Changes to Boiler Plus Legislation
Boiler Plus, announced in October 2017 by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), launched today April 6 2018. The new legislation encourages energy efficiency by mandating requirements for heating systems, and the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC) has published a consumer guide which sets out the changes for new boiler installations.
HHIC has launched a consumer guide to the Boiler Plus legislation.
This policy requires a new minimum performance standard for domestic gas boilers in English homes of 92 percent ErP. The ErP Directive aims to phase out poorly performing products across a range of product groups to reduce carbon emissions across Europe, with the ultimate goal of achieving the EU's 2020 targets.
The legislation also requires all those fitting new combination boilers to include one of the following in their system:
- Flue gas heat recovery systems
- Weather Compensation
- Load Compensation
- Smart controls featuring automation and optimisation functions
Stewart Clements, director at HHIC said: “The premise of the legislation is that it will encourage and enable householders to make informed decisions about the products that best meet their needs. The degree of flexibility in terms of which products render a new boiler ‘compliant’ means that the diversity of the house stock and needs of the consumer are catered for.
“Given the extent to which domestic heating contributes to emissions, the new standards, coming into effect in April 2018, will help reduce carbon emissions whilst encouraging consumers to prioritise the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of their heating.”
He continued: “Whilst this may sound like a big change to some, we know that many installers already work above and beyond the Boiler Plus standards and many products already comply. Mandating additional efficiency measures for new boiler installations in England sends a clear message to the public and engineers: standards are high in the heating industry, technology is world-leading and consumers can save money and improve their thermal comfort.”
To mark the Boiler Plus legislation coming into force, HHIC has released Consumer Guide: New rules for boiler installations in England 2018, detailing the changes for new boiler installations in the country. Installers can download it here and share with their customers.
Following the launch of Boiler Plus, questions have risen from those within the industry surrounding the qualifying technologies, and how they can help consumers decide which suits their lifestyle and home best. As a result, HHIC is also publishing a series of guides to assist installers and consumers alike in their choice of a measure. The first of these guides, Weather Compensation- Installer Factsheet, can be found here.