Boiler Plus scheme 2018

What does the new legislation mean for you?

From 6th April 2018 the legislation around heating manufacture and installation in the UK is changing, and there are some big changes.
These changes have been named Boiler Plus and are being introduced by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). They address the energy efficiency of heating systems and have raised the bar for both manufacturers and installers.

• Gas boiler performance: space heating efficiency of the new boiler no less than ERP 92%
• Time and temperature control required for all gas and oil boiler installations
• Combi boiler installations must also include one of the following: Weather compensation, Load compensation, Flue Gas Heat Recovery, Smart controls.

The most notable change applies to the minimum performance standard for domestic gas boilers in England. The minimum efficiency level of all boilers manufactured and installed will be set at 92% ERP. The main motivation behind the change is to phase out inefficient boilers and reduce carbon emissions in line with targets set by the EU. It forms just part of a wider plan known as the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy which aims to combat climate change and provide UK homes with greater comfort and lower energy bills.

What will happen to homeowners and installers who do not comply?

Installers who fail to install boilers in line with these new Building Regulations will be breaking the law and could be prosecuted by Building Control. The Gas Safe Register can also refer safety concerns to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). Invoicing a customer for work which they claim to be legal but is not is also to be considered fraudulent under Trading Standards.

Homeowners who knowingly allow non-compliant work to be carried out could also face prosecution and fines of up to £5,000.

What is FGHR?

A Flue Gas Heat Recovery (FGHR) is a device designed to improve energy efficiency of the boiler by recycling the heat from the flue gases which would usually be lost into the atmosphere. Instead this heat is used it to preheat domestic hot water.

What is weather compensation?

Weather compensation devices enable the boiler to read the outside temperature via a sensor so that the boiler can adjust the temperature of your heating accordingly.

What is load compensation?

Load compensation measures the response of the heating system and adjusts the flow temperature based on what is needed to reduce fuel consumption.

Why are these changes being introduced?

This legislation is designed to help the UK meet the targets by 2020. More than £2.5 billion of Government funding was designated towards lowering carbon emissions for the period 2015 – 2021.

Greg Clark, Business and Energy Secretary, said:
“This Government has put clean growth at the heart of its Industrial Strategy to increase productivity, boost people’s earning power and ensure Britain continues to lead the world in efforts to tackle climate change.
“For the first time in a generation, the British government is leading the way on taking decisions on new nuclear, rolling out smart meters and investing in low carbon innovation. The world is moving from being powered by polluting fossil fuels to clean energy. It’s as big a change as the move from the age of steam to the age of oil and Britain is showing the way.”

Some of the measures taken include:

• Investment of around £3.6 billion to upgrade around a million homes through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) including extended support for home energy efficiency improvements from 2022 to 2028
• Upgrading all fuel poor homes to Energy Performance Certificate Band C by 2030 with as many homes as possible to be Energy Performance Certificate Band C by 2035
• Improve the energy performance standards of privately rented homes to Energy Performance Band C by 2030.