentally friendly are constantly being updated and improved to reach this target
One of these policies to be updated is that of Building Regulations. Buildings are currently responsible for about 50% of the total energy use and dwellings account for approximately two thirds of this. New amendments to the Building Regulations will reduce the energy consumption of buildings.
On 30th November 2006 Northern Ireland Building Regulations where amended to include energy conservation and fuel storage so be aware that any applications to your local Building Control Office must comply with these changes.
Mr Jim McClelland, Director of Building Control at Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, states that many applicants and those in the industry are not fully aware of what the requirements are regarding heating installations.
Here is a summary of what is required by Building Control to achieve compliance with the new heating requirements:-
1. Boiler Details:
- Details of boiler to confirm an efficiency of not less than 86% but note that the required efficiency may be higher in a new dwelling, depending on the results of the energy rating calculations.
2. Systems Controls:
- Require boiler interlock
- Space heating zones;
If floor area < 150 m² - requires two space heating zones with independent temperature controls.
If floor area > 150 m" - requires two space heating zones with separate timers and temperature controls
- Separate hot water controls and cylinder thermostat.
- Full programmable timer for system.
3. Thermal Insulation of system:
- Primary circulation pipes for heating and hot water circuits to be insulated when outside the heated dwelling envelope.
- Primary circulation pipes for domestic hot water circuits to be insulated throughout their length.
4. Oil storage installations:
- Oil tank to BS 799-5: 1987 for steel and OFS T 100 : 1995 for plastic
- Placed on hard surface not less than 42 mm thick. Hard surface to extend 300 mm horizontally beyond storage tank.
- Fire valve system to be fitted where fuel pipework enters building
- Control of pollution, by using 110% integrally bunded prefabricated tank.
- Oil tanks sited less than 1800 mm from a building or 750 mm from a boundary to be protected by a fire wall.
5. Design and Commissioning of system
- Boiler, hot water system and all equipment to be commissioned in accordance with manufacturers instructions with notice of commission to owner and Building Control.
- Confirmation in writing from heating installer that building owner has been given sufficient information of specific apparatus/systems installed.
- Where a hearth, fireplace, flue or chimney is provided or extended a durable notice plate containing information on its performance capabilities shall be affixed in a suitable place in the building. The consumer unit box or next to the flue or hearth is considered a suitable location.
Mr McClelland states the important of sticking to these regulations:
"It is critical now more than ever, that all applicants who are building new dwellings or extensions work rigidly to the approved plans.
Anyone installing new heating systems or extending existing systems should ensure that the work is done by a competent person to ensure all regulations are met"
For further advice and assistance please contact the Building Control Department at Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council on telephone: 028 8772 0335 or 028 8772 0357.
